The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-22 00:00:00

DEATH OF TILE DUKE OF RUTLAND.

We regret to anuounce the death of the Duke of Rutland,
K G., which took place at half past three on Tuesday morning,
at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire. The members of his family
were fully prepared for the melancholy occurrence, for during
the last thirteen months, the Duke had been confined from
impaired health to his apartments in the Castle. About a
month back he became slightly worse, and has since daily
become more feeble, but was able, notwithstanding, to transact
business up to a few days ago, when a decided change took
place, and he continued gradually to sink until yesterday
morning, when de expired at the hour before mentioned,
apparently without the slightest pain. In consequence of his
evident approaching dissolution all the members of his family
had assembled at the castle, and it was a great consolation to
the Duke that he was surrounded as the great change
approached by his sons and daughters. The deceased was the
el lest son of Charles, 4th Duke, by Lady Mary Isabella
Somerset, 6th daughter of Charles Noel, 4th Duke of Beautort:
He was born 4th January, 1778, and succeeded to the ducal
title and family estates on the demise of his father in October,
1787, so that he had enjoyed the dukedom for the long period
of 69 years. The late Duke has always been regarded as one
of the best landlords in England, from his liberality and earnest
consideration for the welfare of his tenantry. He took an
active part in politics, but voted with the extreme
conservative party, and he is succeeded by his eldest son,
the Marquis of Granby, M.P., born 16th May, 1815. He
was first returned to the House of Commons for Stamford, in
1837, which borough he uninterruptedly sat for until July,
1852, when he was elected for North Leicestershire, on the
retirement of his uncle, the late General Lord Charles
Manners. By his accession to the House of Lords a vacancy
occurs in the representation of that division of the county.

EXTRAORDINA.RY EXPERIMENT IN TIMBER

BENDING.

On Tuesday afternoon some experiments on an extensive
scale took place in the premises of Messrs. Collinge and Co.,
Bridge road, Lambeth, London. The experiments were carried
out principally to show that an immense saving might be
obtained to the country by the adoption of the new mode of
bending into a permanently set form every kind of wood into
any shape. Amongst those present were the Eon. Admiral
Dee, Admiral Sharpe, Captain Carnac, R.N., Capt. Edmunds,
R.M., Captain Mackinnon, and several others. One experi-
ment consisted of a small specimen of oak, which was quickly
bent into the form 61 a hoop, which was afterwards straightened,
and eventually turned inside out. The third experiment
consisted of a large oak sh;p's floor timber, 12 inches by 8,
which was, in the space of a quarter of an hour, bent into a
right angle. From the opinions expressed by several of the
scientific gentlemen present, it would appear that in the space
of two or three years the present system of' cutting away the
wood to form curves, by which so much of the material is
wasted, will be superseded by this invention. The cost of
curved wood consumed in the 'British islands under the present
method of supply, in its natural condition, amounts to at leas
five millions sterling per annum, which is partially occasioned
by the deplorable waste inherent in that method as adopted in
all trades requiring curved forms in wood. The new process
of bending timber will reduce the cost of ships of all sizes 25
per cent., and greatly increase their strength and durability,
by avoiding the necessity of using cross-grained wood. The
experiments appeared to give general satisfaction, and the
company separated, after expressing their approbation of the
invention.

PRESENTATION OF A TESII.4,IOIVIAL TO Till

BISHOP OF RIPON:

On Tuesday afternoon, there was a large meeting of the
parishioners of St. Giles's-in-the-fields, in the vestry room
of the parish, for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to
Dr. Robert Bickersteth, late rector, who has just been conse-
crated to the Bishopric of Ripon. The testimonial consisted
of a rich vase candelabrum, with centre glass for flowers, and
branches for holding six lights about three feet in height,
hearing the arms of the Bishop, diocesan arms of Ripon, and
following inscription :—" Presented to the Right Rev. Robert
Bickersteth, D.D., Lord Bishop of Ripon, late Rector of St.
Giles's in the Fields, by the ladies of the district Visiting
Society, and other members of his congregation in St. Giles's,
in testimony of their esteem and affection, and in grateful
acknowledgment of his devoted pastoral ministration whilst
over them in the Lord.—A.D., 1857." Mr. Rogers,
Q C., informed the Bishop that the Ladies of the
District Visiting Society had done him the honour
to request him to present their testimonial. The
learned gentleman adverted to many of the acts of the late
rector, and then formally presented him with the testimonial,
which is valued at 130 guineas. The Bishop of Ripon, id
acknowledging the compliment conferred upon him, said that
on looking back to the course which ho had been permitted tti
take during the last five years, he was overwhelmed with a
feeling of humiliation on the one hand, and thankfulness on
the other. With regard to the District Visirina• Society, it
was only due to his predecessor (the Rev. J. E. Tyler), to say
that he originated it, but when he (the bishop) came to the
parish he found it disorganised, and that its reconstruction
was necessary. When he resolved fo do this, he was told that
he was asking too much, when he expected ladies to penetrate
into such a degraded district as St. Giles's, and if they attempted
to do so they would be grossly insulted ; but be persevered,
until at length one, then two, then three volunteered, and
gradually there grew up around him a staff of bumble,
unostentatious, persevering, self-denying ladies, who most
sedulously applied themselves to their work, and for their
labours lie could never be too thankful. The Bishop, in
thanking his friends for the testimonial, said it would be no
slight gratification for him to reflect that all the light his table
in the palace of Ripon would frequently receive, would bd
derived from an offering from the parish of St. Giles's.