The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-08-28 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BP.ITISH AND FORMIC

According to an estimate recently made the yield of
wine in France in 1875 will amount to 106 millions of hecto-
litres (22 gallons each).
Cardinal M'Closkey is said to be the bearer of
600,000 francs from America for the use of the Pope.
The value of butter imported to England in the last
seven months was £5,094,626, against £,4,808,114 last year.
An American paper says immigration to the United
States has fallen off decidedly since the financial revulsion of
1873.
Wild boars and wolves have reappeared in the
forests of the Jaura, whence they fled in 1870.71 at the approach
of General Bourbaki's army.
Ten young people recently met with a serious acci-
dent at Busseau (Deux-Ssvres). They got into a boat
scarcely capable of holding three with safety ; and after pad-
dling about for an hour on the pond of Ferrieres their craft
upset, and of its occupants only one, aged twelve years, was
rescued.
Sir 111,,ses Montefiore and his fellow missionaries to
Jerusalem, have received numerous deputations, with a view
of eliciting information relative to the condition of the inha-
bitants of Jerusalem. Sir Moses was confined to bed for
some days by indisposition, brought on by the climate.
, The shortest transatlantic voyage on record from
Queenstown to Sandy Hook is that of the White Star
steamer Germanic, Captain Kennedy, which on her last
voyage out occupied but seven days twenty-three hours and
seven minutes of actual time.
The Riberi Triennial prize of 20,0001 ire (2800) has been
awarded by the Royal Academy of Medicine in Turin to Pro-
fessor Schiff, of Florence, for his work entitled "Contribu-
tions to the Pathological Physiology of the Spinal Cord."
This is the fourth occasion on which the prize has been
awarded.
-

A venerable building is being pulled down in Geneva.
It is that in which for 160 years the sittings have been held
of the venerable Company of Pastors and the Consistory. It
has stood since 1715.
Monday's returns show that 11,573 animals in
Dorset are suffering from the foot-and-mouth disease, these
returns including 5,425 sheep around Dorchester.
Some fat beasts which arrived from New York a
week ago were sold in the Liverpool market on Monday, at
prices ranging from £2B to £36 a head. Much interest had
been excited respecting the animals, whose condition after
their voyage across the Atlantic was much better than had
been anticipated.
The projected bicycle ride from Vienna to Paris has
failed, the bicycle have broken at the end of fifty-five miles,
and Mr. Nairns was unable tl find a blacksmith who could
repair it. He went on to Arts by rail.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowledges in
The Times (as "Conscience Money"), the receipts of
second halves of a £5 note from "A. D." and of a £2O note
from "A. Z.," for Income-tax.
It was decided at a meeting held on Monday, at
Dundee, of millowners whose employes are on strike, to
adhere to the reduction of 10 per cent., irrespective of any
determination on the part of other owners.
The Church of England Sunday School Institute
and the representatives of the Sunday School Union have
fixed Oct. 17 and 18 as days of special and universal prayer.
La.t Saturday the divers at work on the wreck of
the Schiller recovered five hundred and sixty-one twenty-
dollar pieces.
In the financial year ending the 31st of March, 1875,
the "conscience money" remitted to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer fell to the insignificant amount of £2,688. In the
preceding year it was £8,588.
A public paper issued on Monday disclosed the fact
that last year the customs duty on tea realised as much as
£3,435,586, being an increase of £134,980 on the previous
year.
On Monday a Parliamentary blue book was printed,
from which it appears that last year the wine duty amounted
to £1,724,927 at the customs, which was a decrease of
£50,976 on the year 1873.
The official report issued on Tuesday as to the state
of the foot-and-mouth disease in Oxfordshire shows that it is
still spreading. On 147 farms there are 3,072 sick cattle. The
scab has also made its appearance among the sheep.

