The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1883-01-20 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EPITOME OF NEWS.:  BRITISH AND FOREIGN.  Post-office savings banks on the Bfigflab model have been opened in all parts lat.-Austria: The number of deposits accepted in Vienna and the provincial towns is reported to be remarkable. The first depositor in the chief office in Vienna was the Emperor. It appears from Mrißeauclerk's report on the Italian railways, that -no fewer than 29 cases of railway trains catching fire while running occurred in Italy in the twelve months embraced in the last return.  _1 Sir Stafford Northcote's health is quit? reooveked, I and the right hon. gentleman hopes to be in London by the 7th of February.  Out of the- 1,642 candidates who presented themselves for the Bombay Matriculation Examination at the several Centres, 571 have been declared successful, including seven young ladies.  One of ttie tishers at the lying in -state of M. Gambetta very nearlylost his life from an extraordinary ca.t.w3 (says the Ganknors' Magazine). He had to stand beside.the bier, and so numerous were the flowers heaped upon the coin that the unfortunate man was aspbyaiated by the overpowering aroma of the bloom.', and-was only with difficulty brought round. On Sunday two cottages collapsed at Ballington, near Macclesfield. They were situated near to a dibu,ed -ooalpit, but fortunately there were sufficient indications observable berorehand of the impending disaster to enable the oecupants to escape to a place of safety. It was at first supposed in the village that an earthquake had occurred, and great excitement prevailed. The Melbourne Argus says that the Australian Frozen Meat Company's works at Williamstown are approaching completion. A large consignment of frozen meat will shortly be forwarded to London. Telegrams from Moscow report that persons frozen to death are found in the streets daily, and that at Kharkoif four cases of death caused by the severe cold have occurred. Tweddl-e- Hall, Albany, Ntivicirotic; Was burnt on Tnesday, the loss occasioned amounting to 500,000 dohs.  The death is announced of Lieutenant Graham Pine of the Gordon Higbhinders. The deceased took part 1 in the assault on Tl•tsl-Kebir, and was badly wounded whilst gallantly leading bis men to the charge. As soon as safe he weir removed to Malta, where he has lain in hospital untillis death. Lieutenant Pine was only twenty-seven years of age. He was decorated by the Khedive for his gallantry. A contest for the election of boys to fill two vacancies in Christ's Hospital, London, (the "Blue Coat School.") took place on Monday at the Municipal buildings, Newbury, which is one of the few parishes which enjoy the right of presenting children to the school. This is under the will of Mr, John West, a celebrated clothier, who had a manufactory there. There were six candidates for the two-vacancie., all claiming consanguinity to Mr. West. The boys elected are named Lancaster and Herbert. In France a committee has been formed at Chalons sur-Marne with a view to the raising of a subscription for the erection of a statue to General Chanzy in one of tho squares of the town. All the general officers who attended the funeral have contributed 100 francs., each by way of a 'beginning. Madame Christine Nilsson is 'enjoying a triumph at New Orleans, ben* in Verfeht jisalth and voice. She has thus far given 24 concerts in America, the gross receipts at which have been 119,982 dols.—Madame Patti made her farewell appearance at Philadelphia on Friday, the 12th, singing the part of, Lieda before an enormous audience, 'and eicitt4g boundleps enthusiasm. The receipts at the doors exceeded 11,000 dole. —Mrs. Langtry concluded her two weeks' engagement at Chicago on Saturday, the 13th. Her fourteen representations have produced 25,000 dole. She has now given 73 American performances, the gross receipts for which were 149,000 doh.  Government has sanctioned a grant of 100 acres of land to the son of Jiwand Singh, the native officer of the Guides Corps, who behaved with so much gallantry at Cabul when Sir L. Cavagnari was killed.  A New York telegram says that the visible supply of wheat on Jan. 12 was 21,300,000 bushels, as against 21,000,060 bushels the previous week. Visible supply of Indian corn, 9,200,000 bushels, as against 9,100,000 bushels the previous week. The export clearances of wheat for Europe during last week amounted to 1,410,000 bushels; the export clearances of Indian corn for Europe during last week amounted to 1,100,000 bushels. When the London express, which arrived at Birkenhead at 9.40, was passing Bebington, on Saturday night, the report of a pistol in the train was heard, and on tha arrival of the train the dead body of a man was found in one of the carriages, the lower part of the face being blown off and quite unrecognizable. The body was removed to Birkenhead deadhouse to await an inquest. The deceased, who was about 35 years of age, was respectably dressed.- -An Inquest was held on Monday. There wo.o no Identification, and the jury retur=l a verdict of " Committed suicide, but that there was no evidence to show his mental conditian." It is believed the man, got into the train at Chester.  A Latin monthly magazine has been brought out at a training college in Potsdam, New York, in order to give more life and rest to the study of the dead languages. Thic Ephemeris Latina, the New York Cre tells us, has organised a correspondence on Latin subjects amongst the Colleges and High Schools of the United States which the editor calls Cafena Lafin;., the members being annuli or link, of the Latin chain. The magazine appears to be a capital little publication, full of useful aids for both teachers and scholars. Sir F. Herschell.