Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
11 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
THE MINISTERIAL CHANGES.
THE MINISTERIAL CHANGES. The Standard saysMr. Ayrton, who has forfeited the esteem and respect of almost every oue else-less by his wanton impertenences in parliament to men who could take their own part than by his unworthy and ungenerous rudeness to defenceless subordinates-is still a. favourite with Mr. Gladstone. He has, of course, more than the ability necessary to superintend the Post Office but Mr. Gladstone is, perhaps, the only English gentle- man living who would expose a loyal and high-minded service to the miseries which such a chief can inflict, or who would not consider Mr. Ayrton's conduct at the Treasury and in the Office of Works as a disqualification for high office which no abilities could outweigh. How- ever, his appointment is of a piece with the competitive system, based as that system is on the doctrine that intel- lectual capacity is the one thing needful, and that a servant of the Crown need not have the qualifications of courtesy, chivalry, or good breeding. Mr. Lowe is about as unfit for the India Office as for the Home Office, except that in the India Office his temper, his headstrong wilful- ness, and contempt of counsel, can only ruin an empire while at the Home Office they may lose elections and break up a party. But it is a curious thing to see a Minister of the first rank thus within a month pitch- forked from one office to another, and from the second to a thire or a post like that of, Secretary to the Home Department treated as a mere stepping-stone. We may ask also, why the Duke of Argyll's retirement could not have been arranged at the same time with Lord Ripon's, and Mr. Lowe's pride spared this double removal ? Mr. Bouverie will add nothing to the strength of the Ministry but his removal from the back benches will relieve them from a very formidable critic. And in this light Mr. Harcourt is almost as well entitled as Mr. Bouverie to an appointment. It may be well Worth while to incur the discredit of reviving a sinecure condemned by themselves in order to secure his biting tongue, his quickness of parliamentary fence, and his dangerous facility of con- viction to the government, or merely to silence them. But will he accept such a post ? The Daily News observe that a Postmaster-Generalship is just what the Premier may choose to make it. It may be occupied by a political notability for whom no other place can be found, or, if needs be, may be filled by any member of parliamant whom it may be desirable for one of a thousand secondary reasons to attach to the adminis- tration. The Post Office is a far more extensive institu- tion than it was when the rule was to give it to a peer, but it is not to be inferred from that fact that its head must always be a man of pre-eminent business capacity. A Chancellor of the Exchequer who is called to survey the great interests of the country, and form his estimate of their capabilities, must be a statesman of rare endow- ments, but the Postmaster-General has simply to carry letters swiftly, safely, and at reasonable rates. This is a work that has been done, and tlone well, by those to whom the world would be slow to adjudge merit of the first order. At the same time, the post is one which any promising statesman might safely accept. The knowledge that such an appointment is at the disposal of the Premier naturally makes all who have friends with precisely the qualifications required for it in a simmer of agitation. It is too soon, however, to choose and back our candidates. The Postmaster-General does not quit his office before pheasant-shooting begins. By-and-bye, when the nights are getting as long as the days, and our ardent generous yorth are finding their way back to town, there will be changes quite as important as this to think about, and we shall be once more in all the bustle of elections, re-elections and promotions. This new prac- tice of continuing a Minister in office after his resigna- tion has been not only accepted but announced, may have its justification in special circumstances, but its incon- veniences are manifest. Fortunately, most of our public officers are so well organised under their permanent chiefs that their routine business may go on for a longer or shorter time without loss but it should be borne in mind that the period between the resignation of one head and the installation of another is in practice not the less an interregnum because the fomrer consents to remain nominally in office.
[No title]
FATAL AFFRAY BEWEEN LUNATICS.—On Saturday after- noon, Dr. Diplock held an inquest at the Hanwell Asylum upon the body of a female patient named Catherine M'Cartliy, aged 28, who died on Thursday morning from the effects of a kick given her at the time by another patient named Elizabeth Buist. Hannah Stevens, a nurse in No. 20 ward, said about nine o'clock on Thursday morning sbe was in the airing court in charge of eight patients, among whom were the deceased and the woman Buist. The two patients had walked round the court once and had arrived in front of one of the windows, when Buist suddenly put her hand through one of the panes of glass, and commenced a savage assault upon the deceased. Witness ran to prevent the fight, and called two other assistants, who succeeded in separating the women, but not before several blows had been struck. While they were parting them the patient Buist kicked deceased violently in the stomach, when she fell imme- diately, and expired in about three minutes. Other evidence to a similar effect was called, and the jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes, occa- sioned through the struggle with another patient." THE BIRDLIME TRICK.—John Gordon was brought up at the Thames police-court, London, on Saturday, on remand, charged with attempting to steal money from the Beaufort Arms, White Horse-street. On Saturday, the 16th instant, the prisoner entered the house and had a glass of ale. A short time afterwards he called again, bringing with him a whip, He had another glass of ale, and tencUred. sovereign in payment. He was opposite a shelf where a sovereign, four half-sovereigns, and silver where lying. The landlord became suspicious, and, con- cealing himself watched the prisoner's movements. The prisoner then put the butt-end of the whip towards the money, and then drew the whip back. He repeatel the attempt and got the whip within a foot of the money when the landlord rushed from his hiding-place, and detained him until the arrival of the police. His hands were covered with a black sticky paste, and similar stuff was found in his coat pocket, and there was a little on the whip. The prisoner had been convicted seven times for similar offences. The last conviction was in July, 18G6, when he was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude, and the sentence only expired last month. The prisoner, who implored the magistrate to give him one more chance, was committed for trial. Archdeacon Denison is not a mealy-mouthed person. His trumpet blows no uncertain sound, nor is he chary of letting us hear pretty often a blast of its clarion. Now two or three of our contemporaries are favoured with a letter from him, in which he states, with an assurance which, as the French say, trenches on the sublime—that in the Sermon he encloses for the editor's benefit he has "disposed of two allegations made by bishops and others in high places." These allegations disposed of" by the Archdeacon are, 1st, that the Reformed Church dis- courages habitual Confession and, 2nd, that she teaches her congregations that private Confession and Absolution is (are?) only to be resorted to in exceptional cases." Having thus extinguished the "bishops and others in high places" with a single sermon, the Archdeacon expresses his thankfulness that this question in its bearings is now distinctly before the English people. He proposes to insist at future opportunities upon the manifold privilege, use and blessing of private Confession and Absolution, add he concludes j>y challenging the Bishop of Gloucester or any other Bishop to snub" every Catholic if they like and pat on the back every ultra-Protestant. If they elect to stimulate popular passion and ignorance by calling us dishonest, disloyal traitors, so let it be. If they prefer"to administer their dioceses inequitably as some are doing now, let them do so." In other words, the Ritualist party are to have the honours of martyrdom, and consider themselves as persecuted, the Bishops decline to appoint to livings men who are doing their utmost to revolutionise the Church of which those Bishops are the officers. Suppose a party of private soldiers in a regiment to endeavour to persuade their comrades to wheel-about and march to Rome when the army was on its way up the Alps what should we say to the commanding officers who made such privates, serjeants, and corporals ? THE LICENSING ACT.