Widnes Examiner. — 1891-01-31 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT."  The murder is out. Mr. Brunner is not to have the walk-over at the next election, that has beenmore than once predicted. Mr. James Reynolds, no doubt, in the exuberance of his joy, let the cat out of the bag on Saturday night, at the Conservative meeting held to celebrate the opening of the new club. We hope he will not get into hot water for his premature declaration, which will put those dreadful Radicals on the alert instead of permitting them to slumber in a state of false security to nearer the day of action.  Although Mr. Reynolds's language is slightly mixed, the meaning is plain, and he who runs may read. Mr. Joseph Verdin havitg rigorously resiSted the blandishmetts of the "great Unionist party," declined to encounter almost certain defeat. The party managers have now come to Runcorn to find a man who will make Mr.Brunner be glad to "keep in a hiding place atter the next election," because Mr. Brunner will be as much in a minority as this doughty gentleman's opponent was at the County Council election.  There is only one personto whom this can refer, and that is our tcwnsman Major Hazlehurst. Bearing an honoured name, Major Hazlehurst will always command the respect of the people of Runcorn, but men do not sink their political opinions to do homage to any man or name, and as he fought the County Council election as a non-pnlitical candidate, that is no guide as to the result of a fight on strict party lines. If he has consented, as Mr. Reynolds indicated, to enter the strife of Parliamentary life, he has undertaken a task which he does not acurately estimate, and which is doomed to almost a certain failure, in attempting to oust Mr. Brunner L from the representation of Northwich division. One of the finest ineetings ever held in St. Paul's Wesleyan Chapel at Runcorn, was that which took place on Wednesday evening in aid of the London Mission. To those on the platform the sight of that noble building crowded in every part was an inspiring sight, and from first to last the speakers maintained a high and lofty idea of the work in progress, and frequently roused the audience to an advanced state of enthusiasm which was reflected in the magnificent collection of .£l4O. One lady was so overcome with the need for grappling with the squalor, filth, and vice, which the missionaries depicted that she dropped her gold ring into the box as an offering, a circumstance of very rare occurence 1 in our churches and chapels. Any one long resident in Runcorn is acquainted with the ephemeral character of the musical societies ' which have from time to time been established in Runcorn, and it is pleasing to ilnd the Tonic Sol Fa Choir, rejoicing in good seasons and defying bad ones, still carrying on its mission of developing and extending musical culture. There has never been a society in the town which has done so ranch for spreading a thorough knowleage of the " divine art " and one can only grieve that the public does not support the choir in a manner that its labours demand. The second concert of the season will be given on Monday evening next, for which occasion well known and able principals have been engaged, and it is to be hoped that there will he a crowded house to congratulate Mr. J. Holford, G.T.S.C., the conductor of the choir, on his recently earned honours, and to encourage him in the admirable work lie has so assiduously carried on for years past.