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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 47, 21 March 1884, Page 17

An extraordinary scene took place at the Brighton parish cemetery lately on occasion of the funeral of the boy William Albert Thorpe, who committed suicide by laying himself on the rails on the Lewes line. The jury found that he committed the act while temporarily insane, arising from fear of punishment. It was rumoured that the lad had been cruelly illtreated by his stepfather, William Hall, but this was strongly denied at the inquest. Nevertheless, a large crowd assembled on Saturday at the interment of the lad, and directly the coffin had been lowered a number of men set upon Hall, pelted him with turf, and made several attempts to throw him into the grave. By dint of great perseverance he made his escape, but was followed to his house in Lynton-street by a large crowd who, having filled their pockets with stones on the way, smashed almost every square of glass in the front windows of the house. There were over 800 persons present at the time, and the police-constable on the beat was powerless to prevent the damage. He, however, sent off to Level Police Station for help, which was quickly forthcoming, and the street was cleared, No arrests were made. — Times. Washington, Jan. 14,~-Consul-General Merritt reports to the State Department, respecting the educational system of Great Britain, that the number of primary schools under Government patronage in 1882 was 21,362 ; number of children who can be accommodated 5,157,406 ; number of children in attendance, 3,436,416 ; number of children present at inspection, 4,033,114. In Ireland the number of schools was 7,705 ; number of pupils on the rolls, 1,083,298 ; average number of pupils in attendance, 462,192. The amount of expenditure from Parliamentary grants was 16,239,980 dols in Great Britain, and 3,597,676 dols. in Ireland. The lateßt statistics indicate an increase in all branches of the work, as well as greater efficiency in teaching and studying, General Merritt also reports upon the existing state of pauperism in the British Kingdom He says that the number of paupers in receipt of relief from unio..» and parishes in England and Wales, on January 1, 1883, was 799,296 ; in Scotland, 95,081 ; in Ireland, 115,684 ; making a total of 1,019,051, an increase of 1,831 over 1881. Scotland shows a decrease of 2,706. For their support England and Wales expended 41,162,350 dolfl ; 6,166,945, dols; making a total of 51,891,985, an increase of 429,130, dols. over the previous year.