The harvest labourers in some parts of Kent have
during the last few days been worried by a swarm of gnats
of unusually large size, which are supposed to be mosquitoes,
or an Indian tribe of gnats. - - - -

-
A. marked decrease has taken place during the
present year in the tide of ernigratinn setting out from the
Clyde. The fallingoff is mainly in the Canadian and United
States trade, the sailings to New Zealand and Australia being
very similar to those of last year.
- --

In clearing away the refuse from the ancient silver
mines of Laurium, in Greece, a large number of seeds were
found unknown to modern science, but described in the
writings of Pliny. The seeds took root, budded and
blossomed, bearing beautiful yellow flowers, after a burial of
at least 1,600 years.
- -

At the adjourned meeting of 'West Yorkshire coal-
owners, held on Tuesday, at the "Queen's" Hotel, Leeds, it
was reported that no decision had been arrived at respecting
the proposed reduction of the men's wages. It is understood
that no further action will be taken in the matter until the
wages dispute in the South Yorkshire district has been settled,
and the meeting was indefinitely adjourned.
On August 7 a serious disaster occurred at the
Government Arsenal at Bridesburg, in the suburbs of Phila-
delphia. In a room where 31 boys were emptying old shells
of their contents, carelessne,s caused one to explode, when at
once the whole mass exploded, demolishing the building.
But five persons who were in the room escaped unhurt, and,
of the others, two were killed and 17 seriously injured.
The screw steamer St. Osyth, which conveyed a large
number of passengers from London to Melbourne, had a
narrow escape of destruction from tire in the course of her
passage out. On the morning of the 31st of May, five days
after crossing the equator, it was found that a fire was
raging In the coal bunk. After great exertions, the tire was
extinguished by noon, and the St. Osyth proceeded on her
course, reaching Melbourne on June 27, after a passage of 44
days 12 hours.
A German paper expresses uneasiness at the de-
creasing population of Prussia Proper. Between 1861 and
1864 there was an increase of 8,409, but between 1864 and
1867 there was a decrease of 12,922, and between 1867
and 1871 one of 66,440. Allowing for the loss
of life in the last two wars, and for the Prussian soldiers
quartered in France at the time of the census, the loss of
population In 10 years amounts to 52,200.

The Prefect of Police in Paris has just taken an ex-
cellent measure for the safety of the public. It is nowt or-
mally forbidden to horse-dealers or any individuals to drive
in Paris four-horse teams or tandems, unless the coachman
is provided with a certificate indicating that he has the
necessary ability. These certificates will be delivered by
inspectors delegated to that effect. The like necessity would
stop some of the four-in-hanci driving in London.
The Bohemia says :—lt is said to be an old prophecy
which is animating the insurgents in Bosnia and the llerze•
govina. The prophecy, which we find in a work on Bosnia
published fifteen years ago, states that In the fifth century after
the taking of the last Bosnian King by the Turks, the rising
of the Christian Elays in Turkey would be victorious. Stephen
Tomasevie, the last Bosnian King, was executed on the 30th
of June, 1463, on the plain of Blagaj, and the present move-
ment commenced on the anniversary of that event.

The editor of Ayes and Noes of 1875 informs us that
there have been 241 divisions during the session that has
just closed. In the session of 1874 there.were 162.
According to the Turkestan Gazette, the Lake Issyk-
Cool has become so shallow that the remains of the wall of
a destroyed town may be seen rising above the water level.
The total amount of subscriptions received by
Madame la Mar6chale de MacMahon for the inundated is at
present 21,161,317fr5.
In Chicago, those who buy old books to sell again
are obliged by law to pay for a licence, and to keep a record
of the names of persons they buy from.
Two sturgeons, each seven feet long, have been
captured off the Lancashire coast, and conveye the
Aquarium recently opened at Southport.
A New York paper notes, as a novelty, the applica-
tion of the camera obscura to railroad cars, exhibiting to
the traveller a moving picture of the country through which
he is passing.
A conference, convened by the Peace
Association of Great Britain, is to be held in Paris pn the 6th
and 7th of September next, for the purpose of dbicassing the
best means of promoting the principle. ^f the society amongst
he working classes of France.
Last year the duties of customs on sugar only pro-
duced £502, and in 1873 £2,436,778, in consequence of the
reduction of duty.
The Fanfulla states that the late Emperor Ferdinand
of Austria has left to the Pope a legacy of 10,000,000 florins,
which has already been paid at the Vatican. The Emperor
has bequeathed also to the Pope all the ornaments and sacred
vessels of his chapel, and most valuable crystals and rare
china services.
The Queen sent the Hon. Harriet Phipps and some
gentlemen of the Royal household to Gairshiel to express her
Majesty's sympathy with Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Peel and their
relatives on the recent sad occurrence in the Solent.
A curious custom has sprung up of publishing the
names of witnesses to a marriage in the announcement of the
marriage. It is an idea based upon exact and businesslike
forethought.—Court Journal.
An excursionist from Elmira, New York, who made
a trip under the Horseshoe Fall at Niagara, a few days ago,
found, upon returning to the main land, that his sense of
,hearing was completely gone.
It is proposed to widen London Bridge to the extent
of eleven feet on each side. The cost of the work is esti-
mated at £55,000.

