The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-31 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The new beer leOslation of the Government will
require 3,000 extra excisemen.

From April Ist to the 24th instant the Exchequer
receipts amounted to £24,338,081, as compared with
£23,884,178 in the corresponding period of last year. The
expenditure has been £28,406,802. On Saturday last the
balance in the Bank of England was £28,406,802.
A shocking accident happened at Sheffield on Tues-
day to two children named Walter S. Sandford, and Sarah
Ellen Sandford, brother and sister. They were playing in
the Soho Grinding Works, when their clothes became en-
tangled with the machinery, and they were drawn in and
frightfully mangled. One was dead when extricated; the
other died soon afterwards.

On Monday afternoon, at Melton Mowbray, Mr.
Piggin, of Hose Brock Hill, and a lad named Wagstaff were
struck with lightning, and killed instantaneously, whilst
taking shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. Another
lad, who stood with them, was brought on his knees by the
shock, but was not injured beyond being Orribly frightened.
At the assizes for the city of Cork, there was no
criminal case for trial, and the judge was presented with a
pair of white gloves.

A horse was received in New York recently, bred
in Ohio, from native draught stock, whose registered height
is twenty hands and one inch, or eighty-one inches; his
weight is stated to be 2,4501b5. It is stated that the horse
has been secured by Barnum for £2OO, and will be placed on
exhibition.

The following Circular has been sent to Conservative
members of the House of Lords :—" Your lordship's attend-
ance is most earnestly requested in the House of Lords on
Monday, August 2, to oppose the second reading of the Com-
pensation for Disturbance (Ireland) Bill. (Signed) Somerset,
Abercorn, Waterford, Sligo, Annesley, Dartrey, Fitzwilliam,
Digby, Headfort, Wicklow, Carysfort, Leconfleld, Dunsany,
and Aveland.

The American Settler, a journal devoted to inforrna•
tion for intending emigrants to the United States, is again
being published.

The climate of North Africa might, thinks Dr.
Theobald Fischer, be more easily improved by the planting
of forests than by forming an inland sea.
A sturgeon weighing 2001 b. was taken one day last
week in the Rhine, near Urdenach. It took four then to
secure the monster.

Dr. Richardson was not the first to suggest a model
city, for the Sanitary Record tells us that the Jewish
Talmud states :—" Noffise man will reside in a city which
does not pcssess an efficient magistracy, a properly managed
system of poor rates, provisions for public worship, public
baths, adequate drainage, a physician, a scribe, a teacher
for children, and the means for securing a proper supply of
food."

The Princess Stiiphaine of Belgium, who is be-
trothed to the Crown Prince of Austria, is to have a bridal
veil worthy of that lace-making country. It is to be the
wedding gift of the good citizens of Brussels, and three
hundred work-girls are now employed upon its manu-
facture.

"Utility, even in amusements, is quite the order of
the day. Artificial egg-hatching is very fashionable both in
the country and the suburbs of London—in fact, the proud
owner of three square yards of lawn may set up an establish-
ment on her own account. Hens like fashionable mothers,
may delegate their maternal duties to, in their case, a bed of
clean hay with a woollen covering. I recently sai'v a pretty
little residence in the shape of a Swiss chAlet on a very
small scale inhabited by a family of seventy sturdy chicks,
all in thriving condition."—" Argus," in Land and Water.
Fifteen persons were drowned on Sunday through
the capsizing of a steam yacht, in a sudden storm,
on the Lake of Bienne, in Switzerland. The disaster
occurred about seven o'clock (says the Geneva Corre-
spondent of the Standard). A party of seventeen persons
went out for an excursion on board the small.steamer the
Neptune, and when a short distance from the Isle of St.
Pierre, celebrated as the place where Rousseau once
sojourned, they were overtaken by a tempest, which arose
very suddenly. Owing to a high wind the water became
very rough, and, breaking into the cabin, capsized the craft.
Only two persons out of the seventeen were saved. Forty
young children have been left orphans by the disaster.
The Sheirteld Telegraph says that on Alonday after-
noon, while a party of men were at work blasting in it tunnel
on the Cromford and High Peak Railway, at Ilopton, near
Wirksworth, a quantity of rock fell upon them. Three men
named respectively J. Gould, W. Hollis, and Isaac Swindell
were extricated as quickly as possible, but were found to
have been killed instantaneously, while ethers are reported
to have sustained serious injuries.

The barleys in West Norfolk, which had been much
Injured by the late storms, have received further serious
damage from the heavy tempests and rains of the last few
days. In many places the crops are laid perfectly flat. A
large quantity of hay remains out, with but little prospect
of its being secured. The root crops, turnips and mangolds,
are forward in condition and looking well. Harvest
operations are not expected to become general until about
the middle of August.
The Municipal Council of Havre have just entered
into a contract with the Societe Generale d'Electricite of
Paris for the lighting of the harbour and docks of Havre by
the Jablochkoff's patent electric light. The contract is for
ten years.

