Widnes Examiner. — 1890-06-28 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

CABINET MEETING ON THE ABANDONMENT OF THE LICENSING CLAUSES. The Press Association says :-A Cabinet Council, specially summoned to consider what course should be adopted with regard to the Local Taxation Bill, in consequence of the Speaker's expression of opinion on Tues. 1, day night, was held at the Foreign Office at half-past 1 twelve on Wednesday, and we have the best authority for stating that the Cabinet unanimously endorsed the view of the informal meeting of Ministers held a Mr. Smith's room, on Tuesday evening, and decided to abandon the whole clauses relating to the licensing question. A long discussion ensued as to what steps should be taken in reference to the disposal of the money thus released. Several plans were suggested, but it was found that the matter was one requiring very careful consideration, and eventually the Cabinet adjourned, a final decision on the subject being postponed. Amongst the recognised authorities on precedure in the House of Commons, it is anticipated that the Government will introduce a short measure providing for the allocation of the money in a non-contentious manner. In reference to a statement that, in the absence of any special provision on the subject, the money would gs automatically towards the reduction of the National Debt, it is stated that such is not the ease, there being clauses in the bill respecting the residue which would dispose of the money in a different manner. The pubf.shed announcement that a meeting of the Conservative party was to be held on Wednesday came upon the bulk of the Conservative members on Wednesday morning as a complete surprise, and many hon. gentlemen, assuming that the intimation was official,and that the circulars addressed to them had miscarried,went ;to the Foreign Office for the purpose of hearing the anticipated statement respectingpublic business when it was 1 found that the proposed conference had beenabandoned. Complaints were freely made to Mr. Akers Douglas, who, however, disclaimed responsibility for the inconvenience which bad been caused. The fact that the meeting had been determined upon was orally communicated to a number of Conservative members. At the last moment, after the expression of opinion from the Speaker, and the consequent conference of Ministers in the House of Commons on Tuesday night, it was decided to abandon the meeting, and instructions were given for the circulars to be destroyed. Mr. Hai-lbwy and two or three other gentlemen put in an appearance at 8, Gresvenorplace, and then learnt for the first time of the change of plans.  The captain of the barque Kelm., from Liverpool, reports having passed on the 16th inst., oi the north-east edge of the Grand .inks, a large cotton-laden barque on ire, with no one on Board. Damage estimated at £20,000 vias caused on Wednesday, by Lre on the premises of Forster, Green, and Cs., wholesale grocers and tea merchants, Belfast. At Wallasey Petty Sessions, on Wednesday, a fireman named George Gregg, was remanded for a week on a charge of attempting to murder a married woman named Bridget Brown, living in a cottage near the great Float, by shooting her with a revolver.