Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1872-08-03 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

UNITED METHODIFT ABBEIIELY.—The annual assembly of the United Methodist Free Churches commenced its sittings on Tuesday in Milk-street Chapel, Bristol, ten years having elapsed since it met in that city before. In that period the members of the denomination (including those of the foreign missions) have increased by nearly 6,000; the ranks of the ministry have been augmented by about 1,000; and there has been a corresponding increase in the number of chapels and schools, and in other respects progress has taken place. The representatives delegated to attend this year's assembly consist of 108 ministers and 78 laymen.  DEATH THROUGH FRIGHT CAUSED BY THUNDER --OH Tuesday morning: an inquest was held at the Horse Shoe Inn, Featberstall. near Rochdale, touching the death of Margaret Kershaw. aged forty-seven, wife of Edmund Kershaw, of Fetherstall. Deceased, it appeared, had long complained of a pain in her side, and suffered from shortness of breath. She is stated to have had &dread of thunder. During the thunderstorm on Monday deceased was found leaning against a wall, in a sheechless condition. An engineer named David Greenwood conveyed her home, where she died in about twenty minutes after her arrival. Fear of the thunder is supposed to have hastened her death. A verdict of died from natural causes was returned. THE Dumyat= 07 Errinotgrosu.—Seven cities claim Homer as a born citizen. How many nations, a few hundred years hence, will claim Mr Stanley, the discoverer of Dr Livingstone? At present the contest lies between America and the Principality of Wales. The special correspondent of a London contemporary, who " interviewed" Mr Stanley at Marseilles. declared that he was a true-born Yankee. A correspondent ef a Welsh newspaper, on the contrary, traiotains that he is a Welshman by birth. "Mr atiley." be says, "is no other than John Rowlands, i-on of Mrs Rowlands. of Glasgoed, near St. Asaph ; and that anyone visiting the Castle Arms Inn, Denbigh, can see his brother and sister, his carte Se t. site, and have a glass of good I Per or porter, or, if a ti.tel abstainer, a bottle of gin7er-beer at the swot time." Perhaps Mr Rat ley will be kind en/met-, to ti.-t this great hiisturiesl question at regt.—Birat'ug• ham Post.  The Mayor of Chateandnu committrA soiei le on Sculley. A site has been selected for ti2e erection of public hall in Carlisle.  'f he Loudon coachmakera are agitating for the nine hours movement.  Prince Arthur distributed the prizes at Dover College on Tuesday afternoon. Her Royal Ilighuess the Duchess of Cambridge has just completed her seventy-fifth year. A Scotch colony, consisting chiefly of residents from Kincardineshire, has been formed in New Brunswick.  The latest explorer of Nicaragua, Mr Crossman, reports in favour of the practicability of an interoceanic ship canal. At Liverpool on Saturday, a verdict of wilful murder nas returned against a man named Connell for kicking his wife to death. At the Staffordshire Assizes on Saturday, Christo pher Edwards was sentenced to death for murdering his wife at Willenhall in April last.