The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1885-09-16 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.  People are saying that the Finance Committee will be required to explain why they are opposed to the extension of the Cemetery being proceeded with at once. No doubt they have strong reasons for the attitude which they have taken, and there are grave difficulties in the way of the adoption of the course which the Cemetery Committee has indicated a desire to pursue. But the public will not be satisfied until it is fully taken into the confidence of the committee.  People are saying that the controversy between Mr. Wortley, assistant overseer for Liscard, and Mr. Carter, assistant overseer for Liscard, has not so far been of a very edifying character. It has been disfigured by indefensible personalities. But Mr. Wortley must be held primarily responsible for what has taken place. It was he who began the squabble, and it is questionable whether he was ever justified in attempting to teach Mr. Carter how he ought to perform his duties as assistant overseer. All that the public expect or want from him is that he will keep his own house in order. Mr. Carter is not in any way responsible to him, but to other authorities, who will, no doubt, not be slow to call him to order if he strays from the path of strict legality. People are saying that the Bromborough Local Board has attracted to itself an amount of notice which it little expected by its refusal to admit reporters to its meetings. Its highhanded proceedings have excited a large amount of indignation in the village where it has supposed itself to reign supreme, and the ratepayers are considering whether they ought not to make an example of those members who have shown a contempt for public opinion and a love for darkness rather than light. It is generally felt that the matter cannot be permitted to remain where it is, and the further development of the case is being anticipated with not a little interest.  People are saying that the Dock Board has aroused a storm of indignation by issuing its order that the further use of pleasure boats on the Great Float on Sundays shall not be permitted. The excuse for this monstrous proceeding, which savours of Sabbatarianism of the worst kind, is that the Great Float has on Sundays been the scene of more or less disorder. But this affected regard for public morals is too ridiculous to pass muster. If there has been disorder, why have not the offenders been taken to the police courts? There are more than enough policemen and officials about the all-but empty Birkenhead Docks to detect any impropriety and bring to justice the offenders, i.e., if they do not spend their time in snoozing on the quays. Besides, if there has been misconduct tbe edict would still be a  gigantic blander, because it is preposterously unjust that the innocent should be punished for the guilty. To trounce an unoffending multitude because you cannot find offending units is to confess your incapacity for authority, and the Dock Board is, therefore, now occupying a most unenviable position in the eyes of all discriminating persons. People are saying that in prohibiting Sunday boating on the Great Float the Dock Board is not only wantonly interfering with pleasure-seekers who ought not to be interfered with, but also cruelly taking the bread out of the mouths of a number of poor boatowners who are innocent of any attempt at wrong-doing against the Board. But then poor boatowners, who are often hard pressed to keep their wives and families, are, of course, of little importance in the eyes of the Dock Board magnates, who can find in their homes abundant materials for Sunday recreation and do not know what is to be deprived of their means of livelihood.  People are saying that "Tory half crowns " have been spread about the borough in such a lavish manner as to suggest a town in ancient election times. Restaurants have received much unwonted custom from the "good Tory money," as the possessors of the halfcrowns ironically style them. Even Mr. Cunliffe himself has been forced to refuse some half-dozen lunches and score of " drinks " which have been offered him by the recipients of coins which erstwhile nestled in the pockets of the Tory agent. These were the unkindest cuts of all.  • People are saying that the same liberal dispenser of the Queen's likenesses had much the worst of the wordy warfare in which he engaged with the sturdy Dodd. This latter gentleman seemed—especially on Saturday—to "run the court," so entirely had the verdict of "2s. 6d. a piece" obliterated his Tory opponent. Mr. A. T. Davies was a noble seconder on behalf of the Liberals, while the solicitor engaged by the Tories enjoyed the ease and emoluments of a sinecure. When the next fight between the two agents takes place, it is to be hoped that many will be there to see.  People are saying that Mr. Dodd showed a well-founded distrust of Tory promises when he demanded that the expenses should be paid to the lodgers before leaving the court. Mr. Cunliffe had not anticipated nor provided for such a contingency, consequently the claimants were kept waiting for their monies while a myrmidon was despatched to the Conservative offices for the ducats. The vows of some of the recipients, that they "would buy a photo of the G.0.M." with the money, did not seem to arouse pleasant or soothing meditations in the mind of the paymaster. People are saying that the ruling of Mr. Wood, the revising barrister, in re Patrick Whelligan, of Leicester-street, Esquire, was hard. It is the rule in courts of law that statements given on oath are evidence, to the exclusion of all others. Yet the revising barrister contrasted the first statement of Patrick aforesaid, which he made when he was evidently excited and before he was sworn, with one made upon oath, and took his first statement as evidence against his word after being sworn. Many Tories present delighted in showing their ignorance by loud guffaws when Mr. Dodd remarked upon the facts. People are saying that the advantages and results of education are widespread; but Bidston, though so adjacent to the well educated and school board-repelling Birkenhead, seems to have escaped the contagion in a marvellous degree. On Monday, at an inquest touching the death of a man named Thomas Ffonlkes Jones, the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide, while temporarily insane." The coroner asked if the jury had any opinion to express anent the suicide, whereupon the foreman replied, "Yea, sir. The opinion of the jury is that he did it himself!" Oh, wise foreman! Oh, modern Daniel! A man committed suicide without assistance. "In Booth, the knave he hath a quaint conceit.''