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LENNON WYLIE home - WW1 & WW2 Stuff - Genealogy Links STREET DIRECTORIES TRANSCRIBED SCRAPBOOK |
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Mark of Respect - On Tuesday evening, the young men in the employment of Messrs. Richardson, Sons, & Owden, Donegall Place, entertained at supper, in Dunlop's Thistle Hotel, Mr. Arthur McIlveen, on the occasion of his connecting himself with a branch of business different from that with which he has been hitherto associated. (unclear writing, Jany 3 - 1856) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PRESENTATION - On Saturday evening last, a few of the friends of Mr. J. T. McIlveen, in the employment of Messrs. J. N. Richardson, Sons, & Owden, met in Mr. C. Thomson's, Donegall Place, for the purpose of presenting him with a gold watch, chain, and seals, as a mark of their respect and esteem, previous to his departure for America. Mr. McIlveen has been in the employment of Messrs. J. N. Richardson, Sons, & Owden for a great many years, during which time he has won the respect of all who knew him, by his amiable disposition, integrity, and desire, with singleness of purpose, to promote the welfare of all those with whom he was connected. |
FAREWELL ENTERTAINMENT - Yesterday evening, a number of the friends of Mr. McIlveen, late in the employment of Messrs. Richardson, Sons, & Owden, entertained that gentleman to a dinner, in the Gallery of Art, Donegall Place, on the occasion of his leaving for America. Mr. McIlveen has been for twenty years connected with the above-named firm, and has, during that long period, gained the respect and esteem of all with whom he has been acquainted. The chair, on the occasion, was occupied by Mr. Murray, of Messrs. A, T. Stuart & Co., and the vice-chair by Mr. Hughes, Castle Street. The dinner, which comprised all the delicacies of the season, was supplied by Mr. Linden, Corn Market. Of the toasts proposed - that of the guest of the evening - met with a hearty response. Several other toasts were proposed and appropriately responded to. During the evening, a number of songs were well sung by some of the company, and a very pleasant evening was spent, which will, no doubt, by long remembered by Mr. McIlveen when he has crossed the Atlantic. |
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BELFAST NEWS-LETTER BELFAST THURSDAY, DECEMBER, 18TH 1873 DEATH OF MR. JOHN T. McILVEEN - Many a kindly regret, in Belfast and beyond it, will be awakened by the announcement of Mr. McIlveen's death. He was engaged in the linen trade, in which he had made for himself a very comfortable and respectable position. He did not meddle very much - at least not noisily - in public life, and held but one public position - namely, that of Poor Law Guardian for Ballyhackamore. The duties of this office he discharged in a quiet, shrewd, business like way, which made him an acquisition to the Board, and will make his loss a matter of regret to his brother Guardians as well as to the ratepayers whom he represented. Socially he was the most genial of men, and more than one circle will miss his happy temper, and happily-infectious spirits, and the ready intelligence which made him a favourite in private life as well as a successful business man. To such men Freemasonry seems to offer a congenial outlet for their many-sided generosity. Mr. McIlveen was an esteemed and attached member of this friendly brotherhood, ever ready to join in its kindly schemes. He was not much beyond the prime of life. But some three months ago he had a paralytic attack, which continued to affect him with more or less severity till his death. We understand that he is to be buried to-morrow (Friday) morning. |
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The following is a list of signatures from the scrap
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 A man named Galt was recently married to a dumb woman. Some curiosity was excited by the fact of his marrying a woman who could not speak, and a friend asked him the cause of his doing so. Galt answered that he had had two wives already, and they gave him no rest by reason of their talking ceaselessly, and complaining and scolding from morning till night. Both had died; and now, as he was sixty years old, and desirous of having a little peace for the remainder of his life, he had determined to select a dumb woman. |
Fearful Lynching Scene - A letter from Memphis, Tennessee, in the Chicago Republican, describes the atrocious manner in which a negro man was murdered for eloping with a white girl, daughter of a blacksmith, residing about eight miles from that city:- "The fugitives made their exit in the evening, taking with them 400 dollars in gold and 145 dollars in green-backs, belonging to the girl's father, which the lady purloined as her ;awful inheritance. Their flight being soon discovered by the girl's parents, they were overtaken and arrested at a small town a few miles distant, on the morning after the first night of the honeymoon. The girl, who confessed herself to have been the instigator of the elopement, and to have hired the negro to accompany her, was carried back by her parents, and as a punishment for her folly received at most only a sharp rebuke. But her gallant was handcuffed and given over to the county patrols, who brought him back to within a short distance of his employer's house, and then besmeared him with tar, hung him by his hands to the limb of a tree, and set his tarred clothes on fire. Here he hung dangling in mid-air, writing amid the scorching flames, which rapidly enveloped him, his torturers, standing by grinning with delight at the cries of their victim, to have pity on him and to spare his life. The cries of the wretched sufferer were unavailing, and he hung there wrapped in the fire till each particle of his clothing dropped from his blistered body, and the rope which suspended him was also disconnected by the flames, when he fell to the ground with the entire surface of his body literally broiled and quivering with pain. Here he lay, will at last, becoming delirious with his pains, or aroused by a hope of escaping, he sprang to his feet and ran with all his might in the direction of a small creek, a few yards off, when the villains fired their revolvers at him, and he fell dead upon the ground pierced with several bullets." |