A landslip at Passo Martino, near Catania, Sicily,
has brought to light a large number of ancient tombs and
artistic objects believed to belong to the cemetery of
Sineatus, a town on the river Simet, mentioned by Pliny.
A deputation from the Fisheries Preservation Asso-
ciation and other kindred societies had an interview on
Tuesday with Mr. Dodson, and represented to him that the
Rivers Pollution Act was practically inoperative. Mr.
Dodson said a deputation of manufacturers had recently
represented tohim lrow difficult it was to work under the
Act; the statements of both deputations would be carefully
considered.

The Conservatives of Liverpool have selected as
their candidate Lord Claud John JiJarnilton, second son of
the Duke of Abcrcorn, who lost his seat for King's Lynn at
the general election.

Six hundred thousand foreigners and people from
the country went to Paris to witness the National Me.
Game, it is hoped, will be plentiful this year, and
the hatching period has been much earlier than in 18786 for
all sorts of winged game. Grouse are free from disease, and
the young birds are both numerous and strong. The grouse
this year will be ready for our legislators before our legis-
lators are ready for the grouse, Partridges and pheasants
want dry weather, as the recent rains have flooded the
hedgerows in several districts.
A Parliamentary return has been published show-
ing that during the first six months of thep resent year there
were in Leinster 403, in Munster 495, in Ulster 567, and in
Connaught 236 ejectments for non-payment of rent. In 1870
the ejeetments were :—Leinster, 638; Minister, 764 ; Ulster,
651; Connaught, 492.

Advices from Charlestown, reviewing the business
of that port for the year ending the 30th June, state that
there was an active demand for steamers for cotton shipments,
especially during the early months. The last cotton crop
has turned out the largest ever made in the States—say
about 5.500,000 bales—and the present prospect is very
favourable for a yield of 6,000;000 bales for the coming year,
aml,the crop being very forward it is expected that ship-
ments will commence going forward freely during Sep-
tember,

The Court Journal says that "ladies will hear with
regret and alarm that the ' fringe ' on the forehead, now so
frequently worn, is discountenanced in the very highest
quarters. The fringes have been getting so long and shaggy
that her Majesty is understood to desire on the part of those
who attend the Royal Drawing-rooms ' a return to the
severe classical style of ten or twelve years ago."

A novel t
Kfeature g
toofn tlha es t
mb.caezka,a,rvasintitehseaferoofucnadrsii,oafiotih:.
Vicarage a
uchLsnsaotfioCns, on hfull otf a soldpeactualiastrallylptilgieub.eiatuftriafugrla3nlcael-,
Mrs. Mark Wood. The Duke of Connaught took
others of the carnations round the lawn, and his Royal High-
nnsle'lehan"eits 1)°bIl y c'sexcrticms to sell them were crowned with success,
There were 750 of these pale pink carnations from the great
plants of Bishop's-hall, and the price was two shillings each,
the total amount realized by their sale being £7s.—Court
Journal.
The Swiss Federal Council has decided that at the
approaching census of the Confederation those who 1111
up the returns shall be required to state to what religious
if any, they and the members of their families belong.
The late Government were often taunted by Iladica
members with want of courage to resort to the sixpenny rate
of telegram ; but it now appears that even a Liberal Post-
master-General shrinks from facing an estimated loss to the
revenue of £167,000 a year.—Court Journal.
A Daily News' telegram says that Naples was
greatly alarmed by a sharp shock of earthquake at 3.30 on
Sunday morning, preceded by lighter shocks at regular in-
tervals, beginning at 9.30 on Saturday night. The principal
shock was undulatory from east to west, lasting five
seconds, and was sufficiently strong to wake all the inhabit-
ants of Portici. The.greatest consternation prevailed among
the population. Vesuvius shows increased activity.
Several now fissures have opened, sending lava streams east-
wards.
The Commission of Inquiry on Indian Famines,
which was appointed by the Government of India on the
16th of May, 1878, has just issued its report, whrch forms .4 Blue-book of 69 pages. It is very exhaustive, going through
the history of previous Indian famines in considerable
detail. The practical recommendations which the Commis-
sioners make fall under seven heads :-1, improved adminis-
tration and statistics; 2, provision of relief for the able-
bodied; 3, gratuitous relief; 4, village Inspection; 5, food
Supply; 6, suspension of revenue and loans to the landed
Classes; and 7, local financial responsibility. The report is
illustrated by various maps, showing famine areas at dif-
ferent times.
By order of the German Minister of War a Bill has
been prepared providing for the surrender of the railways
of the empire to the military authorities in the event of war.
The railways are in such case to be administered and worked
by a military staff, for which ample provision is to be
made. Under such management the requirements of the
Statis' and,"trithaPOrt liervice-WIW-be Coritiidered, but
goods and passenger traffic are to be proceeded with as far
as such limitation will permit by the same staff.

