The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1889-03-02 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

WALLASEY JOTTINGS.  i The School Board question s being brought to the front in an unexpected manner. I am informed that at a recent meeting, the managers of the Seacombe Presbyterian Mission Schools decided to give 6 months' notice to the Education Department that the schools would be closed. These schools are among the largest in Seacombe, and when they are closed, a School Board will be inevitable. It is understood that for some time there has been a difficulty in keeping up the subscriptions: hence the step that has been taken. The same difficulty is experienced in connection with most if not all the elementary schools in the parish, and it is therefore likely that there will be a general consensus of opinion as to the advisability of a School Board being formed, tile more especially as there is hardly sufficient school accommodation for present requiiements, to say nothing of the future. There is some talk of a meeting of all the school managers being held, at which Mr. Hance, the clerk to the Liverpool School Board, will be present to give information as to the working of a School Board.  Already there is some talk in local circles as to tke• approaching Local Board elections. The retiring members are :—Seacouthe, Mr. J. M. Hawkins and Mr. J. Wahnsley ; Liscard, Captain Herron and Mr. W Heap; Wallasey, Mr. G. H. Peers. The election will not take place until the beginning of April.  The insane system adopted by the Wallasey Local Board of deruandin,g exorbitant gas deposits has been referred to in this column previously. I refer to it again, because an instance came under my notice during the week of the way in which the Board are pursuing a penny wise and pound foolish policy. A man who had taken a small lock-up shop in Seacombe applied for gas to be laid on, but the amount demanded from him as a deposit was so large that he was obliged to forego his intention and to light the place with lamps. A deposit of a reasonable amount cannot be objected to, but it is the invariable practice in other districts for interest to be paid on these deposits. The Wallasey Local Board have, however, in baud thousands of pounds as gas deposits, for which they pay no interest whatever. When will some member take this matter up?  • The Liverpool Humane Society, at ..their meeting held a day or. two ago, made the following awards for courage and humanity in saving life, viz.:—To Joseph Molloy, mate of the ferry steamer Sunflower, a silver clasp for his medal and £2 for having with great promptitude and humanity, jumped overboard from said vessel while in motion, and having rescued a young women who had thrown herself from the promenade deck into the Mersey with intent to drown herself, on the night of the 28th ultimo. Thie is the fourteenth rescue for which he has been rewarded. 30. i. to John Hallwood, fireman ferry steamer Wallasey, for having, on the 14th ult., jumped into the Mersey with a life buoy and having swum to the rescue of 3 woman who had jumped into the river from another ferry steamer with intent to commit suicide.  lam told that Dir. Hawkins is still harping on Ferry reform. At the next meeting of the Local Board he will propose a motion to reduce the amount annually set aside for depreciation in convection with the Ferries, namely, £4,000. The motion will probably be strenuously opposed by Mr. Peers and his colleagues, Seeing that Iflio depreciation fund is barely sufficient to build another boat, 'which will soon he needed,  I understand that there are 150 applicants for the pest of Ashistant Surveyor to the Laical Board. The applicants are from all parts of the knigdoru, and the Committee will, co doubt, have a difficulty in cumnil;g to decision.  Mr. W. F. ,Lee's suggestion at Monday night's concert that a public hall for concern, meetings, Sm., ought to be bait in Seacombe is one worthy of consideration. Certainly the room in which the remark was made is anything but comfortable and convenient, and its appearance cannot by any stretch of imagination be 'called artistic. Mr. Lee suggests that a syndicate be formed tcr the purpose.  The Seacombe Liberals are going to show the public that they are alive. The energetic secretary has arranged for an illustrated leas-re to be given by Mr. Grant, of the Aberal and Radical," in the Vienna Hail on Thursday next. Mr. County Councillor Gravesuu is to preside.  There will be hut one feeling, and that one of deep sympathy, with Mr. James Smith, J.P., of Dalmorton House. New Brighton, in the bereavement which has cast a cloud over the family. It appears that his youngest child, aged years, was being driven outlast weer:, in charge of a nurse, when by some unfortunate accident, she fell from the carriage and received injuries of a serious character. The little One, it is scarcely necessary,44.say, has had the benefit of the most . skilful medical treatment, but tire injuries were of such a serious nature that she died early on Thursday morning from commission of the brain. The occurrence has evoked much soupathy on. behalf of Mr. James Smith, who is held in high esteem for his good works in the pariah. Owing to the unfortunate occurrence Mr. Smith was unable to attend the County Council at Knuteford, on Thursday.