Widnes Examiner. — 1885-08-29 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THH MIIRDNR IN BLENIIHIM P.a.—George Boddington, the man in custody on the charge of murdering William Beckley in Blenheim Park on the 12th inst., was brought before Mr. Barnett and the Hon. E. Ponsombg at the Woodstock Town Hall on Thursday morning Ku remand. The remaining evidence to complete the case was that of Mr. Fisher. the public analyst for tho county of Oxford, who stated that he had examined the grubbing axe with which the prisoner had confessed he committed the deed, but had failed to 6nd blood stains Either on the handle or the blade. On the right sleeve of the prisoner's shirt he found several small blood stains on the inside and one near the wrist, but could not say that it was human blood. He had examined a epade and the prisoner's clothing, but had failed to find am, traces of blood except on the inside of one of the pockets of the coat, where there were marks as if a rabbit or some other animal had been put there—The prisoner, being cautioned in the usual way, said be bad nothing to say, and be was committed to take his trial at the Oxford Assizek  WORK AND WAGES —The collections in the mills of Blackburn, on Saturday. in aid of the weavers' strike at Chorley amounted to £34 125.—A meeting of minders connected with the Oldham strike is about to be held on Saturday, when the question of considering a compromise will be dealt with.—An Attempt was made on Tuesday to bring the miners' strike at Ilkeston to an end. The men offered to resume work at a reduction of ens penny per ton. The masters offered to lower their demand to twopence per ton. This the men refused to Sc. cept, and the strike therefore still continues, much distress prevailing in the district. The millspinners and manufacturers of Dundee have resolved to still further reduce wages after the 4th of September, to the extent of 5 per cent —A meeting of delegates of the Bolton and District Cotton Operatives' Asso, dation, numbering 400, and representing 4 000 members was held in Dolton, on Wednesday night, to consider a resolution of the masters to reduce the wages of operatives five per cent. The lengthened period of depression in trade —caused mainly by over-production—has been severely felt, and various methoeim have been adopted to meet it. There was a very animated discussion at the meeting, and it was resolved to adjourn the decision for a meeting of representatives in Manchester, the decision to be taken next Wednesday night. LORD RIPON AT BOLTON —A great Liberal meeting was held ou Monday night in the Temperance Hall at Bolton, for the purpose of hearing an address from the Marquis of Ripon. Mr. James Bodow, president of the local Liberal Association, occupied the chair. A motion returning thanks to Lord It pun for his presence and expressing emphatic approval of his policy as Viceroy of India was proposed by Mr. Robert Leake, M.P , seconded by Mr R. N. Philips, M.P., and enthusiastically adopted. In his speech in reply, Lord Ripon dealt exclusively with Indian affairs. He described the position of the Afghan question at the time of his appoin•ment to tho Viceroyalty, and explained a 9 he bad dune on several previous occasions that the object of the policy he inaugurated on his arrival in India wan to re-unite Afghanistan under one strong ruler, to maintain friendly relations with him, to be ready to aid him in holding Pishin, and to be ready to complete the railway to Quettah and the foot of the passes. He adopted that policy in provision of the events which had since occurred, and all those events had prily tended to confirm his belief ..that that policy was sound. Proceeding to defend his policy against the attack recently made upon it by Lord R. Churchill, he claimed that the reduction of the salt duta. in India gave substantial relief to the great bode of people, and that, further, he was enabled to carry out with a large reduction of taxation most valuable public Nvorks which would afford security against the worst evils of famine. He also claimed that he left the finances of India in a sound and healthy condition, wad therefore in the condition best calculated to enable the country to meet any sudden emergency. He was content to appeal (min Lord It. Churchill ti the t.eople of India, and he could well afford to accept without a murmer carping criticisms of party rheteric• He could do so all the more easily when he recalled to mind those great manifestations of loyalty to British rules which bad been displayed during the last few months.  I.