-The new Licensing Act and the efforts of the Bath Police have supplied the people of Bath with considerable excitement in the dull season. A few days since, the proprietor of the Angel Hotel was summoned for keeping his house open for the sale of liquor during prohibited hours, but the case was dismissed because no drink was found in course ef consumption when the police inspected the premises. At the same time, however, a number of tradesmen and a surgeon were heavily fined for being on licensed premises during prohibited hours. At the City Police Court on Tuesday, Mr. Barker, proprietor of the City Dining Rooms, was charged with keeping his house open for the sale of intoxicating drinks during prohibited hours, and for allowing gambling therein at 3 a.m., and four tradesmen of the town was summoned for being on licensed premises durijg prohibited hours. A large array of legal gentle- men was engaged in the case, which created great in- terest. In order to make the matter intelligible it is necessary to explain that in a case which came before the Bench some days since it appeared that an assault was committed upon Mr. Mager, jun., tailor and outfitter, of Edgar-buildings, at the house of the defendant Barker, at 3 o'clock on the morning of the 25th of July. This statement put the police on the qui vive, and the names of the persons present at the time having been given, they were, together with the landlord, summoned for the above offences, Mr. Mager being subpoenaed as a witness against them. The witness was asked a variety of questions by the clerk, but he resolutely refused to answer every one, on the ground that he might be thereby criminating himself. This justification was admitted by the Beuch. and the whole of the cases were accordingly dismissed amid considerable applause in Court. Some excitement prevailed at the Norwich Brewster Sessions on Tuesday in consequence of the presentation of a memorial signed by 7,000 persons in favour of extending the hours of opening publichouses at night from 11 p.m. till 11 p.m., and presentation by a counter memorial signed by 7,925 persons, including the Bishop of Norwich, the Dean of Norwich, 43 clergymen and Dissenting ministers, and six publicans. There were 14 magistrates to decide upon the question of extension or non-extension of hours. The Dean of Norwich presented the non- extension memorial, and made a forcible speech on its behalf. The magistrates intimated that they had care- fully and anxiously watched the operation of the Act, and the result was that the hours fixed last year-viz., from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.—would be adhered to. THIRD CLASS.—That the movement of the Midland Railway Company, in attaching third-class carriages to every train, was dictated by a far-sighted policy, is proved by the traffic returns of other companies. The North Eastern, especially, shows a notable increase in the number of third-class passengers. Little by little the second-class—a shabby compromise at the best- is becoming weeded out, and passengers are acceptihg. the position that their object is either luxury or economy. Second-class carriages are neither com- fortable nor economical, and they are gradually drop- ping-out of use in favour of the soft and expensive cushions of the first or the hard but economical planks of the third class.-lron.
THE WILL OF THE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK.
THE WILL OF THE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK. A correspondent furnishes us with the text of the late will and testament of the Duke of Brunswick, which is as follows :— "To-day, the 5th of March, 1871, Hotel de le Metropole, Geneva. "This is our will or testament,—We, Charles Frederic Auguste William, by the Grace of God, Duke Sovereign of Brunswick and of Luneburg, &c., being in good health of body and mind declare- "1. That we revoke by the present all testaments or writings prior to this one. 2. We wish that after our death our executors here named shall cause our body to be (examined by five of the most celebrated physicians-and surgeons in order to make sure that we have not been poisoned, and to make an exact report in writing, signed by them, of the cause of our death. 3. We wish that our body be embalmed, and, if better for its preservation, petrified, according to the printed method adjoined. We wish our funeral to be con- ducted with all the ceremony and splendour due to our rank of Sovereign Duke. 4. We wish our body to be deposed in .a mausoleum above the ground, which shall be erected by our executors at Geneva! in a dignified and prominent position. The monument shall be surmounted by an equestrain statue and sur- rounded by those of our father and grandfather of glorious memory, after the design attached to this testament in imitation of that of the Scaglieri at Verona; our executors shall construct the said monu ment ad libitum of the millions of our succession, in bronze and marble, by the most celebrated artists. 5. We make the condition that our testamentary ex- ecutors shall not enter into any sort of compromise with our unnatural relations-Prince William of Brunswick, the ex-King of Havover, his son, the Duke of Cambridge, or any one else of our pretended family, their servitors, their agents, or any other per- son whatever. 6. We wish aur testamentary executors to use every means to put themselves in possession of our fortune remaining in our Duchy of Brunswick, in Havover, in Prussia, in America, or elsewhere. 7. We make as a condition that our Executors respect and execute all the codicils and legacies which we have the intention to make in favour of our surround- ings. 8. We declare that we leave and bequeath our fortune-that is, our chateaux, domains, forpsts, es- tates, mines, saltworks, hotels, houses, parks, libraries, gardens, quarries, diamonds, jewels, silver, pictures, horses, carriages, porcelain, furniture, cash, bonds, public funds, bank-notes, and particularly that im- portant part of our fortune which has been taken from us by force and kept since 1830, with all the interests in our Duchy of Brunswick, to the city of Geneva. 9. We leave to Mr. George Thomas Smith, of No. 228 King'^road, Chelsea, in England, administrator-gen- eral, grand treasurer of our fortune, I,000,000f., and we nominate him executor in chief of this testament. We likewise appoint M. Ferdininant Cherbuliez, advocate at Genoa. This testament is entirely writ- ten and signed by our hand, and sealed with our arms. DUKE OF BRUNSWICK." The most curious part of this affair is that on the authorities searching the effects of the Duke to see if there were any other documents of importance, another will was found, made in 1869, and subsequently cancelled, which bequeathed all his fortune to Louis Napoleon, the Prince Imperial of France. Subse- quent to its annulment the ex-Empress ii said to have paid three several visits incognita to Geneva to try to persuade the Duke to change his will in favour of her son, but each time his Highness refused to see her. It is also said that the Emperor of Russia and the King of Holland endeavoured to turn him from mak- ing his testament in favour of the city of Geneva. By this will Geneva becomes possessed of untold wealth, and I can state on the best authority that the city authorities already have in their possession no less than 30,000,000f. in gold and specie.
THE ARLINGHAM MURDER.
THE ARLINGHAM MURDER. On Tuesday, Charles Edward Butt was examined before the Whitminster Magistrates, charged with the wilful murder of Amelia Selina Phipps, at Arlingham on the 17th August inst. Mr. Carter, solicitor, of Newnham, appeared for the prisoner. The evidence bore out the facts as already published, as to the murder of the young woman, and the escape of Butt, and his capture at Abergavenny.—Mr. Merritt, deceased's brother-in-law, said that on the day following Longney Feast (the Monday before the murder), he noticed that deceased had two black eyes, but she did not tell him how she came by them. He also noticed that the pri- soner had a scratch on his face and a bruise on his nose. His wife had asked if the prisoner had been taking liberties with her, and she said that was it. As, however, the witness did not hear this, it, of course, was taken as evidence.—Mr. P. Phipps, a brother of the deceased, deposed to seeing the prisoner leave Fhipps's house, and go towards his own, on the evening in question and the prisoner's sister said the prisoner came in and fetched the gun.—Deputy Chief-constable Griffin deposed to apprehending the prisoner. In travelling from Aber- gavenny to Gloucester, the prisoner made the following statement, which he signed: She served me very badly; sometimes she was very fond of me, and at another time, in the presence of the people, she refused to speak to me." Mr. Griffin cautioned him and he then con- tinued "I shall tell you the truth. On Sunday morn- ing last Amelia appeared to be very fond of me, and I helped her to peel the beans for dinner, and we walked together on the lawn. In the evening she was altogether different, and walked and talked with Mr. Goddard and Mr. John Webb, which very much annoyed me. That evening we all went to Mr. Merritt's house. When there she would scarcely speak to me, and I was talking to Mr. Goddard about driving her to Gloucester next day, although she had arranged previously to go with me. When in Mr. Merritt's house Amelia got behind Goddard and pulled his hair, and they both went out into the orchard together, which upset me very much. After this she walked up the road with me home, and told me many times she should go to Gloucester with Goddard. I told her I wished her to go with me, but she refused. This upset me. I got very excited, and went and fetched the gun from our house, and placed it on the lawn near the parlour window. After this I entreated her to go to Gloucester with me, and not with Goddard. Finding she still refused I became more excited, and when walking on the lawn with her I picked up my gun and shot her. I was very sorry after I had done it. I had no intention of shooting her until she had repeatedly refused to go with me to Gloucester." ne —The prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the next Gloucester Assize. He behaved with great ooolness throughout the proceedings, and occasionally talked with his solicitor.