The Duke of 'Westminster has announced to the
citizens of Chester, that he will give eCIO,OOO towards the
abolition of the Dee•bridge tolls. These toffs are a great
burden on the country people who have to cross the bridge
before they can do business in the city.

Sir Thomas Chambers has postponed till "early
next Session" his proposed resolution in the House of Corn-
mons,—" That, in the opinion of this House, it is expedient
that at the earliest possible moment marriage with a de-
ceasedwife's sister should be made legal"

'.he principal insurance companies of Scotland,
holding mortages on land in Ireland, ax.e said to have given
notice of their intention to call them in.

• Mr. Joseph Dawson, one of the most respected of
the Newmarket trainers, died on the. 23rd, at his residence,
Bedford-lodge, Newmarket, at the comparatively early age
of 57, after a short but painful illness, caused by an affection
of the liver

An excellent illustration of the present crippled
condition of Peru, says the Pall Mall Gazette, is afforded by
the fact that the English sovereign, which five years ago
was worth five sols, is now worth fifty.

The great Council of the canton of Schwytz, in
voting the restoration of capital punishment, has decided
that executions shall be public. Capital punishment has
now been restored in four cantons—Unterwalden, Appenzell,
Uri, aid Schwytz. The law in Schwytz, as just adopted by
the local Legislature, makes a distinction between legiti-
mate and illegitimate children. The crime of infanticide
will be punished with death only when the victim is a child
born in wedlock.

The Berlin correspondent of the Morning Pose
states that the German Government has expelled from the
country some Mormon missionaries who were engaged in
making proselytes.
The other evening, in America, two 'excursion
steamers met in collision on the Detroit River while on
moonlight excursions. One steamer, with twenty-five
people on board, was cut in two, sinking innnediately ; six-
teen persons were-drowned.
Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports were 13,000 bales; ditto since let September,
4,892,000 bales; shipments to England, 18,000 bales; ditto to
Continent and Channel, 6,000 bales, total shipments since Ist
September, 3,745,000 bales; stock at all ports. 214,000
bales.

A coral bank, about 10,000 intres in circumference
and between 150 and 200 metres thick, has been discovered
20 miles from Sciacca, Sicily, and enormous quantities are
daily extracted

The total area of British India is about 1 million
square miles, and the population 240 millions. Of this
nearly 600,000 square miles, containing a population esti-
mated at 50 millions, belong to the native States not under
British administration ; the remainder, about 900,000 square
miles, with 190 millions of people, is under direct British
rule.

The Board of Arbitration for the Manufactured
Iron Trade of the North of England issued on Saturday
report showing. the average price of manufactured iron for
the last three months to have been £6 us. Oid., except rails,
which were £6 10s. 9d. This gives Se. per ton as the prices
for puddling iron and 2i per cent, on other forge and mill
wages.

Mr. Mimdella, M.P., presided on Monday after-
noon at the distribution of prizes gained by members of the
College of Preceptors, at the Memorial Hall, Farringdon-
street, London. The right hon. gentleman said he had evi-
dence afforded him day by day of the growth of elementary
education in the country, and was especially glad to find
that the number of women who presented themselves for
examination was on the increase, believing, as he did, that
in the proper training of women the future greatness of
this country mainly depended.

It is well known that many persons object to plants
in living-rooms. On the other hand, two of our contem-
poraries, the Gardener's Chronicle and the British Medical
Journal, are maintaining that plants are healthful, and to
be desired in living-rooms.

Under the presidency of the Lord Mayor of Lon-
don, there was a meeting of the Council of the Hospital
Sunday Fund at the Mansion House on Monday, when a re-
port from the Committee of Distribution recommending
awards to metropolitan institutions was agreed to. The
total sum apportioned among the various hospitals and dis-
pensaries, after allowing a sufficient amount for outstanding
liabilities and next year's preliminary expenses, was £2.9,689.
The other day, three miles south of Plymouth
Breakwater, some fishermen saw a large case afloat. They
got it on board, and on opening it found the dead body of a
man, evidently a foreigner. There was nothing to show the
cause of death. The body was brought ashore and an inquest
held upon it. It is believed to be the body of a man who
died at sea, but that the case was not made sufficiently keavy
to sink. The jury returned a verdict of found dead in
British waters, but how the man died there was no evidence
to show.