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Baby-Farming - An extraordinary
case of baby-farming was exposed in a coroner's investigation on Thursday
night at the Lord Campbell Tavern, Campbell Road, Bow, respecting the death
of Frederick Wood, aged two years and three months. The proceedings
excited considerable attention in the neighbourhood, as it was known that
out of eleven children that had been taken at the "baby-farm" five
had died. |
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ACCIDENTS, OFFENCES, ETC Awful Occurrence - An event has lately occurred in Birr which has created great consternation, and gives rise to many a vague report, among some classes of the inhabitants of the above-mentioned town. The following may be relied upon as a faithful report of the matter:- Some short time since a boy of fourteen or fifteen years old took a pain in his hip, which extended thence to his knee, and afterwards to his ankle; some superstitious old crone, in the same locality, seeing the condition of the child, told his mother that he was 'fairy stricken,' and urged upon her the necessity of having recourse to a certain individual who was in the habit of "setting charms" (as she termed it). The innocent woman adopted the crone's suggestion, and lost no time in acting upon it. She went to this noted personage, the 'charm setter,' to get something done for her suffering child, but was told by him that his potent spells could avail nothing against the disorder, and that she must submit to the will of Providence. The woman went away heavy at heart, but had scarcely reached her habitation when she lost her senses, and entering her house, all the other members of the family being out, she went straight to the fire, over which a large pot of boiling water was suspended, and having succeeded in getting her feet into the boiling water, she staid there as composed as if it had been cold water. When her husband entered and saw the condition of his wife, he was horror stricken; however, his presence of mind did not desert him. He came quickly to the place, where the woman stood calmly surveying him, and made an attempt to remove her from such a painful position, but to no purpose, for she had grasped the crook from which the pot was suspended so tightly that all his efforts to relax the hold were fruitless. He then ran to a carpenter's shop and got a large wooden mallet, with which he was compelled to break her fingers to disengage her. It is not surprising to say, that after remaining half an hour in the boiling water, knee deep, she was greatly injured. Her sister having heard of the matter, came from Donegal, and attended to the wretched woman until last Friday, when, horrible to relate, the mad woman bit her sister in many parts of the body; and the woman who came from Donegal in her perfect reason and senses, has been sent back raging, tied upon a cart. The other woman who lives in Birr still continues insane, nor are there any hopes of her recovery - Galway Vindicator |
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THE BLACKSTAFF Thou filthy Stygian brook, Like the stream of the Pagan dead, And east and south and north, You are neither black nor brown, O mixture of cats and dogs By hovel and poor man's cot And the men who have made you so, And they have their evening pranks, For "the sinew and bone"
of the town Who have poisoned the stream for
wealth, The men who have made the slime, By brook and fountain spout, And here, in the huddled town, Oh! owner of wheel and screw, Shall fishes be kept by a grasp Oh" cholera, fierce and grim! Nay, pity, and pass and spare I do not wish him killed, And soon they will bridge the drains Then strike a tax, per poll, With a Doctor for our Mayor, O pious and dirty race, J. L. R. Belfast, Sept. 1870 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IRISH PILOTS FOR THE FENIAN FLEET - The Cork Herald says:- "It is known that a number of our most skilful and experienced pilots from every part of the Irish seaboard have recently left the country, for the purpose, it is believed, of taking charge of a Fenian expedition, on its arrival off our coast. A few weeks since, a shipmaster, whose knowledge of every nook and cranny of the Irish coast is well known in nautical circles, left Queenstown as a saloon passenger by one of the emigrant steamers for New York, and it is generally believed amongst his friends at this port that he is to pilot one of the Fenian gunboats, whose power, it is said, will be directed against British commerce." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SHOCKING CRUELTY TO CHILDREN - At Lambeth Police Court, on Thursday, James Beard, aged 57, clerk at a station, and Amelia Beard, his wife, aged 41, of 29 Royal Terrace, Kensington park, were finally examined, charged with neglecting and refusing to find and provide for Arthur Beard, an infant of tender years, sufficient food, wearing apparel, and other necessaries. The case was before Mr. Woolrych on the previous Friday, and the defendants were remanded, without bail, for further evidence, which was now produced. The case excited much interest, and Mr. Chester, the vestry-clerk of Newington, appeared to prosecute. Michael Gabb, relieving officer of Newington parish, deposed that from information he received he went on the previous Thursday week to the residence of the prisoners, and knocked at the door several times, but could not obtain admission. He