The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1882-02-18 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

XVI. was sold for 2,000 fr. The Nome Vremya states that there is at present considerably increased activity at the Russian Ministry of Marine, and that the improvement of the Black Sea fleet is one of the chief measures in contemplation. The actual strength of the Black Sea fleet in metal amounts to 11 guns of large and 34 of middle-sized calibre, together with guns adapted for rapid firing. The Band announces that an ingenious Swiss after a series of experiments extending over s.everel years, has succeeded in producing artificial mother-of-pearl, undistin,guishable in every respect from the natural article. It can be moulded in any shape, produced in any colour, is Impervious alike to summer heat and whiter cold, mid its price will be much lees than that of ordinary mother-ofpearl. Information is stated to have reached the Foreign Office which justifies the fear that an Englishman has been murdered in Albania, although it has been proved that the victim was not the correspondent of The Times. Teetotallers will be delighted to hear that temperance prevails in Madagascar. The Queen enforces a penalty of ten oxen and two pounds on any person found manufacturing intoxicating drink, and of a lighter fine upon these who sell and those who drink it. The ascent of the volcano of Tongariro, the ".sacred mountain " of New Zealand, has been successfully made by Mr. Manson, an American tourie. The Melbourne Awns says that the bill restricting Chinese imnsigration became law in the form insisted upon by the Upper House. No vessel can land in Victoria more than one Chinese to every 100 tons and each immigrant must pay a tax of £lO on arrival Chinese, however, may freely enter the colony overland from New South Wales or South Australia, A Parlianalntary paper giving a list of all persons detained in prison under the Protection of Persona and Property (Ireland) Act, 1881, was issued on Saturday. On the Ist inst. there were 512 "suspects " confined in various Irish gaols. Mr. Parnell M. P., stands eightieth on the list. The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens, Regent's Park, London, during last week included a Seise monkey, from East Africa, presented by ler. B Gunning ; a ring tailed lemur, from Madagascar, presented by Captain M. P. Webster ; two badgers. from Russia, presented by Mr. C. It. Meltzsr ; a Cinereous sea eagle (European), presented by the nom M. Finch Hatton; two common barn owls (British), presented by Master Golden :a mountain ka-ka, from New Zealand, deposited; two snow buutings, two mountain linnets, a cirl bunting (British), purchased. The Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden, who were married at Carlsruhe in September, made their entry into Christiania on Saturday afternoon, The railway station was profusely decorattd, and on the arrival of the train their Royal Highnesses were welcomed by the Bargomaster, the municipal and ether authorities, and ladies of Christiania to the number of six hundred. Tie eurgmeaster presented an address, to which the Crewel Prince replied, gratefully acknowledging the cordial welcome accorded to the Princess and himself. The decorations were splendid, and an enormous and enthusiastic crowd lined the route. In the evening there were general illuminations, for which great preparations had been made.  EiGBT