[No title]
A FEMALE BRIGAND.-The Italian journals relate that the environs of Catanzaro, Calabria, are infested by a band of brigands under the command of a young women. She is only 20 years of age, and of great beauty. Her name is Maria, the widow of Pietro Monico, a bandit chief, who was killed in an encounter with the gendarmes. At his death she seized his carbine and swore to avenge him. Some time after a young man, the son of a wealthy farmer, fell in love with her and joined her band in order to be able to prosecute his suit. He was, however, peremptorily re- jected and in order to revenge himself he betrayed her to the authorities. She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment. While under- going her punishment, a warder became enamoured of her, favoured her escape, and accompanied her, but was stabbed to death by her orders immediately she had rejoined her band. Since that period she has be- come still more redoubtable, her audacity and activity having redoubled, and she has made herself the terror of the country. She burns farms, carries off cattle, and levies forced contributions. The slightest dis- obedience to her orders is punished by death. Her troop* is numerous, and always well in formed by the peasantry, through dread of vengeance. SCENE IN AN AMARICAN COURT OF JUSTICE.—On Tuesday Counsellor A. J. Hyatt, of White Plains, was summoned before Justice Long to show why he should not vacate a room over a millinery store .used by him as an office. Mr. Hyatt asked for a subpoena for a witness, and requested an adjournment. The Court.—What do you want an adjournment for? Mr. Hyatt.-To arrange my defence. The Court.-What is it? Mr. Hyatt.—I have a good defence. The Court.—Jack Hyatt, you can't tell the truth; you are lying. Mr. Hyatt.-No, I ain't lying either I have a good defence. The Court.— You are a liar. You know you have no defence. The case must go on. Mr. Hyatt (to the Court).—You are a scoundrel. The Court.—I am,eh ? Well, now I'll show that I am scoundrel enough to lick you. His Honour descended from the Bench, and, throttling the lawyer, jammed him into a corner and then shoved him into the street. Mr. Hyatt.—It's all very nice for you to be so brave in your office, but just come out here and I'll take some of it out of you. I'll make you cry quits. The Court.—I'll not take that banter. Out went the Court forthwith, followed by the c^efof policeand a number of small boys. Mr. Hyatt(asthe Court was about,» foutt! you hit me. I'm a lawyer not a fighter. The Court. if vou want to fight just hit me, that's all. Then 111 lick you sure. The Court made a motion towards Mr. i&K LS. andM, HS. with a law book under one arm and a 1bundle,ofmaa uscripts under the other, saying th 1? J? an order of arrest, returnable in the p »,atterv' against the justice on charge of assult m„It The justice insists that the dignity of his Court must be maintained.—New York Sun. _„o Beechwood Mains farmhouse, near Edinburgh, destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning. The nre; s up- posed to have bepn caused by lightning, which KnocKea- down part of tho chimney of the nouse. Two occupants, Mrs. Deainan, formerly of Blackpool, and her maifl,' nar- rowly escaped. r.l
THE TICHBORNE TRIAL.
THE TICHBORNE TRIAL. THE DEFENCE. FRIDAY—SEVENTY-NINTH DAY. Dr. Kenealy having concluded his speech for the de- fence, the following witnesses on behalf of the defendant were called and examined on Friday :— Frederick Snelson said he was a recruiting sergeant. On the 15th ult. he carefully measured the defendant, and found his height was 5 ft. 9 in. William Samuel Page said he was a wharfinger at Harrison's Wharf, St. Katharine's parish. He was born in that parish, which adjoined Wapping, and had lived there all his life. Knew George Orton and the whole of his family very well. Knew Arthur Orton perfectly well. Believing defendant w..s an impostor, he went to his house to expose him, believing fully he should see Arthur there. Is the defendant Arthur Orton ? No. I will swear he is not-(emphatically)-if it is the last words I utter. I ttdvanced B250 for the aid of his cause a month or two after I saw him. I never should have advanced Arthur Orton any money. Defendant's eyes are certainly darker than Orton's, and his hair is also darker. His cheek- bones are nothing like Arthur Orton's, His nose is nothing like. His hands are as different as light from darkness, and so are his feet. His hands are extremely small, and are not those of a sailor. The character of a sailor's hands changes after a time, but never entirely disappears. I have seen Mr. Whicher. Cross-examined by Mr. Hawkins: I had a double interest in going to see the defendant. My brother-in- law was a pawnbroker, named Shout, and he had ad- vanced £ 500 to the defendant. That came t» my ears and I told him he should be careful, as he was an im- postor. Shout is dead. I don't know that the JE500 is not paid. There is no resemblance whatever in the de- fendant's face to Arthur Orton. To the Lord Chief Justice His feet were large in all ways. He was flat-footed. He was also in-knee'd. Cross-examination continued I am 14 or 15 years older than Arthur. He was not a playmate of mine Arthur's voice was not a husky voice. The eldest brother had a husky voice, so had old Orton. He had not any foreign accent. I first saw the defendant at Croydon. I was introduced as an old neighbour from Wapping. The defendant said, with a very slight foreign accent, that he had never been in Wapping except once in his life. I cross-questioned him during the four hours' interview. I went on purpose to expose the defendant; but I made up my mind in a few minutes that he was not Arthur Orton. I advanced the defendant B250 on a bill of exchange of Sir Roger Tichborne for 2500, which was to be paid in the event of his recovering his estates. The money was nearly all paid back to me by Mr. Moo j en and the bill was renewed for £300. Re-examined The manners of the defendant are gen- tlemanly and polished. Arthur Orton was an ignorant boor, splay-footed, and walked heavily. The defendant has a remarkably light and springy walk for so heavy a man. In reply to questions from the bench and the jury, the witness said he noticed something of Thomas Orton's voice in the defendant's voice. All the Ortons were fat children. Arthur wore earings. Could not say who pierced his ears, but could prove he wore earings, because he had seen them. George Charles Salloway, a shoemaker, said he was apprenticed in Wapping, within four or five doors of the Ortons, and knew them well. He was a playmate of Arthur Orton. Arthur s hair was very light-almost silvery. His feet were long and clumsy, and his hands large. He wore earings after he returned from sea. He only saw the defendant once before to-day. He should say he was not Arthur Orton, because he (the defendants would know him, or ought to do. He should know him decidedly if he was Arthur Orton. Recollected in 1852 Arthur wearing earings. Cross-examined I never traced a foreign accent in Arthur Orton. His meeting with the defendant was on the 16th July. There were about 100 people present The chairman went round the room, and asked each one if the defendant was Arthur Orton. When a man named Bambridge's turn came he went out. Bambridge said to me, What a fool you are not to corns over to Hawkins's side, and be paid." (Laughter). I said he ought to be ashamed of himself. Arthur had rings in his ears the last time I saw him. John Finnis, a lighterman and barge owner, in Wap- ping, where he had lived all his life, knew Arthur Orton, with whom he was at a girl's school, kept by