went on another morning about eight o'clock with a bundle of letters in his hand, and gave a postman's knock, which had the desired effect, and the door was opened by the female prisoner. He told her that he wanted to see the children, on which she became much excited, and obstructed his further entrance. He insisted on seeing them, and she said, "You can't come in; you can't see them now." He forced his way into the house, and found the four children, and he brought them to the court. The youngest child, Arthur Beard, two years old, was shockingly neglected and emaciated. The other children were evidently neglected, and pale and thin. The female prisoner was mother-in-law to the children. He found they had slept on two bedsteads with old mattresses, black and dirty, with old rugs, and scarcely any covering. The female prisoner's bedroom was comfortably furnished. On the landing were good feather beds tied up, and she admitted they belonged to her. He had been informed that the child had been tied in a chair for nearly three months, and on examination the infant was found to be covered with sores. Witness went with Edwin Smith, one of the warrant officers of the court, to the place where the male prisoner had been employed for upwards of twenty years, and when he heard the charge he treated it with indifference. He had been in receipt of £1 11s 6d per week. There had been no medical treatment of the children for a long time. They had been placed in a ward by themselves at the workhouse; but it was very doubtful whether the young child Arthur would recover. The male prisoner was at home every evening, and must have seen the children. The additional evidence produced on the present occasion went to show that the children had formerly been healthy, but latterly they were much altered in appearance, apparently from want. A nurse of Newington Workhouse said the child Arthur, two years old, did not weigh quite 12lbs. on its admission. It had been supplied with port wine and beef tea since it had been in the workhouse, and had increased already more than 1lb in weight. It was said that the male prisoner had been married twice before. Mr. Symons, the medical officer to the guardians, stated that he had examined the infant, and found it weak and emaciated. It had a skin disease of the head, which had been produced by neglect, and he thought it would not recover, although it might linger for some time longer. A child might be in that condition from natural causes, but its present appearance had been caused by want of food. On being asked if they had anything to state, the male prisoner reserved his defence, and the woman said the statement made was false. Mr. Woolrych committed them for trial on the charge of ill-treatment to the infant Arthur Beard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A ROMANTIC CASE - At Gloucester Assizes, Levi York sued David Rose to recover £360, as the maintenance of his wife for 180 weeks at £2 a-week. The plaintiff is an inn-keeper and engineman, living at Wednesbury, and the defendant is the son of an ironmaster living in the same locality. A daughter of the plaintiff went to live with the defendant's father as cook, about four years ago, at £6 a-year. She will be twenty-four next May; the defendant is not yet quite twenty-one. Soon after the plaintiff's daughter went into Mr. Rose's service, the defendant came home from school, and he appears to have become greatly attached to her. The girl fell ill, and went home to assist her father, who had taken a beer-house, but was persuaded to return to service. Subsequently he agreed to marry the girl, and when he spoke to her mother, she pointed out the disparity in their stations and ages, but he argued her down, and said that his father knew of it. One Monday night, about three years ago, at half-past tem o'clock, the defendant, the young woman, and her brother set out and walked to Birmingham, where they arrived at five next morning. There they took train to Leamington, and thence they went to Kenilworth, and were married in the presence of the registrar. Three or four days afterwards, a warrant having been obtained for the apprehension of the young husband on the ground that he had stolen his brother's boots, his matrimonial elysium was broken in upon, and he was carried off to his friends, by whom, as his letters stated, he was locked up, deprived of clothes, and ultimately sent off to South America. Before he left his wife he told her to return to her father; before he went to America he contrived to see and write to her, and vow eternal fidelity, and he told her to tell her father to keep her like a lady, to keep her from appearing in the beerhouse, and promised to remunerate them. Since his return from South America he had seen her once, but had not contributed to her support. The young woman, her father, and mother were called. The former said she had dedicated her time to education, and had not even made a bed. The claim was for £2 a-week for 180 weeks. Mr. Malteram said it had not been shown that the boy had had a sixpence other than what his father gave him. Was the father to be punished for the indiscretion of his son? The jury gave a verdict for 25s a-week for the whole 180 weeks. SINGULAR RECOVERY OF A SEVEN YEARS' LOST CHILD At the Manchester Police Court, on Wednesday, Margaret Smith, a strolling beggar, was charged with having stolen a child, about two years old, named Mary Ann Welsh, belonging to Anne Welsh, a hawker, residing in Milton Street, Liverpool. It appeared that the prosecutrix and the prisoner had known each other previous to the alleged offence, and that one day about seven years ago the prosecutrix, who then as at present resided in Liverpool, went out to make some purchases, taking with her her child, which was about two years old. On her return with some loaves of bread in her apron, she met the prisoner, who complained of hunger