The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1872-12-07 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

GENERAL.  On Saturday, the final billiard match was played at the Crystal Palace, between Mr. Cook and Mr. Bennett. Mr. Cook won the game of 500 up by 358 points. Ho then won three games of pyramids to one. Up to Saturday last, which was the latest time allowed for.the deposition of plans for new railways, tramways, miscellaneous schemes, and provisional orders to be submitted to Parliament next session, 280 plans were lodged at the Board of Trade offce.  _ Preparations were made on Friday evening for Lady Doughty's depositions to be taken, in consequence of the critical state of her health. A alight change, however, took place in her ladyship's condition for the better while the preliminary arrangements were being made in the drawingroom, and her medical adviser insisted on his patient not being disturbed. The learned counsel for both sides them returned to London.  Ti:e strike of gasmen still continues in London. All the streets are nearly daik, while the shops, railway stations, and other public establishments are depending upon oil or candles. Some of the principal theatres have been closed, and the greatest inconvenience is being felt. Between 2,000 and 3,000 men are out. The brutal murder of a woman at New Hampton, on Monday, still remains involved in mystery. On Wednesday an inquest was opened on the body of the deceased Sarah Martin, but was adjourned. There is still no clue to the murderer. With regard to the government of London, Mr. Gladstone is said to have addressed a letter to the secretary of the Municipal Reform Association, in which he says that, having in view the probable state of the demands upon the time of Parliament during the coming session, her Majesty's Ministers cannot see any likelihood of being able to deal with this very large and weighty question.. The trial of municipal election petitions has been entrusted to Mr. Downeswell, Q.C., Mr. T. W. Saunders, Mr. Cleave, and Mr. Biron, barristers. A verdict of wilful murder was returned on Wednesday bya coroner's jury in Manchester against a man named John Shaw, who butchered his wife by kicking and beating, and finally throwing her head-first down stairs. The resignation of Dr. Abdy, of Cambridge, is announced. The professorship has been resigned on account of the doctor having been appointed to the County Court Judgeship of Essex. The Japanese Ambassadors paid a visit to the offices of the Giaphic on Saturday, and were delighted with a thorough initiation into the processes of composing, printing, and folding an illustrated paper. They also paid a visit on Thursday to her Majesty the Queen at Windsor. The Bank directors made no alteration in the official rate of discount on Thursday. At an early hour on TGursday morning, a very destructive explosion of gas took place in the purifying department of the Newport Gasworks, Monmouthshire. Eleven men were burnt, two being seriously injured. Strictly speaking, the course is unknown, but it is supposed that there was an escape from one of the purifiers, • and that a workman apprimched incautiously with a light. Alarming symptoms have appeared in the health of Viscountess Beaconsfield.  A Belfast correspondent reports a dastardly outrage as having been committed on a farm near Greay Abbey, County Down, on Wednesday. The buildings were set fire to, and together with grain, to the value of £l,OOO, were reduced to ashes. The outrage is ascribed to agrarianism.