Miss Gentle. Continued his acquaintance with him until he went to sea, and renewed it afterwards. Orton had very large hands and feet, and a very deep scar across his left hand. It was on the palm of his hand, and as witness had a similar scar they used to compare them together. Often chaffed Arthur about his large feet, and said they would have to make the street wider for him. He could read and write, but that was all. Defendant was nothing like Arthur Orton. The cross-examination was unimportant. Peter Goddard, a plumber and glazier, of Wapping- wall, said he had resided in Wapping thirty-three years and knew all the Ortons. Witness gave a similar account of Arthur Orton to that of the last witness. The de- fendant was nothing like Arthur Orton. Cross-examined They are entirely different voices. I should say Arthur Orton would have made a much taller man than the defendant. The wires Arthur wore in his ears were like those put in by jewellers when they first bore the ears. Re-examined I should say I saw the earings in Arthur's ears at least twenty times. John Wyner, a retired fishmonger, said he carried on business at Wapping for more than thirty years, and knew the Orton family for thirty-five. He knew Arthur well. Could not see the slightest resemblance in the de- fendant to Arthur. William Weston, shoemaker, of Shadwell, who knew the Orton family from 1851 to 1853, said he made boots for the old gentleman. Arthur's feet were of very large size-what they called elevens." (Laughter). To the Lord Chief Justice I did not measure them, but I can tell the size by the eye. Examination continued: Sixes to eights are ordinary sizes. In 1851 or 1852 saw Arthur in the Commercial- road leading one pony and riding another, and he was thrown off and cut on the left cheek. It bled freely. The cut was two inches long, from the corner of the nose to the eye. The cut left a seam. The defendant was not like Arthur Orton in one feature. The Court then adjourned until Monday. MONDAY. Several witnesses were called to prove that the defendant was not Arthur Orton. A shoemaker named Keates said he had worked for the Orton Family, and that Arthur had- the largest feet he had ever measured for a lad of fourteen. Arthur's boots, in fact, were double the size of the defend'- ant's. In cross-examination, it was elicted that the witness was mistaken as to the sons, he having stated that Arthur was one of the eldest Two or three witnessestho were called were not in attendance. sses w110 were TUESDAY. The trial was resumed at ten o'clock this morning Edward Joseph Wakeling was the first TT» said he resided at 33, High-street, Wapninty nrij # merly an articled pupil of Dr. Doble L Royal College of Surgeons, of No. 151' m,l r? ? St. George's-in-the-East. In 1851 he knew A^aVeA ^ne' and attended him iu that year for a b;t0 J Orton, The wound was two inches above th« dk .°!n a pony, left arm. He only attended him on twW "101nt Dr. Doble afterwards attended him for k e occasion" Dr. Doble died seven years ago. He fwita a month, the wound according to Dr. Doble's • e,ss' cauterised would make a permanent mark. Con 1.t\ ruiction- It rage came from the wound. Therp ?r e hsemor- one tooth. There was a small mart8 y the bite of outside the arm, but not such as t« « •, an°ther tooth no ic j. He put on a hot poultice mLi slightest milk, to relieve the irritation. He' lt>ff bread-and- old Orton. Saw Arthur when the wn, A account with The s;ar left would certainly be TIP™?., WJas sloughing. mined the defendant's left arm carefitn Had exa" discover no mark upon it. He treated & and lle coul(1 miserable manner, not being thpn o tlle.Wound in a me >nt he rolled a stick of caustic abo^t■tione^• He manner, and made it considerably laV m a clumsy left was about the size of a shilling n„jger' TIle mark indelible. d Was decidedly In cross e> animation by Mr. Hawti»,„ J.I said I wis bjrn in 1833. Dr. Doble kent k witne?s a rather 1 ix manner. Dr. Doble onlv ks' but in and I made the entries in it when he a a day-book> this book and a great many others besi/Way', 1 burned ye^rs ago, including a large old will- I about four His sister told me I might take what k now whose- burned the books under peculiar circnm °+ 1 liked- 1 ing down Ludgate Hill I bought a book entK »^lk" to Make Money," for tenpence, which I a? d> Ho^ some information which would be useful + 8 contained was going to travel. Some time afterward, T /len4 JJho Wakeling had torn out six leaves of thB i! found Mrs- fire with, and I said, in a fit of temper <'°r°Vi t° "ake a if I don't show you how to make a fiL >> V be Messed every book in the place and burned th • n to° night for the purpose. (Laughter). 6m' Sltting up all Do you really ask the Jury to hnlJc may believe it or not, but it is true TC hat They nesses to it. can call wit- Cross-examination continued I have not k ing this morning. Yes, I. have had a „i been drink- bitter. I generally have that the first thf"* ° mild"and* ing, and later in the day, if occasion m morn" Lre, kept ledger he Dr Dobl, school, and only put down things a« n °W-fashioned only burned books connected with the m ?ecurred- 1 There were some printed books amoral Profession, including a Bible. S those I burned, The Lord Chief Justice What did i. for ?—Well, I took it indiscriminately tbe Bible Mr. Hawkins Were you drunk P-L_v r with temper. es> 1 was drunk Cross-examination continued • My w'f • me now. She and my children have ha/f iving with George's parish. I gain my livelihrw^ v, from St" Hayley. My wife and family are h^ti assistlnS ]V[n myself. I did not know that they re^T by the parish until the authorities told rellef from had a family jar, and she said she couM flwife .and I toe than with me. I said, Mv dear t without chance," and I wentjW Mr. Havlev's •' a«T i.give y<?" a our house was not large enouj^A,,yn+^ ,e> thinking the workhouse. 8 nt to a larger one— The Lord Chief Justioe Is it Wnpt), „ kins, to continue the cros6-6iaminati«« » Mr* Haw" Mr. Hawkins (after a pause^ o^/ To Dr. Kenealy I never'Oesertf>H^ly my lord, place for discussing these family mat*! fam%- The where the defendant will pother court, ing for herself. I'm sure I shaH Pj*>rtUnity of answer- The Lord Chief Justice tion the payment of the expenses of thi«N»iI y not Banc" The next witness was William WAk!?' of the London Dock Company living emPloy Wapping, and sometimes acting'as a.n Burr-street. hection with vessels. He knew old Ort pJ?ter in con* b -^ueace of tat, and also knew Arthur and his brothers Charles and Thomas. Recollected distinctly having once conversation with Arthur about some ponies. First saw the defendant at the Cambridge Music Hall. He was not Arthur Orton; he had no resemblance to him in any way. In c" 's-ex:tIRination, he said Arthur was a big, stout boy, 1 i: he should be very surprised if he had developed into > large a man as the defendant. He only recol- lects speaking to him once. T the Jury I did not observe any mark on Arthur's facj. To the Lord Chief Justice I think if he had any pock- marks on his face, I should have detected them. William Dicks, a pilot, of Stepney, said he knew Arthur Orton, from 1844 to 1850. He believed he wore earrings, but was not certain about it. Is that gentleman (the defendant) Arthur Orton ?-I should say not; he is nothing like him. In reply to Mr. Hawkins, he said the defendant had some resemblance to old Orton. The Lord Chief Justice In what does the resemblance consist?—I cannot Rive you any reason for saying it, but in my own mind I think there is a resemblance. Mr. Justice Mellor :—Is that your opinion? Yes. The Lord Chief Justice asked the witness to try and discover in what the resemblance consisted ?