sStirbaledtbrinoksema, fotrheliannedreastoe be
Wl
laovtesnteoy ,
The Labour League has made application to Lords
labaonudreWrs.alsoingnagrnto
the funds of the League, laud is to be bought where it cannot
be rented. Co-operative stores are also to be established.
It is not generally known that, whim a person falls
Into the water, a common felt hat can be made use of as a
life preserver. By placing the hat upon the water, rim
down, with the arm around it pressing it slightly to the breast,
it will bear a man up for hours. Anyone doubting the above
can take an old hat, and try it in a bucket of water, or when
bathing, and he will soon be convinced.—Pictorial World.
M. Thiers is an enthusiastic horticulturist. He
knows each flower in his garden, and treats it as a personal
friend. The little semi-circular pleasure ground at the back
of his mansion in Paris is tended by two gardeners. The
master's ideal is so high that they scarcely suffice for the
work. There is no fresher or more delicious spot in Faris
than this oasis. Birds are encouraged to settle in . The
Commune did not destroy the old trees.
Two divers who were engaged in clearing a wreck
in the sea near the island of St. Honoret, on the
French coast, are said to have been seized by a gigantic
octopus, who clutched them in its hideous folds. One of
them, fortunately, had his arm free and rang the alarm bell,
which brought down a crowd of divers armed with pickaxes
and axes, with which they cut the monster to pieces. He was
found to measure threepetres.
A traveller who has just returned from the Aures
Mountains, ins Algiers, thinks that region has the most mul-
titudinous wild flowers, the most wonderful ruins, and the
most beautiful women in the world. Ile says—" I never
saw such beautiful women, with perfectly classic features,
showing unmistakably their Roman descent. Is it not
curious that they have nearly the same names for themenths as
we have? And they keep the 25th of December, and call it
'the birth,' though they do not know of whom."
At the meeting the Great Northern Railway Com-
pany a shareholder, in remarking upon the large increase in
the working stock, said that "about 30 years ago two engines
to every three miles were thought sufficient; but this idea,
he thought, was being reversed in the present day, far he
found that the South-Eastern had 253 engines and 350 nines'
the Brighton had 266 engines and 376 miles; the South-
Western, with 626 miles, had 329 engines,: the Eastern
Counties had 460 engines and 763 miles ; the Great Western,
with 1,525 miles, had LOS 2 engine,; and the Great Northern
had 521 engines to their 523 miles.
The Duke of Edinburgh has met with an enthusi-
astic reception in Russia. On his arrival at Nijni-Novgorod,
on Friday evening, a deputation from the mercantile com-
munity of that important commercial centre waited upon
his Royal Highness at the railway station, and, in accord-
ance apparently with the custom of the country, presented
him with bread and salt as a token of hospitality and a
Pledge of welcome. The modesty of the offering was set off
by the worth of the silver dish on which it was presented,
the value of the piece of plate being two thousand roubles.
The Scientific American announces that an insect
hostile to housewives and slumber has been purged of his
pestilential qualities by a simple scientific method, and ren-
dered a delightful and indispensable article of the dressing-
table. By soaking nice fat bed bugs in a saturated solution
of nitrate of potash and water, a perfume, delicate, delicious,
penetrating, and like nothing else in the wide world, is
obtained. That an impetus this will give to the slaughter
Of insects of this persuasion I Nitrate of potash is cheap, and
the bugs are plentifuL —Live Stock Journal and Fancier's
Gazetle.

