The Northern Guardian. — 1892-04-26 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

MEN BREAKING STONES FOR BREAD. The increase is not necessarily due to absolutely fresh cases ; but to those who, having been fairly thrifty in times of prosperity, have hung modestly back till their little hoard was gone, and then, with the pinch of poverty in their faces, they have sought the relief of the poor law officers. The shipyards are beginning to peg out in their supplies, and there is imminent danger of one shipyard closing quickly in the absence of a prompt settlement by the miners. Of course, the distress most largely affects the ironworks, viz., the Malleable Company, the West Stockton and the Moor Iron Companies. The shipyards, as yet, have bravely hung on to a certain momentum of life and activity; but there is a danger of one grave stoppage, such as we have just hinted at. Should this impending danger be unavoidable another thousand idlers, at least, will be cast on the burden of the rates. Northumberland coal keeps the industries now working in fairly good going order; but it is easy to foresee that if the Durham strike continues, Northumberland and Yorkshire coal will advance to such a price as will preclude the possibility of completing the contracts that the firms have in hand. The case we instanced at time outset of this report of a casual survey is a fair sample of others that we chanced across, and should this labour problem not find a speedy solution, it would be imoossible to limit its disastrous effect. The many public works now in the stages of inception and progress in Stockton should prove a grand field of tabour should the worst come to the worst.  The death is announced in New Yolk of Mr. William Bradford, the painter.  Alderman Thos. Richardson, J.P., is announced to speak at a smoking concert in the South-East Ward to-night. The Bishop of Newcastle will preach at the festival service of the Church of England Temperance Society, at St. Paul's Cathedral, on Monday evening next.  By a despatch received in Paris last evening, it appears that the Dahomeyans Itave advanced towards the French settlement of Portonovo, and that an attack seems imminent.  A thunderstorm passed over East Yorkshire last evening at about 5.30. Half-an-hour earlier rain fell in torrents for a few minutes, and there had previously been a slight hailstorm. Rain is much needed in the Riding. A meeting of the members who are in favour of the principle of the Woman Suffrage Bill will be held this afternoon, to consider whether any steps can be taken to facilitate the stage of Second Reading.  An inquest was held yesterday as to the death of Helena Burchall, wife of a labourer living at Earlswood. The evidence tended to show that under the influence of drink, he shot her, and a verdict of wilful murder was returned against him. He was committed for trial.  Mr. Walton Armstrong, a student in the Congregational College at Nottingham, having received a call from the church and congregation worshipping in the Independent Church, Brougham Street, Hartlepool, and having accepted the same, will commence his pastoral duties (AV.) on the first Sunday in July, 1892. Consul Wagstaff, reporting to the Foreign Office from Riga, notes a new development of Russian trade. It is the export of live lampreys to serve as bait. They arc shipped direct from Riga to Hull. The first shipment proved disastrous, the fish not surviving the warm foggy weather through which they passed. But the second trial proved successful.  The Prince Consort left a number of Church and other musical compositions, many of which have already been printed and published in London. In the library of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg have, however, now been found several other of the Prince Consort's works, which are still in mannscript, and one of them, a " Te Deum," will, we learn, be publicly performed by the Singerkranz of Coburg on Tuesday next. A Women's Training School at St. Louis happily combines work anti play. A violet party belongs to the latter category, as well as a candy-pulling, intended for the children and the young men and girls. A committee of young ladies are to make all the arrangements. In addition to the shorthand, type-writing, and sewing classes, others for learning cookery have now been established, at which lessons are given in such national dishes as cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, backed ham, chicken salad, and cold slaw.