-I cannot answer. Mr. Hawkins Is there a general resemblance ?_Yes. To a Juryman There was a decided resemblance be- tween Arthur and old Orton. John Heywood, a bootmaker, who was apprenticed next door to the Ortons, gave some positive evidence about Arthur, whom, he said, he knew from his boyhood. He had a mark on his face like a cut; it was on the left cheek. He also had a mark on the temple, the result of another cut, and a mark on the back of his head. He saw a boy throw an oyster-shell at Arthur, and it struck him on the back of his head and brought blood. The boy's name was John Garland. Arthur had his ears pierced, and wore small wires. He made and repaired Arthur's shoes for his master. The defendant's foot was much smaller, "more neater." Knew Arthur Orton was bitten by a pony, but did not see the occurrence. The defendant was not Arthur Orton. Cross-examined Had spoken to Weston about the cut on the face. Weston told him where it was, but he did not want to be told, because he knew. Weston spoke to him about it two years ago. He would swear he did not see any resemblance between the defendant and Arthur. He had never said to anyone that he did see a resem- blance he would swear that. There was a slight re- semblance between Arthur and his father. Old Orton was a stout, big man, and so was the defendant. He was not one of those who followed the defendant's carriage and shouted "Bravo, Arthur!" and ran and shook hands with him. To Mr. Justice Mellor: Arthur promised to develop into a heavy man. The defendant's voice was not like Arthur's—it was milder. Old Orton had a gruff voice. The murks on the cheek and temple were both perfectly visible. To the Jury The boots I made for Arthur were bluchers and sewn. (A witness yesterday said he made lace-up boots). The Juryman observed that the lasts produced by Western, yesterday, had been used for peg boots. To the Lord Chief Justice Arthur's size was about tens" or tens and a half." I made several pairs of boots for him, and also for his brothers. John Bush, a native of Wapping, born in 1S31, and a lighterman, said he knew Arthur very well. He used to get halfpence from the Ortons for taking the ponies from Aberdeen Wharf to Russell's Buildings. Recollected meeting Arthur in 1851 in the Flag and Punchbowl, and saying to him, What cheer, Bullocky or Spra wlfoot ?" and he gave him a gruff answer. He was a big, dummy sort of a fellow, and not very bright. First saw the de- fendant at the Pavilion Theatre. He went to the stalls and paid Is. (Laughter.) Saw him again at Crichton's. Is the defendant Arthur Orton?—He is not Arthur Orton. Has he any resemblance to Arthur ?—No; Arthur had lighter hair. Is there any resemblance between them ?—Not that I can see. Cress-examined The defendant is not like eld Orton. I don't recollect Arthur having St. Vitus's dance, or his being marked with the small pox, or having any scars on his face, or anything the matter with his thumb. Yet I knew him very well indeed sometimes seeing him three or four times a day. Once I eaid to him, Look what a big paw you have got by the side of mine." Arthur had a husky voice. There is nothing husky or rough in the defendant's voice; it is a mild clear voice. When the defendant came on the stage he wore a black frock coat. I can't say whether he wore polished boots. I never saw Arthur in such a dress. I was disappointed, I expected to see a bigger person. I don't call the defendant a big man. (Laughter.) Mr. Hawkins What! did you expect to see an ele- phant in a frock-coat? (Laughter.)—I thought Arthur would have been bigger, looking at the way he was growing. I was also disappointed with his voice—it was too clear. I suppose you expected to hear something like a lion roaring with a cold ?—I've not had an opportunity of seeing one. The witness said that at the Pavilion there was music and a play, and the defendant appeared between the acts. He was not quite satisfied when he came away that he was not Arthur, but subsequently he saw him again at Cnchton s, and then he was satisfied. Abraham Bush, another resident of Wapping, in the employ of a stevedore, who said he knew Arthur for nine years before he first went to sea, and also when he came back, created a great dqal of amusement by his quaint and grotesque manner. He spoke of himself as "in the afternoon," meaning of life; apologised for not being a "grammar scholar;" and gave imitations of Arthur's voice when he wasjangi-y and when he was in good temper. Asked if the defendant reminded him of Arthur, he said. Well, there is a little likeness to the old gentleman; but he is not tall enough by two inches and a half." Re-examined I am almost positive the defendant is not Arthur Orton. To the Lord Chief Justice I mean the height to which I think he would grow. Dr. Kenealy Is this (the defendant) Arthur Orton?- I am on my oath. He is not. The witness, in cross-examination, said he never no- ticed any small-pox marks on Orton. T' James Cockshot, of 57, High-street, Wapping, a li- censed waterman, sixty-three years old, said he knew all the Ortons, and had held Arthur in his arms when he was a child. In 1851 had frequent conversations with him. Arthur's hands and the defendant's were like mushrooms to champignons. Had heard the defendant speak. Believed he was not Arthur Orton. Did not see the slightest resemblance. Cross-examined: Arthur was very little like old Orton. P WaTi^°,iif.„ei TboJnas Orton. They were both big boys. The defendant has got the eyebrow of the old gentleman. (Laughter). There may be a little likeness in the defendant to Thomas, but I doubt it. I mean that the defendant has got the brow of old Orton. If I had met the defendant in a butcher's dress in Wapping I don't think I should have said, That's a son of old Orton." Eliza Camenow, aged 44, wife of a labourer, who lived in Wapping until she was 23, said she knew the Orton family well, and used to play with Arthur. Last saw Arthur in 1852. First saw the defendant three months a<ro, at Poet's Corner. He was decidedly not Arthur Orton. He did not resemble him in the least. Cross-examined Was quite sure the defendant's voice was not husky, like Arthur's. It was not quite clear, Cross-examined Was quite sure the defendant's voice was not husky, like Arthur's. It was not quite clear, but it was a mild voice. He was not at all like the Ortons except in bUlk. The defendant was larger than she would have expected Arthur Orton to be. Old Orton had a heavy and cross brow. The defendant's brow was rather heavy, but not so heavy as his. The only other witness who was called was William Jarvis, the son of a man who is mentioned in the Wagga Wagga will. He was satisfied that the defendant was not Arthur Orton. The Court then adjourned. WEDNESDAY. The evidence of the Wapping witnesses who came to prove defendant was not Arthur Orton was continued. Witnesses were called, were examined in chief, cross-ex- amined, re-examined, questioned by the Bench, and questioned by the Jury; then dismissed. The familiar evidence as to the wearing of earrings, the pock-marks, the large hands and flat feet, and the twitching of the eyebrows, was given by several. Two or three witnesses could, however, swear to nothing but that they saw Orton when he was thirteen years of age, and did not think de- fendant was the same. Their expenses were disallowed. The only new fact of importance that came out was that one of the witnesses saw Arthur Orton cut his hand se- verely in his father's shop, and on the defendant's hand being examined no such scar was found q the oat would have left.
