The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1905-08-12 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE PASSING WEEK.  In the Belle Brzird, Paris, took place the competition for the prize of 5,000 trance, founded by Anton Rubinstein, for the encouragement of the study of the piano, and for' proclaiming the Anent pianiot in the world Tho coveted prise ems aaraided to Mr. Beckham, the young Englitihman, belonging to the eity of Mancheeter, who is much beiow the limit Of age (26 years) for competitors. The youthful Englishman coecd. a profound emaation amongst the mestere present, and the jury, ateolutely astounded by the perfection of his tech. thou.. unaninicriely gave him the prize.  Kra. Rix, of eprowstos, Northwich, has just celebrated her 103nd birthday. Her mother attained the age of 104. Mum Rix attributes her longevity to the fact that she has lived a healthy-, country life and has never taken medicine. Her pet aversions are bicycles and motor-cars.  Sir J. Diokent-Poynder, Bart.. M.P., originelly elected as a Conservative, sat on the Liberal aide of the House of Oommone on Tuesday night, and spoke from that position against the Government in the debate upon the Appropriation Bill.  A shookiag 11110thirellT fatality °Warred on Tuesday evening at West Bridgford, Not. tinglumn, Amy Irenionger, two and a half years old, being knocked down in the public highway and killed by a car belonging to lifr. Warne, of Fisbury Manor, Dorking, which was on its way to Harrogate. The driver proceeded immediately to the nearest dootor's house. but death had taken place. The child was a darogliter of James Iremonger, the well-known Notts cricketer, who was away from home, playing for the minty, against Surrey at the Owai. • • • •  The inagisteriel inveetigation into the' charges arising out of last week's unemployed demonstration took place in the Manchester Police Court on Tuesday, the defendants being William Bdward Skivington, Chairman of the Unemployed Committee; Hobert M'Gregor, and Charlee Steadman, who were Last week charged with obstructing the traffic in Market-etreet, and Arthur smith and James B. Hitchin, who had been summoned since the original proceedings were instituted. The accused were Ibound over to keep the peace for twelve months in their own recognisance, of XS each.  • • • •  The Royal COMMillgioll on Motorcars will he appointed to int:Lain, and report as to 1. T. working of the Motorcar Acts, 1896 and 1903, and of the regulations under them. 2. The law and practice in relation to motorcars in the principal foreign ammtries.  9. What amendments, if any, _phonic' bel made in the Motor-ear lints and the regaletitine under them.  4. The injury to the roads *nosed to be canoed by BIetrIVNIXO.  5. Wheiher any, and if so what, additional charges should he imposed in respect of moboc•cars, and how any money thus raised should hei sppUed  • • •  Catherine Alloopp, a Shethekl washerwoman, hanged herself with a pieoe of elothea line on a nail in her bedroom, and when the inquiet was held the following poetry, left by her on a wine of sugar paper, wag reed to the jury:—  '"Here lies a poor woman who always wail tired; She Heed in a iletlee where help was not hired. Her last words en earth vero—Dear friends. lam gog Where wishing ain't dons, nor sweeping, uor sewing; But everything there is exact to my wishee, For where thew don't eat there's no washing of dishes. I'll be where loud anthems will always be ringing. Hat, having no voice, be clear of the singing. Don't nreert% for ;ne now, don't Main for ine newer— .  I'm going to do nothing far over and ever."  The jury unanimoady ivitorned a verdict of "Suicide dung temporary immity."  Pitai  CootAin Tawas, ot the Seising lugger Conof Lowestoft, reports that when one Of hie nets Wee hauled up on Sunday, 20 maw off Hartlepool, it wee fowled to sew toast Os deed body of a The body was much decomposed, and was thrown be into the sea. Asiong the astioles found upon the-body were some visiting cands containing the name "G. Smithson. Burbankterrace, West Hartlepool."  The movement in favour of a uniform penny postage al& over the globe SI raldvlly gathering formand influence. Mr. Henniker Renton, M.P., the.' ardent postal reformer, bas addrresed an appeal 63 all likely sympathisers, urging the formation of a longue for the vistiblisisment of universal penny • postage. All the facia and arguments are in favour of this desirable reform. It is pointed out by Mr. Henniker Herbon that since 1808, whim Imperial penny pages* W e introduced. our outward mai* hare nearly doublet Brea Friday, he 1111111*. some 850,000 British inane Pam thkuligh Praises and Italy for India, Hong &etc and Australasia, • distance of twelve thaaaand mum These are all carried for • penny emit, and is it set • little illusion that British letters deeparrobed to caw., a matter of may twenty-one milesothOlvid be *saved fdd.l, • • • •  The Postairebireemerel (Lord Sisaken on Wedneeday jimmied is =spa wpm*, giv ing an achiont of the badness at the Rat Office daring the year ending Marcia, 1905. The natabin of lobbies pawing through the Pest Moe oratimass to increase, the tirhat for the year being 2,024 nrilltoms. Newspapers to the number of 179 millions were posted, while there were 843 million halfpenny packets and 97 million parcels. Noah 1 person received on an average during the yew 61. letters, 17 paniamais, 19 lielfmaray peoloste, 4 newspapers. and 2 parcels, Pease the motel authorities a grand total of 4,479 million communications of various lobate, excluding telegrama. to deal with. During the year fe,9B9,9ootolegiams palmed over the Post Office wires, aa against 89.997.000 in 1903-4, a demeans of over a million. This felling oil is thought to biadtie in the growth of the telephone system, which continues to lowish. The another tif postcards used increased to the tune of 19.7 per cent., a. prime of the oontbrued popularity of the picture poetcard • • • •  Mr. Thomas William Bargees on Wednesday made another moat courageous attempt to 81•1111 &mom the English Channel from Dover. after fifteen and a half hours in the water he was compelled to ablation the attempt, as the onment was carrying him owt to 'ea. Me was' then about five miles from the Fmnoil coast.  The Lord Chief Justice, I. Juane* 'Lawrence, and Mr. Justice Hadley, sitting as a Divisional Court. on Wednesday, made absolitte the rule nisi granted on July 18 for a oriminal information against Sir Edward Russell. editor of the "Daily Post and Mammy," in reapect of the publication of an alleged libel upon the Liverpool licensing Caminito. of Magistrates. The ride nisi against Mr. Jeami, printer and publisher of the paper, was discharged without area.