The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1866-04-28 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1866.  SUMMARY OF NEWS.  In the !louse of Lords, on Tuesday night, the Qualification for Offices Abolition I liii, was read a second time uithout opposif on. A Manchester paper records the death of the oldest Odd Fellow —Mr. I feorge NVard. of Preston. Al. the time Mr. Ward joined the society it was formed chiefly for convivial purposes, and the members were few in number. 'flow was no regular Sick and Burial Fund, and the distress of the members was only occasionally relieved by means of levies or voluntary subscriptions. What the society is now our readers know too well to be reminded. The Owl understands that the House of Commons is to be asked to vote £3,000 a year for the Princess Mary of Cambridge on her marriage.  The speculation on the division on the second reading of the Franchise Bill grows gradually less. Seven Liberals have been unseated, and the "Club estiniated " on Wednesday these would bring down the Government majority to some figures ranging from seven to twelve.  The Pai/pLin (lazette states that up to Tuesday, only fifteen Public Acts, awl one Local Act, have been passed during the present Session of Parliament.  The body of Mr. W. Hobbs, the Reading solicitor, whose mysterious disappearance caused so much concern to his friends, has been found a short distance front the town in the Rennet and Avon Canal. The gold rings which Mr. Hobbs wore when he left home, together with his gold watch and chain were upon him when he was found, and on searching the body in his pockets were several sovereigns and bsuk cheques. The long pending case of Charlotte Winsor, who is lying under sentence of death for child murder, was again heard in error on Tuesday last, in the Exchequer Chambers. The proceeding was formal, and the Judges appoint next Friday for the argument. The prisoner was present, but displayed the utmost indifference.  The Globe considers a dissolution improbable. The Parliament is not a year old. A ministerial defeat would, therefore, be followed by the resignation of the Cabinet. The (nobe feels us. stared the tlovermeent will continue to act together to the end, and that if the emergency arises the entire Ministry would resig.a. In case tho ministers obtain only a small majority they might determine to f!O on with the bill until one of its chief enfranchising clauses was negatived. Lord Lyttelton presided over a social meeting of the Working itleat's Club and Institute Union on Wednesday evening. A diseussion by working men took place on the question, " Would a large extension of the franchise promote the well-being of the community ?" and one of the speakers hoped that the bill would pass with u " crashing 'majority, 'and that the Lords would follow suit. Lord Lyttelton on this humouroualy remarked that if the bill came up with " crashing '• majority their Lordships would think twice before they threw it out, but if not it would be another matter. Lord Elcho and the Earl of Lichfield were also present as subscribers to the institution, and the former, after listening patiently to all the arguments, admitted on being appealed to that he was not convinced by them.  A meeting of trade unionists was held in Loudon on Wednesday night to hear an explan• 10.1011 of the origin and present position of the dispute and lock-out in the Shetheld file trade from a deputation scut from that town. In the course of the statement made, it was said that the file trade was the worst paid of any trade in Sheffield. The meeting passed a resolution regretting that the employers had rejected the offer of arbitraC.on, and expressing sympathy with the men and willingness to assist them.  Mr. Gladstone gave notice in the Rouse on Thursday night, that should ths debate on the Reform Bill terminate as on the previous night, he should make his annual financial statement on Thursday next.  The debate on the Reform Bill was renewed in the House on Thursday night by Mr. Lowe, who complained that the Distribution of Seats' Bill had not been brought in previous to the Franchise Bill, and said that if the Bill passed it would give the working classes the control over 334 seats, or the power of electing a majority of the borough representatives.