. GAZETTE NEWS.
GAZETTE NEWS. (From, Friday's Gazette.) BANKRUPTS. Beresford, G. E., Craven-street, Strand, London, Sept. 4, London. Corbitt, John, Wakefield, Yorkshire, corn dealer, Sept. 24 Wakefield. Call' William, Charlotte-square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, d/aper, Sept. 9, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Hobbs, Thomas, Woodditton, Cambridgeshire, innkeeper, Sept. 6, Cambridge. Tefferies, Thomas, and Maclean, Alexander, Manchester, commission agents, Sept. 11, Manchester. Lvons John, St. Oswald-street, Liverpool, rope-maker, Sept. 5, Liverpool. cdmon William, and Steer, Henry, Great St. Helen's, London, merchants, Sept. 8, London. Mhwartz John, Waterloo-road, Widness, Lancashire, wlumber and painter, Sept. 8, Liverpool Wvatt James Paul, Buckland Saint Mary, Somersetshire, conveyancer, Sept. 6, Taunton. (FromTuesday's Gazette). ■Rruner William, Royal-promenade and Regent-street Clifton, Bristol, photographer. Church, William, Freelands-road, New Bromley, Kent, r ft^^Henry William, Woodbridge, Suffolk, trader. Fan-age William, Gateshead, bootmaker. Lounos,' Thomas, Gosberton Risegate, Lincolnshire, h' d N tIe; John Henry, Clapham-road, London, builder, &c. Smith, John Taylor, and Norton, Eardley Blois, Choriton street Manchester, commission agents and merchants. WhittiDgton, C. E., Talbot-square, Bayswater, London, gentlem LIQUn>ATI0NS BT ARRANGEMENT. Phillips, Jamea, Upper Park-street, Bristol, tutor. Sansom, George Henry, Wimborne Minster, ironmonger And furniture dealer. Qfjyana Thomas, Bute-road, Curdiff, grocer and baker. ThMflfrer, Georgi, Watledge-house, Clevedon, baker and confectioner. filley, John, Cheltenham, corn dealer.
MR. GLADSTONE ON SCHOOL BOARDS.
MR. GLADSTONE ON SCHOOL BOARDS. (From the Hour.) Mr. Gladstone's declaration of opinion on the relative merits of School Boards and voluntary education will be received with widely varying feelings in different quarters. The Premier has inaugurated the Parliamentary holidays with a manifesto which can only be regarded as emphati- cally contradicting the rumours which have lately been current with respect to Mr. Bright's reintroduction into the Ministry, the intentions of the Government in the matter of the 25th clause, and as dashing to the ground all the hopes in which the Nonconformists have upon such slender justification been rash enough to indulge. Mr. Gladstone has spoken in no uncertain tone, and with a decisive straightforwardness that does him all possibie credit. The view which he now publicly expounds as his own-and therefore as that of the Cabinet whose policy he directs-of the Education Act of 1870 is that con- sistently advocated by Mr. Forster, and which the champions of the League, in the spirit of over confident prophecy, asserted the Government had, at the eleventh hour, made up its minds to abandon. The Prime Minister categorically informed his audience at Hawarden that in his judgment voluntary education was best, and that the only duty to be discharged by school boards was that of supplementing the system. There was, lie said, another view which had been taken of the scope and meaning of the Act-that voluntary education was a temporary expedient, to be got rid of as soon as school boards could be made universal." From this interpretation Mr. Glad- stone, while not denying its legitimacy, expressed his un- qualified dissent. School boards, he admitted, were doing a vast deal of good. But we are indebted to voluntary effort, and therefore to denominational energy, for the great bulk of the assistance rendered to the cause ef popular instruction in the past and to sanction a con- dition of things under which voluntary effort could have no place would, as Mr. Gladstone indicates, be simply suicidal. The occasion which Mr. Gladstone selected for these noteworthy remarks afforded accidentally a striking justi- fication of his argument. In the parish of Hawarden it appears four-fifths of the necessary education are provided by voluntary effort; the question which the parishioners of Hawarden had to decide was whether for the purpose of supplying the one-fifth yet desiderated a school board should be elected, or whether an extension of the existing system should be attempted. Very little hesitation was displayed by the meeting as to the course to be adopted, The establishment of a school board was negatived, and of the £1,200 required to provide the school accommoda- tion yet wanting B600 was subscribed or promised before the company had dispersed. There is no reason to sup- pose that the experience of Hawarden is in any way exceptional, or that the choice of Hawarden is singular. School boards are not popular in the country, and for two chief reasons-first, because the kind of education whose theory and practice are connected with these bodies is dead against all English sentiment and prejudice; secondly, because the conviction justly obtains that school boards are essentially expensive in their administration and impose a needless burden upon the local rates. A letter addressed by Canon Gregory to a contemporary contained a signal proof of the accuracy of the latter im- pression. In voluntary schools, Mr. Gregory told us, the cost of providing for school buildings for 86,542 children is £ 196,001 17s. 91., or £5 14s. 7d. per child in board schools the cost of providing for 115,677 children is £ 1,100,000, or £ 9 11 s. lid. per child. "In voluntary schools," Canon Gregory significantly added, the above outlay includes all that is expended in board schools it is considerably increased by staff expenses, cost of collect- ing rates, &c." Of similar import are the facts alleged by a correspondent of the Globe, Mr. Stuart, of Munster- square- Whereas in his parish, voluntary schools provide for the education of 900 children, at a cost of £ 6,000, the school board ave taken upon themselves to build new schools out of the ratepayers' money to accommodate 750 children, at an outlay of £ 17,000." We have as little wish as Mr. Gladstone to include in one sweeping condem- nation the establishment and the policy of school boards in all cases alike. Doubtless, as the Premier intimated, they are in several instances preparing a highly benefi- cent work, and the conditions are perfectly conceivable under which the election of a school board is a necessary resourse. In densely populated and impoverished dis- tricts, honeycombed by the conflicts of a narrow sectarian- ism, it is probable that the election of a school board is the sole way of providing for the instruction of the rising generation. But the admission that these bodies may be necessary now and again will not bear out the conclu- sion of the League and the Nonconformists that they should be compulsory and ubiquitous. We have said that the sentiments wirh which Mr. Gladstone's speech at Hawarden will be received, will be of a highly complex and bitterly conflicting character. The satisfaction with which we ourselves welcome this authoritative declaration of Ministerial opinion is probably the measure of the intensity of the disappointment and chagrin which it will excite in the ranks of the Birming- ham League and the Riiiical Dissenters. To us the cause of religious instruction is a far higher object of consideration than the gratification of a mere party anitnu;. It would unquestionably have added to the difficulties and fiascos of Liberalism, if Mr. Gladstone had adopted the line which the members of the Birming- ham League and the advanced Liberal organs in the daily press so confidently assured us the promotion of Mr. Bright foreshadowed. Had Mr. Gladstone intimated to his audience at Hawarden that he was prepared to re- consider the position and the policy of the Government on the Educational ques'ion, and provisionally to con- sent to the repeal of the 25th clause, the immediate effect would have been largely to reinforce the rank and file of the Conservative party with a. contingent of disaffected moderate Liberal?. If, therefore, we took the point of view of the mechanical party wire-pullers, we should be unable with sincerity to congratulate the friends of religious education upon Mr. Gladstone's Hawarden utterances. For ourselves we are unaffectedly glad that no such restriction has been forthcoming, and we must candidly confess that we never for a moment expected it. The rumour that Mr. Forster would vacate the Vice-Presidency of the C mncil bore upon its face its origin, and the wishes to which it owed its parentage. There was never any reason to believe that Mr. Bright was prepared to lead an agitation for the repeal of the 25th clause, and it seems to have been forgotten that the general tone of the speech from which his celebrated dictum as to the general character of the Act was culled deprecated an organized or factious opposition to the working of the BilL Moreover, even had Mr. Gladstone ever for a moment wavered in his own mind as to the course to be pursued, there is one thing v h oh cm et have escaped him—that if he did not acquiesce in the extreme Nonconformist demands he must at once cease to be the head of a liational party, and descend to the position of a mere leader of a factious and bigoted clique; for that neither Mr. Dixon nor Mr. Taylor re- represent the nation in the matter is abundantly plain. Nevertheless we ought not to forget that the Noncon- formist revolt may be serious in its consequences and it is with the full force of the revolt, with all the bitterness and persistency of Nonconformist opposition, that Mr Gladstone and his party are now threatened. The Premier's speech at Hawarden, statesmanlike and calm in itself, will soon be seen to have excited a storm, which it will be altogether beyond the Premier's power to subdue.