Mr. H. P. Hubbard, of New York, has published a
Newspaper Directory of the World, containing statistics of
all the newspapers of the United States and Canada, also a
list of all the leading newspapers of the world.

On Sunday last the members of the Sunday Society
in London had the privilege of visiting the Crosvenor Gallery
and the Exhibition of the Society of British Artists. This was
the first time the latter exhibition has been opened on Sunday.
The number of visitors to the gallery in Suffolk-street during
the afternoon was 534 and during the evening the Grosvenor
Gallery was visited by 840.

The Duchess of Cambridge completed her 83rd year
on Sunday. The Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess
Frederika and Baron von Pawel Rammingen, the Grand
Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Duke of Cambridge, and
the Princess Mary Adelaide (Duchess of Teck) and the Duke
of Teck and their children visited the Duchess at her resi-
dence in the Ambassadors' Court, St. James's Palace, early
In the day, to offer felicitations,
A custom exists at the Paris Mint of striking a
medallion bearing the head of each successive ruler of
France during his tenure of power. This has just been done
in respect to M. Grevy, a fine medallion one foot in diameter,
executed by M. Dupuis, having been cast, showing an ex-
cellent likeness of the present President of the Republic.
It is offered to the public at the price of twenty francs a
copy in bronze,

A farm labourer, aged 62, named William Tomlin,
employed at Bunbury Farm, Turnharn, near Maidstone, has
met his death in a very singular iminner. He was collecting
hay with a horse-rake when the animal, being irritated by
the flies, bolted, and the poor fellow was thrown from his
scat beneath the rake, and was fearfttlly injured and muti-
lated by the teeth. Death resulted in a few minutes.

At Zella, Germany, more than 100 persons have
suffered from eating diseased pork.

The Treasury has sanctioned a grant of £5OO per
annum to provide an additional number of Distinguished
Service Rewards for the Army Medical Department.

A man and a woman were on Saturday evening
killed at the Hohneileld Station on the Bradford and Halifax
branch of the Great Northern Railway The woman, it
would appelr, was crossing the line as the 5.28 express train
from Bradford to Balifax came up. A porter 'rade au un-
availing effort to stop her, and with her was killed.

On Saturday morning, before daybreak, George
Sleigh, the driver of a goods train from Liverpool to Preston,
on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, saw a man lying
asleep on the other line, with his head on the rail, near the
Croston Station. Sleigh blew his whistle to wake him, and
also to attract the attention of the driver of a train coming
in the opposite direction, which must inevitably pass over
the sleeper if not stopped in time. But the warning was
either unintelligible or came too late ; the train passed on,
and when Sleigh stopped and went back he found that the
engine had fractured the man's skull. It' was afterwards as-
certained that the deceased was a foreman platelayer.

In London last week 2,595 births and 1,482 deaths
were registered. Allowing for increase of population, the
births exceeded by 159, while the deaths were 154 below, the
average numbers in the corresponding week of the last ten
years. The annual death-rate from all the causes, which had
slowly but steadily increased in the five preceding weeks
from 171 to 205, further rose to 211. During the past three
week of the current quarter the metropolitan death-rate has
averaged 202 per 1,000 against 238 and 17-2 in the correspond-
ing periods of 1878 and 1879.

At Monmouth, Rebecca and Florence Jones, two
little girls, were playing the other night in their father's
garden close by the side of the river Monnow, from which
the grounds are only separated by a low wall. The smallest
child was running after the other when the latter fell head-
long down some steps into the stream, where the water was
deeper than usual from recent storms. Upon seeing her
going down the river, the remaining little girl, three and
a half years of age, plunged in to the rescue, and seized her
sister by the hair, but she could not keep her hold, and the
child was carried away. She then managed to get out of
the river, rawhome, and gave an alarm. Assistance was
soon on the spot, and the sister was safely brought to land,
though much exhausted.

The Ladies Gazette of Fashion says that cotton has
been the ruling material in Paris this season, and is likely to
sway the sceptre almost alone on the coast, so long as the
warm weather lasts, and a necessity for woollen does not
make itself felt. It is susceptible of the most artistic
arrangements, and is the material, par excellence, for the
production of short-lived costumes with a spice of eccen-
tricity about them.

Parisian fashionables have a new name in Gallic
slang. Recently the cream of Parisian society have been
known as la haute gomme, now they are styled le gratin
(roughly translated, the bread crumbs on the top of a
savoury dish), but with their name they have undergone a
change. La gonttne was to be seen everywhere—at the
theatre, the races, the exhibitions, on the boulevards—le
gratin is highly exclusive, is mainly confined to ancient
families, and to the Faubourg St. Germain drawing-rooms.
Those who are of a less exalted rank, but are also in good
society, and who endeavour to copy their betters in all
things, are termed lea satinet's.