The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-08-08 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

NESTON AND PA.IIICGATZ.  Since I wrote the Nekton and Parkgate notes last week two dark tragedies have been enacted in the district, and have coat quite a gloom crver the place. On Friday afternoon Mr. William Lawton, the cycle manufacturer and repairer, of High•stimit, caw maned suicide by shooting himself with a yowling paws, and Mr. R. M. Morrison, the walknown and highly-respecbed solicitor of Little mom, win found drowned in the Denison Gutter on Tuesday afternoon. To dwell upon the circumstance* of these sad event, iS needless; the details have already been published in Pull. This ars*.  though, I may say. I 'knew both the detrained gentlemen intimately, and two more courteinui and obtiging men I never 'met. The district will be considerably the poorer for their loss; they both did much for its welfare in various ways. The funeral of Mr. Lawton took place on Monday afternoon in the Perish Churchyard, and was attended by a large tionomuse of mourners, as also Was the interment of Mr. Morriacm's remains, which were yesterday afternoon laid to rest, in pursuance of his own desire, in the quiet churchyard at Buxton. To their sorrowing wives and families I extend sincere sympathy, and can only expreet the old wish that the turf may rest lightly over the remains of both.  Sending William Mellor, the notorious fisherman—that is wheo he is not one of his MsPAY'e guests at Walton—to gaol seems to be as ineffective in its remedial effects as throwing a duck into water to try and drown it. A man who can hit his mother has not much manliness in him, and is oertainb, not a credit to the British nation. Yet William Mellor has assaulted his mother repeatedly, and for doing so last week he wee on Saturday seat to gaol for three months with hard tabour. He some out of Walton as recently as last Wednar day afternoon, having served a sentence of two nienths.  Quite a respectable number of people made Neaten and Parkgate the venue of their holiday on Monday, and the district wore an animated appearance from early afternoon onwards. They were well-behaved crowds, and found enjoyment in walking round the lanes of the ancient little town and the former famotri seaport.  The much-talked of inter-league match  between teams representing the Northern Quoiting League and the English Amateur Quoiting League was played under auspicious conditions on Bank Holiday on the Nest= Club's ground, where a substantial onlooking assembled. The Northern team emerged victorious from a keenly-contested game by the substantial total of 123 shots. The names of players and scores are appended-Northern League: E. Cartmell (Weston) 18, Joseph Jones (Nees Holt) 15, C. Weaver (Oxton) 20, M. Nickslecm (Bootle) 10, James Preston (Seaoombe) 18, G. Bell (Neston) 21, E. Davidson (Nees Halt) 21, H. Weaver (Oxton) 21, T. Coventry, jtmr. (Weston) 21, W. Cartmill (Neaten) 20, John Jon(' (Nee Holt) 21, R. }Canteen (Neeton) 21, r. W. Cooper (Oxton) 21, Joseph Oxton (Nees Holt) 19, S. Metcalf (Weston) 21, W. Bnrkey (Ness Holt) 21, R. Kamcen (Weston) 21. T. Oiton (secretary) (Nees Holt) 21, John Cottrell (Weston) 21, Joseph Metcalf (Weston) 31, W. Gifting; (Weston) 21, G. Oxton (Nees Holt) 21, total 433. English Amateur League: J. Ellams (Great Sutton) 21. D. Larwley (Childer Thornton) 21, W. Williams (Little Sutton) 21, J. Peers (Childer Thornton) 21, J. Bather (Bromborough )21, J. Caldow (Haswell) 9, S. Jones (Whitby) 13, K. F. Abbey (Little Sutton) 10, R. Griffiths (Heswall) 5, W. Fabby (Little Sutton) 21, W. Lewis (Bromborough) 8, B. Fabby (Little Sutton) 7, W. Parker (Childer Thornton) 18, D. Kemp (Burton) 21, J. Taylor, jour. (Childer Thornton) 3, R. Jones (Christletan) 20, J. Fletcher (Burton) 8 G. Beattie (secretary) (Bromborough) 14, T. Hodgeon (Bromborough) 14, C. Caldow (Beewall) 7, A. Jones (Bromborough) 11, S. Broker (Heewall) 18, total 310.  For many years past the members of the Victoria Working Men's Club, Juvenalstreet, have been favoured with an annual invitation from Mrs. Theodore Rathbone to her residence, Baekwood. near Parlegate. On Monday about 80 members responded to the invitation. From Woodside Station to Park gate, they were conducted by Mr. Herbert R. Rathbone, C.C., through the grounds and schools of Mr. A. G. Grenfell, who kindly placed at their disposal the use of the plunge baths, where a swimming contest took place. 'l'6 party subsequently sat down to an excellent dinner, after which the cricket grounds belonging to Mr. Grenfell were made use of. A. match was arranged by the assistance of Mr. Rathbone between Mr. F. W. Clark's team and Mr. W. Beech's team. Tea was then served by Mr. Rathbone and his helpers. The visitors subsequently pro eeeded to a field adjoining Kre. Rethbone's residence, where several handicaps took place. The party then proceeded to the front of Mrs. Rathbone's house, where each one was presented with a bunch of flowers. The secretary of the club proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs. Theodore Rathbone for renewing her invitation to the members, and for the kindly spirit which had always characterised her. Mr. Rethbone responded on behalf of Mrs. Rathbone and the ladies who had kindly catered for the party's enjoyment.  The Naston Choral Society is buckling on ite armour for the coming winter season. Just fancy winter nearly upon us again,and we have had no summer worth speaking of  yet. The musical programme to be rendered by the combined choirs of the Willaston, Thornton Hough, Heiman, Newton Parish, Presbyterian, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan Churches, the Willaston Primitive Methodist, and the Haswell Presbyterian churches, comprising altogether over a hundred voices, on the occasion of the meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, on October 6tb, will consist of the following works: Sullivan's "Te Deum in D.;" Sullivan's anthem, "Song of Heaven;" and Elvey's anthem, " Arise and Shine." Rehearsals of the combined choirs will be held in the Neston National School on September 24th and October Ist. The first rehearsal for the Choral Society's concert on December 17th will be held on October Bth. The following programme has been compiled—Sir W. Sterndale Bennett's "say Queen:" part-songs, "Echoes" (J. B. Calkin); "Farewell to the Forest" delasohn); "La Carita " (Rossini); "Now by Day's Retiring Lamp" (Sir H. R. Bishop).  Anniversary services in the Primitive Methodist Church, Little Neston, were held on Sunday iset, when the newly-appointed minister, the Rev. 0. K. Famell, preached excellent sermons in the morning and evening, and created a highly favourable impremien upon the people who constitute hie charge. Collections were made in aid of the Church funds.