a .11.e.bal

• THE MARKETS-,
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progressory I
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been short. The demand has been heavy and to force sales
less money must have been taken. New qualities have been
In fair supply, and with a iimited inquiry have fallen Wily 2s.
per qr. The top price for white has been 50s. per qr., but an
extra fine sample, weighing 62i lbs. per bushel, has been
held for 525. per qr. Foreign wheat has been in.good supply.
The trade has been depressed, and prices have fallen 2a. to
3s. per qr. A moderate supply of barley has been on offer.
The trade has been dull at drooping currencies. Malt com-
manded but little attention on former terms. A fair average
supply of oats on offer. Sales have progressed slowly and
the prices realised have been 65. per qr. lower on the week.
Maize dull, and has fallen 6d. per qr. Beans and peas pur-
chased sparingly, and prices weak. A sample of fine canary
seed on offer, the price asked being £l2 per qr. The flour
market has been dull, ceuntry and foreign sorts may be
MARK-LANTE.-WEDN'EsDAY.
written is. to 2s. lower.
The grain trade has again been in a very quiet state. The
fresh business entered into has been very moderate, and
prices have remained weak. English wheat has been in
moderate supply. Old samples have been held for about
late rates. New have been rather irregular in value, white
preduce is quoted at 445. to 505. ; and red at 425. to 485.
Foreign wheat, of which a fair supply has been on offer, has
sold slowly at previous currencies. The supply of barley is
moderate, very little doing at last week's prices. Malt has
been dull on former terms.
METROPOLITAN- CATTLE MARKET.-MONDAY.
The cattle trade has been firmer in tone, notwithstanding the
warm weather and the increased supplies of stock offering.
From our own grazing districts the receipts of beasts have
been tolerably good, but there has been much variety
in quality. Without being very active the trade has
been decidedly firm, and the prices realised fully
equal to those current on Monday last. The best
Sects and crosses have sold at 6s. to 60. 2d. per 81b.
From Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire we
have received about 2,000, from other parts of England about
600, and from Scotland 55 head. The show of beasts on the
foreign side of the market has been rather large, the Tonnlng
receipts being very strong, namely, about 2,100. There have
also been some 200 Danish and about 100 Spanish. The trade
has been firm at full quototions. The sheep pens have been
moderately supplied. The demand more active, especially
for prime breeds, which have realised about 2d. per 31b, more
than on Monday last, the best Downs and half-breds selling
at 7s. to 7s. 2d. per 81b. Other qualities were steadier. For
lambs there has been more inquiry, and the top prices being
Bs. per 81b. Calves in moderate supply, and in fair request
at late rates. Pigs have been rattier quiet. At Deptford
there have 180 Spanish beasts. Coarse and inferior beasts,
3s. 10d. to 4s. 10d. ; second quality ditto, 33
&c.,. to 68. 45. ;
prime large oxen, 5s Bd. to 6s. ; prime- Scots, c., 65. to
rime coarse woolled. 6s. 10d.
6cistialidt.y;dcitotaor,sess.atnod
sisuf6edrio;rpsheeP, 45. Bd. to 6s. ; second
to 7s. ; prime Southdowns, 7s. to 78. 2d. ; large coarse calves,
48. ed. to ss. ; prime small ditto, ss. to 55. 65. ; large hogs,
48, 6d. to 6s. ; small porkers, 5. to 58. Gd. ; lamb, Os, to 89.
per 81b. to sink the offal.
METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET.-MONDAY.
To-day there was a moderate supply of meat, for which
the demand was rather good at the following rates :-
Inferior beef, 38. 4d. to 38. Sd. ; middling ditto, 4s. to 4s. Bd.;
prime large ditto, 4s. 10d. to 51. 4d: ; prime small ditto, Os.
to bs. 6d. ; veal, 4s 4d. to 6s. ; inferior mutton, 35. 4d. to
35. 105. middling ditto, 48. 41 to 58. ; prime ditto, 68. 45.
to Gs. Bd. ; large porky 4s. to 4s. 6d. ; small ditto, 65. 4d. to
6s. ; lamb, 6s. 4d. to 7s. per 81b by the carcass.
The trade in potatoes in3P
POTATOES.
roved towards the latter part of
last week, and to-day a fair business is passing at enhanced
prices. The exports into London last week consisted of
60 bags from Amsterdam, 32 baskets from Antwerp, 149 bags
from Harlingen, and 9 barrels Dunkirk. Round, 605. to POs.;
kidneys, 1005. to 110 s. per ton.
BOPS.
There is little doing in hops, but the few remaining check
any pressure to sell, and this helps to support prices. The
weather continues very favourable for the bine, and opinions
as to the excellency of the yield are unanimous. The Imports
of foreign hops into London last week consisted of 125 bales
from .Antwerp, four from Hamburg, and six from Rotterdam.
FISH.
Salmon, 105. to is 3d. ; trout, 9d. to is. ; eels, 85. to
is. Id. per lb. ; turbot, 68. to 128. ; brill, is. to 25. ; cod,
45. 6d. to 68 65.; crimped ditto, 85. to 12s. ; gurnard, is. to
2s. ; dory, is. Pd.. to 2s. 3d.; soles, 6d. to is. 9d. each; lob-
sters, 68. to 275. ; crabs, 4s. 65. to 265. ; mackrel, is. 3d. to 38. ;
mullet, 2s. to 35. 6d. per dozen; and common oysters, Ss. to
10s, per hundred.

