Widnes Examiner. — 1905-11-25 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

NOTES AND NOTIONS.  There will be quite " a revenue of populars " in Stockton Heath by and by. * * * The recent New York elections pro—e our American cousins to be far more advanced than ourselves. "One many two votes," seems to be the rule rather than the exception.—" Punch." * *  Rumours of resignation and diBs3lution fill the air, and Parliamentary crises abound. We may have a General Election this year—it is not likely—but it seems certain that the battle of the polls will be in fall swing in less than three months. * * * The ill-fated Hilda started on her last trip on St. Hilda's Day. Last Wednesday's saint was St. Nfalo hitnself,after whom the place is named ; and Thursday's was a St. Gregory, of whom the Hilda's captain was a namesake.—" Daily Chronicle."  * * The credit that enables a public authority to borrow at more favourable rates than a commercial company emld is impaired by being extravagantly used. Worse still is the discouragement ta enlightened and benevolent enterprise.—" Standard." * 5 * Many local Liberals will probably like to avail themselves of the opportunity of attending the big Liberal demonstration at Frodsham this (Saturday) evening. The Earl of Crewe will preside,and the chief speakers will be the Right Hon. R. B. Haldane, K.C., M.P., the Hon. Lyulph Stanley, and Sir John Brunner, Bart, M.P.  * * * Mr. Henry Vivian, the Liberal and Labour candidate for Birkenhead, was selected by the Cardiff Trades and Labour Council, one of the most representative Councils in the country, to defend Free Trade in a debate with the "tariff reformers " at Cardiff last (Thursday) evening. Those of our readers who heard Mr. Vivian speak at Warringtou will have full confidence in him as a champion of the cause.  * * A lady correspondent writes us from Trefriw on the Conway, enclosing a number of choice flowers sent as still growing in the open air there. She speaks highly of the mildue3s of the climate there at this time of the year, and adds "no fogs are ever seen or have every been remembered." Perhaps they have another name at Trefriw ! But the district is undoubtedly a charming one and well-sheltered. * * * The following cutting from the " Transvaal Critic" Johannesburg, sheds a lurid light on the" happiness and prosperity " of our South African Colony under the British and Cosmopolitan Jewish regim.6 : We have set up another world record. Seven suicides reported in one week, and two more at the week-end is surely a register of broken hearts, wrecked lives, and reckless despair that no other community of like size could (to its disparagement) imitate." * * * . .  Stockton Heath has a one-man committee—but even then one man has resigned it seems. Mr. J. Whitley, one of the oldest and most respected residents,told the ParoAtial Committee on. Thursday night that he had done more work on the Lighting Committee than the whole or them put together. He had met by himself, visited the village himself, and passed resolutions . himself. The committee were so conscious of Mr. Whitley's virtues and their own shortcoming that they forthwith asked him to re-consider his resignation.  * Cycling from Winwick to Warrington the other day (writs a Manchester Guardian " correspondent), we were startled bye suddea awful sound that rose from a doleful groan in rapid crescendo to a shriek of unendurable pain. An old lady walking on the footpath stopped with clasped hands, exclaiming, "Eh poor creature ! Whatever are they doing ?" She seemed so much upset and shocked that we felt bound to dismount and explain to her that it was only the siren at the County Council Asylum. aud not, as she appeared to think, one of the inmates. * * * Speaking at Stirling on Thursday night, Sir Henry Campbell-13annerman made a significent and emphatic declaration of his policy as regarded the administration of Ireland. "The only way to heal the evils of Ireland's difficulties and her administration and give prosperity to her people and make her a strength instead of a weakneSs was," he said "that the Irish people should have the management of their own affairs. So far from his opinion on this score failing, it had become stronger, and, what was more, he had more confidence in its realisation." Thera is no Balfourian ambiguity about this declaration, and it should give satisfaction to the Irish Liberals all over the country. *, Many are the little wiles practised by public speakers. At a recent local function a gentleman apologetically began his remarks by telling the audience that he' had not intended to make a speech on that occasion but moved by the enthusiasm of the moment he begged lesve to trespass &a." His_ flights into the realms of poetic eloquence were quite , impressive until he came to a sadden pause, on tile an attempt to recover himself, but failed. "You will r excuse me gentlemen" he said as he produced a carefully prepared MS. and having found the place at which the trend of his thoughts was broken, complacently resumed his discourse. ** * t most wicked parody of a very famous onnet has been sent to us by a gentleman who, in spite of it all, gives us to understand that he admires Wordsworth. It is called :