The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1886-02-24 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

WHIT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.  People are saying that some steps I should be taken towards providing the I cabbies ef the borough with better sheltering accommodation than they have at present. One is struck with the urgency of some such provision being made these cold miserable nights on passing such exposed places as the Haymarket and Argyle-street South. As in Liverpool the Jehus of this borough are but poorly paid, and can ill afford to be incapacitated from following their employment by being stricken down by illness. People are saying that Owen McGill has paid the extreme penalty of the law for taking the life of his wife, and very few people, with the exception of those who are opposed to capital punishment, will think that he has received more than he deserved. For downright systematic brutality there have been few equals to this case, it being proved at 1 the trial that the culprit had for some considerable time past been in the habit of cruelly illtreating the woman he took for better or for worse. As in the majority of such cases drink was the evil genius. People are Paying that before his life was ended the culprit bitterly complained of the non-intervention of the neighbours on the night of the cornmisssion of the terrible deed, and some people may be inclined to share his feel- I ings with reference to the apparent cowardice of the neighbours. The cornplaint is not a reasonable one. It should be borne in mind that the residents in the immediate locality of the culprit's house were so accustomed to hearing cries of " murder " proceed from the unfortunate woman that they paid little heed to them on the melancholy night, as they thought they were but a repetition of the illusage to which she had So long been a sufferer. People are saying that a very interesting presentation was made the other evening to Mr. Tom Litherland, the popular secretary of the Birkenhead Amateur Bicycle Club, by his brother cyclists on the occasion of his entering the holy bonds of matrimony. During the time that he has been connected with the club he has won the respect and esteem of all the members, and they join in wishing him success in the more responsible position he has taken upon himself. People are saying that the complaint made by one of the correspondents in this issue respecting the slaughtering of stray members of the canine race by the borough executioner would, if allowed to pass uncontradicted, raise a feeling of disgust in the minds of all right-thinking and sensible persons. However, people have abundant evidence to the contrary, for proof is not wanting that the most humane and expeditious mode is adopted by the unwilling destroyer of doggies of putting an end to the existence of those gutter dogs that have the misfortune to fall into the 1 hands of the local "peelers." People are saying that Birkenhead is having more than its share of tragedy at the present time, and the early part of the year promises to be exceedingly rich in its chapter of horrors. First of all there was the Landican murder; then the public mind was considerably disturbed by the Tomanzie case, which, however, thanks to the exertions of Mr. W. H. Quilliam, was proved to be a myth; shortly afterwards a member of the local police force was brought up on a serious charge, which many people believe will end as did the Tomanzie case; almost coincident was the Rock Ferry tragedy; and now the public are treated to several extraordinary cases of suicide. What is to be next is a mystery, but it is to be hoped that the mid has nearly arrived. People are saying that Mary Daniels, who was brought up before Mr. Preston at the Borough Police Court on Monday, is not such a fool as she looks. She exhibited a strong dislike for the "mansion on the hill," her principal objection being that the inmates were not provided with a strong cup of tea on rising in the morning. She showed her knowledge of the law by pointing out to Mr. Preston that he had not the power ' to commit her to that haven, and elected to linger in durance -vile rather than renew her acquaintance with the presiding genius at that institution. People are saying that the police might do worse than pay a little more I attention to the disorderly characters who infest Chester-street every night of the week. It is not pleasant, and at times it is absolutely dangerous, to pass along that thoroughfare after nine o'clock at night. It is bad enough to beep a watchful eye on the puddles that beset one's path without having to beware of the attacks of the lowest of the low women in the borough. People are saying that the falling off in the Mersey Tunnel traffic during last week was material. Almost every person in Liverpool and Birkenhead has made the journey under the bed of the Mersey, and the novelty has worn off. The traffic has not yet reached its normal state, but it will no doubt be con. 1 siderably increased during the approaching summer with the influx of visitors I and excursionists. People are saying that the Irishmen of Birkenhead are in the habit of speaking plainly, though it would not be safe always to assume that they say what they mean and mean what they say. On Sunday they held a meeting and passed a resolution about Lord Randolph Churchill, which was certainly unlike one they would have passed a few weeks ago. Now they dub him a "village ruffian," and call upon the Government to suppress him. Poor Lord Randolph Churchill will be cut to the heart when he hears what has been said about him.  Cistoirroa Issirrrirrs.—On Monday evening, 'Mr. J. D. Cogan, of the Royal lustitaLion, Bath, delivered a lecture on " Fire" in connection with the Claughton Institute. The lecturer, in the course of his remarks, explained the meaning of the word combustion, of which he showed several forms. He showed how steel could be burned by means of a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen, by which means also lime light was produced. i He then referred to accidental fires n houses, and recommended that in such cases all doors : and windows should be closed. He then explained how it was that water poured on to a fire made the heat greater by the gasses in the water becoming decomposed. He also spoke of a new fire extinguisher which had been lately invented, consisting of condensed carbolic acid gas which extinguished a fire almost immediately. 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