PROVISION.
LONDON, Monday, August 23.—The arrivals last week from
Ireland were 1,080 firkins Butter and 2,694 bales Bacon, and
from foreign ports 22,176 packages Butter and 2,838 bales
Bacon. The Butter market remains in the same low state.
The only demand is for the very finest Normandy; other
qualities pressed for sale at irregular prices, best Dutch
118 s. to 1208. The supplies of Waterford Bacon being short,
prices are well maintained ; but Ilambuyg meets a slow sale
at a decline of 28. per cwt. from this day se'nnight. Lard
firm, 28. advance obtained, and a further advance looked
for.
Butter per cwt. : s. s. I Cheese per cwt, : 5. s.
Dorset
Friesland —lO4 116 Dble. Glouc., new 56 74
Jersey
Eng fresh, per doz. 14 16 American new .... 42 56
Bacon, per cwt: Hams: York .. • . 108
w iltshsire ...... 84 -- I Cumberland ...... 104 108
Irish, green, f.o.b. 78 84 I Irish .• ....... 98 104 ,
TALLOW.
LONDON, Monday, August 23.—The market is firm but no
dearer. Y.C. on the spot, remaiuing at 465. 61 per cwt. ;
while Town Tallow makes 445. net cash. Rough fat is quoted

2e. per Blbs.

fs. d.
s. d.
Town Tallow, per cwt. 45 0 Rough Stuff, per cwt. 16 6
1
Rough Fat, per 81b5... 2 0 GrBllVe_g PI 18 0
Melted Stuff, per cwt. 20 6 Good Dregs ~ . 6 0
Yellow 'Russian, new ...... 465. 63. per cwt.
old ...... 00s. Od. ._
Attralian lifutton Tallow.. 445. Od.
Beer „ 425. Od. „
f I
SEED.
LONDON, Monday. August 23,—New English Cloverseed
does not yet appear. Prices of Foreign are held higher, but
for want of stocks not much passing. Fine Trefoil was in
steady request at very full prices. New winter Tares, in
small supply, were held high. New winter Barley and new
winter Oats are offering at moderate rates. New Rye ranges
,from 38s. to 40s. Cananseed was offering in small quantities
at very high and irregular rates. Bidders of foreign anxious
sellers. Old white Mustardseed sold in small lots on former
terms Nothing passing in brown for want of supply. Fine
black English Rapeseed brought fully as much money, with
a steady sale. The best samples of Trifolium were quite as
dear, but discoloured parcels were dull and rather lower.
Lleinpseed realised former values steadily.
MAY.
WHITEORAPEL, Saturday, Aug 21.—The supplies of hay
and clover have been short. For good clover a fair inquiry
has prevailed, and prices have ruled firm. Other kinds have
sold slowly. Meadow hay has been rather cheaper. Straw
unaltered. Prime clover 1005. to 1545. ; inferior, 85s. to 955.
prime meadow hay, 90s. to 148 a. ; inferior, (555. to 755. ; and
straw 355. to 50s. per load.

*or,

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