FRIGHTFUL RAILWAY COLLISION.…
FRIGHTFUL RAILWAY COLLISION. SESIOUS LOSS OF LIFE. RETFORD, Saturday (1 p.m.).-A frightful railway accident took place here this morning, about half-past seven o'clock, by which three persons' lives were lost, and between thirty and forty are more or less injured, some of these, it is feared, fatally. Near Retford station the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln line crosses the Great Northern main line of the level, the points being faced at the junction of the two lines; on the south side stands a signal-box of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, and about fifty yards off, op- posite the up-platform of the Great Northern, stands the main line signal-box, the signalman at the former was Geo. Whelpton, and at the latter, Chas. White- head. At 7.43 Whitehead got the signal to allow a fish train from Doncaster to come into the station and he lowered signals for It to do so. At the same time Whelpton had the M.S. and L. signal down, to allow an excursion train from Deep Carr, near Sheffield, to cross the Great Northern Line, on its way to Clee- thorpes and Grimsby. The latter train was approaching steadily, it'seems, when the goods was obsetyed com- ing down the main line at too great a speed to stop short of the crossing. The driver of the latter says that he reversed the engine as soon as he saw danger, and it would seem as if the driver of the excursion '310a train, thinking he could clear the crossing before the goods came up, put on full steam. His engine and four of the carriages of the excursion train actually got across the Great Northern- line, but the fish train could not be stopped in time, and it ran into the fifth carriage, smashing in the side, breaking the couplings, and killing two persons on the spot. The five car- riages immediately behind were crushed and broken, and the inmates mostly badly hurt. The goods engine threw the carriage it struck right off the line, and dashed into the signal-box in which Whelpton. was, reducing it to a mass of ruins, and became deeply imbedded in the debris. Whelpton, who was on the top floor, had the ground cut from under him, and fell with his lever stand on the top of the engine, whence he was speedily liberated unhurt. Three of the carriages nearest that struek had their sides smashed in, and many of the passengers were badly hurt with the splinters. Two of the goods wagons were smashed, the engine tender was turned upside down, and both driver and fireman are hurt. The two persons killed were Thomas Hallet and a nephew of his, named Arthur. Mrs. Hallet, wife of Thomas, was so badly hurt that she died about half-past ten. In the same compartment with these were George Haller, his wife, and four children, one of whom was killed, and another terribly cut about the head and face. Mrs. Hallet, the mother of these children was also badily hurt. Strange to say, the father and a little girl are comparatively uninjured. A person named Guide leaped from the carriage on the opposite side to that struck and dragged a young woman named Dronfield after him. These two escaped. Severa1 of the wounded are despaired of, and many of the thirty remaining are dangerously hurt. The ex- cursion train left De^p Carr at 7.40, tKis morning, with pnn U? nw™v1 °f the emP1^ of Messrs Gray- *2 Co-'gannister merchants, Deep Carr. Pa.rt?ers> ^r. Lowood, andTii wife, &c., were in the third carriage from the engine, and es- caped with that part of the train that got over the crossing.
THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. The report of the directors of the Great Western Com- pany was read at the general half-yearly meeting of the shareholders, held at Paddington yesterday (Thursday). It states that although the directorj are able to report a substantial increase in the traffic receipts for the past half- year, the increased charges have been such as to leave for dividend among the proprietors of ordinary stock but a small addition to the sum which was available for thai wl purpose in the corresponding period. In the following table the comparison of the Receipts and Expenditure OR Revenue Account is presented in the usual form. It in- cludes for the first time the receipts and expenses of the LIRnelly Railway. RECEIPTS. „ 1873. 1872. Increase From passengers, parcels > T mails, &c. j- £ 1.146,580 £ 1,105,017 441,563 Merchandise, coal, &c. 1,142.196.. 1,273,490 198,70*1 £ 2,583,776 £ 2,378,507 £ 210,263 EXPENDITURE. 1873. 1872. Increase. Decrease Maintenance of way £ 241.o24 £2ù4,932 £ 36,592 — Locomotive and car- riage stock 477,6t2.. 389,519 £ 8,123 — Traffic and general charges. 477,642.. 444,858 ..48,264.. — Government duty, and rates and taxes 94,292 67,885 3,595 £ 1,276,550 £ 1,107,194 £ 172.979 £ 3,523 -y- Net increase. £169,386 The balance available for dividend among the proprietors of ordinary stock after payment of the dividends on the guarantee and preference stocks and other fixed charges is S356,463 0s. lOd. This balance will admit of the payment of a dividend on the consolidated ordinary stock at the rate of of per cent. per annum, leaving a sum of £ 25,780 4s. 3d. 4 to be carried forward. The increased expenditure ig mainly due to increased wages and to the enhanced price of coal and other materials. It will be satisfactory to the proprietors to observe that the entire cost of the new roll- ing stock constructed for the narrow guage working in South Wales has now been charged to revenue. The out- lay on capital account during the last half-year amounts to £374,947; of this sum £ 143,365 has been expended on ad- ditional rolling stock, and £i3.i5ï in the extension of sid- ings, locking apparatus, and block telegraph, and other conveniences for the accommodation of the increasing traffic. The Great Western Railway Additional Powere Bill has received the Royal Assent. The provisions which were introduced into the Bill for the construction of a new line between Stourbridge, Kidderminster, and Bewdley. in substitution for the line authorised by the Severn Talley Act of 1861, have, however, been struck out, in conse- quence of the opposition of the canal companies and Land- owners and others in the district. It is, therefore, proposed to proceed at once with the construction of the line betwecE Bewdley and Kidderminster, authorised by the Act of 1861, and to raise towards the cost of the work the autho rised capital of £60,000, The other Bills which were &p- proved by the proprietors at the last half-yearly meeting, have, with some modifications, received the Royal Absent The Britonferry Dock Bill, which was introduced by the mortgagee and other creditors interested in that undertak- ing, and which was subsequently adopted by this com- pany, has also been sanctioned by Parliament, and under its provisions the dock co:apnny has been dissolved, and the undertaking of the company has become vested m thk company. Under powers conferred by Parlianu-n*, and Í2 terms of the agreements approved by the proi>riet'rs, the Llanal'y Railway and the Llynvi and Ogmore Railway have been worked since the 1st of January and the 1st of July respectively. The Ross find Monniou'h Ihilway, from its junction with the Great Western line at Ross to a temporary station at Monmouth, was opened for traffic OR the 1st instant, and the Marlow Railway on the 28th of June last. These lines are worked und. r arrangements with this company. The guage of the Bristol and South Wales Union Railway was converted from broad to narrtyw guage on the 7th instant. The three new steam vessels referred to in the report of February, 1872, are