The St. Helens Examiner, and Prescot Weekly News. — 1905-11-25 (Saint Helens, Merseyside, 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 man, two votes," seems to be the rule rather than the exception.—" Punch." • * * Rumours of resignation and dissolution 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 full 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. Halo himself,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 could is impaired by being extravagantly used. Worse still is the discouragement to enlightened and benevolent enterprise. —" Standard."  * * * 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 Wa,rringtou 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 mildness of the climate there at this time of the year, and adds "no fogs are over 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 regime: 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 li,Tes, 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,toll the Parochial Committee on Thursday night that he had done more work on the Lighting Committee than the whole of 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 (writes a" Manchester Guardian " correspondent), we were startled by a sudden 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, and not, as she appeared to think, one of the inmates. * * * Speaking at Stirling on Thursday night, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman made a sigaiticent 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." There is no Balfonrian 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 ,audionce that he"' had not intended to make a speech on that occasion but moved by the enthusiasm of the moment he begged leive to trespass &c." His flights' into the realms of poetic eloquence were quite impressive until he came to a suddea pause, made an attempt to recover himself, bat failed. "You will excuse me gentlemen" he said as he produced a carefully prepared M.S. and having found the place at which the trend of his thoughts was broken, complacently zesumed his discourse. * * * A most wicked parody of a very famous sonnet 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 : ,