approaching completion. One of them has been launched, and will probably be in Milford Haven early in the ensuing .aonth. The permanent shaft of the Severn Tunnel Railway was commenced at Portskewetl in March last, and has bees, sunk to a depth of about 60 feet. The engineer in el arge of the work reports that some delay was caused bg e. powerful spring of fresh water, which was me t with at a depth of about 48 feet, and stopped the work until a steam pump was fixed. The shaft has since been lined with brickwork from the top to a depth of se' eral feet below the spring. It is now nearly free from wat-r and ready for further progess." The directors regret that; the efforts which have been made on the part of the railway companies to obtain the repeal of the duty at present chargeable upon the receipts of passenger traffic have not a.s yet been successful. Feeling strongly the injustice of the continuance of this tax, they will not relax their endevvours towaid 1 b ai ing its repeal. The amount which has been received in answer to the appeal recently made to the proprietors for funds to extend the means of public worship at New Swindon does not amount te £1,300, a sum altogether inadequate to the requir ireuts of the greatly increased population of the district. A vote of the proprietors is requested for various works amounting in the whole to £ 319,872. To meet the out- lay on capital account which has already been made, and the further expenditure still to be met, it is proposed, tc issue Cl,500,000 of ordinary stock. With a. view of giv- ing to the existing proprietors of consolidated ordinary stock the benefit of this issue, it is intended that the stock should be offered to those proprietors who were registered at the closing of the transfer books, at a premium of 10 per cent. The instalments will be spreai over a period of about 15 months, the first instalment being made payable on the 18th proximo. In accordance with the suggestions which were made at the het half- yearly meeting, liegociations have been entered into for the acquisition of certain colliery properties in South Wales, which it is believed will be found suitable *or the purposes of the Company. Subject to the sanction of thf proprietors, the directors hope to be able to conclude arrangements for the properti. s in question. The appro- val of the proprietors will be asked to agreements with the Mitcheldean Road and Forest of Dean Railway Com- pany, and with the Kington and Eardisley Railway Com- pany. The agreement with the former company pro- vided for the working of the line by this company at 60 per cent. of the receipts, and fora subscription of i-15 009 towards the cost of construction. The length of railway 2 is 4-i miles, and the share capital £ 30,000. Under the agreement with the latter company, the line is to be worked at 60 per cent., with a rebate of 25 per cent, oat of the Great Western receipts from through traffic. The length of line 14 miles, and the share capital £ 130,000. The capital account of th Great Western Company showed that JB48,908,907 had been received to the 31st of July last, and £ 48.763,987 expended, including £ 532,850 during the past half-year, leaving a balance of £ 144.921 in favour of the company. The revenue account showed that the total receipts for the half-year ending the 31st of July amounted to £2,628,511, and for the correspond- ing half of 1872 to £2,41:142, showing an increase of £ 216,369, and the expenditure to kl,281,148, or 49 31 per cent., against £1,142,i38, or 46'55 per cent., showing m increase of £ 171,410. The net revenue amounted to JB1,344,363, against Bl.299,404 for the same half of 1872, showing an increase of £44.939. To the net revenue e( m,344,363 was added JB25,206, the balance brought from the preceding half-year, and JE8,394 dividends on shares in other companies, making £ 1,377,962. From this was deducted £128,.322 interest on loans, including stamps, &c., £212,334 interest on debenture stocks, JB670 rent charges, £1,946 Stratford Canal annuities, JE1217 bankers* and general interest, B127,380 rents of leased lines, guar- antees, &c., £124,552 rent charge stock guaranteed divi dend, J23425 rent for hire of waggons under special agree- ments, E3,883 loss on working Cornwall and West Corn- wall Railways, j33,107 Severn Navigation deficiency, and ditto £1,000 specially referred to, together £607,83i, leav- ing j6770,125 available for dividend. From this war deducted £264,559 for dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the consolidated guaranteed stock, £ 149,102 for dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the consolidated preference stock, and £331,683 for dividend at the rate of 5i per cent. per annum on the consolidated ordinary stock, leaving a balance of J624,780 for the next half-year.
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The death is announced of Carl Wilhem, the composer of the Wacht am Rhcim." Typhoid fever has broken" out amongst some of the people living in Chatham Dockyard. A youth named Green was struck dead by lightning, oa Monday evening, at Bittern, near Southampton. He wair from London on a visit. A large mill belonging to the Bury Saw Mill Company was on Wednesday destroyed by fire. The damage ir estitmated at about £ 9,000. FATAL ACCIDENT.—A shocking accident occurred or Tuesday night at the Old Hill station of the Stourbridge Railway. The passenger train which came in from Bir- mingham happened to extend beyond the platform. Ignorant of this fact, a gentleman jumped out in the dark to assist some one else out of the carriage. There is t, bridge at the spot, and he fell over the parapet and was killed. A similar accident has occurred at Old Hill. THE MINISTERIAL CHANGES.—It is announced that Mr. Monsell is about to withdraw from the office of Postmaster-General; but that pending the new ap- pointment to that, as well as to the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, to be vacated by Mr. Childers, both gentlemen will continue to discharge their duties until the beginning of October, when, it is expected, the new Ministerial arrangements will be completed. EIGHTEEN MEN FROZEN TO DEATH.—The Norwegian papers publish a narrative by Captain Mack, who wa., sent in search of some sailors surprised by the jce to the north of Spitzbergen, in September last, and forced to winter in magazines at Mitterburk. He could not succed in reaching the exact point where the prisoners were supposed to have remained, but a search party under the command of a harpooner was sent out and discovered that all were dead. To the body of one of them was pinned a letter stating that Captain Tellefsen. of Bergen, had recently passed the point and taken possession of all the papers to be found. The next day Captain Tellefsen returned with his vessel, and he and Mack went on shore together. On reaching the huts where the crew had stayed, they at first came across five bodies laid out on a bench under a cloth. In a chamber to the right of the entrance were six corpses horribly disfigured. In another, to the left, were three more in beds, and a fourth on a chest. The last wore a fur hat and vest and woollen gloves. The three others presented a terrible sight. By theb side were the remains of their lastfood—three biscnitoT four or five tablets of sugar, and a parcel •vegetables. The bodies were all bur& in one After a vain search for the remains of the sailors, who had been detained, which wm, 1? li8* hidden under the snow, the last of the 18 be accounted for was found to have died 10 rival of his comrades at the huts. before the ar-