and asked her for a piece of bread. The prosecutrix, accompanied by her child and the prisoner, went into a vault close by for the purpose of getting a knife to cut one of the loaves, and while there called for a pint of ale. When she turned away from the counter she found that the prisoner had slipped away, and apparently taken the child, which had also disappeared with her. The poor woman made all the inquiries she could for seven long years, with the view of discovering where the prisoner was, and so regaining her child; but up to a day or two ago, she had been unsuccessful. In June, 1867, a little girl - now identified by the prosecutrix as the one she lost - was taken into custody in Manchester on a charge of having stolen a bottle of scent; and it appeared that, at the time she committed the theft, the prisoner was in the immediate neighbourhood, as if waiting for her. The girl, then seven years old, was sent to the Ardwick Industrial School, where she was several times visited by the prisoner as her child; and, finally, on Christmas Day, 1867, the prisoner obtained leave to take her out for an hour, promising to return with her. She did not bring back the child, however, and the next that is knows of the latter is that in the following March it was found deserted in the Liverpool workhouse, and was taken back to the Ardwick Industrial School, where it has remained up to the present. In the meantime the mother pursued a persevering search for her child. At the time she lost it she kept a stall in one of the Liverpool markets, but she gave that up, and commenced the business of a hawker about the country, in the hope of encountering the prisoner somewhere on her travels. She made the circuit of several counties, going as far as Birmingham, and also making inquiries of any tramps she met as to the whereabouts of the prisoner, the latter being well-known among that class by the soubriquet of "Liverpool Peg." Repeatedly she got information from one or other of these strollers, as to where she might come upon the object of her pursuit; but when she got to the place indicated, the prisoner had gone elsewhere. Finally, she heard that the prisoner was in Manchester, and, hastening to that city, she found her on Saturday in a beer-house in Spear Street. The prisoner, when charged by the prosecutrix, stoutly denied her identity; but the prosecutrix was not to be deceived, and she called in the aid of the police, when the prisoner was taken into custody by Police-Constable 59A. On inquiries being made, the fact was ascertained that a child supposed to belong to her was in the Ardwick Industrial School, and the prosecutrix, on seeing the child, at once claimed it as hers, mentioning, as one of the proofs of her knowledge of it, that there was a mark of a burn on the lower part of its back. The child itself, of course, could give no help in the matter, not being able to recognise a parent from whom it had been parted seven years before, at the age of two years; but the mark of the burn, which really was on its back, evidenced the truth of the mother's claim. The prisoner still claimed the child as hers, and stated that she had been confined with it at the Bridge Street Workhouse, Manchester; but this story, on inquiry, turned out to be false. The prisoner was committed for trial. EXECUTION OF DENIS DILLANE Limerick, Monday April 13. - This morning, at twenty minutes to nine o'clock, Denis Dillane, convicted, at the recent Assizes for this county, as an accessory before the fact to the murder of Mr. Francis Fitzgerald, underwent the extreme penalty of the law on the scaffold in front of the county jail. At the time the foul murder was perpetrated - 16th May, 1862 - the atrocity of the brutal deed created a great sensation. In the open day, on a public high road, and in the neighbourhood of the populous town of Milmallock, near to which Mr. Fitzgerald resided, at a place called The Cottage, that young man, in the spring of life, with all the hopes of that life just opening before him, and while walking with his youthful wife, to whom he had not been long united, was shot down by two undisguised assassins. After the arrest of Beckham, who was executed, circumstances transpired which warranted the authorities in also arresting Denis and Matthew Dillane, brothers and respectable farmers, living at Kilmallock, as the conspirators who hired the assassins to perpetrate the murder, owing to Mr. Fitzgerald, from whom they held some land, having served notice to quit upon one of them, Denis Dillane, the unfortunate and misguided man who this day suffered death by hanging as a just punishment for the part he had taken in instigating others to commit a bloody deed from accomplishing which he himself shrunk with dear. James Walsh, a young man in the full flush of life, who was known to be Beckham's accomplice, was "on the run" for some time, notwithstanding that £500 reward was offered by Government for his apprehension, and £300 for information of any person harbouring him. However, being hard pressed, and ascertaining that he was about being betrayed for sake of the reward, he walked himself into a police station and surrendered to justice. The Summer Assizes took place in about a month after. Walsh was tried, identified by Mrs. Fitzgerald as the second who fired at her husband, convicted, and hanged. But this unfortunate young man, who said, when asked if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be pronounced upon him, merely replied, "I don't know how I was brought into it." On the scaffold he made no observations, but died apparently repentant, and with a full consciousness of the awful position in which he stood. At last Assizes true bills were found by the Grand Jury against Denis and Matthew Dillane as accessories before the fact of murder, and the officers of the Crown (the Solicitor-General and Attorney-general) who attended only deemed it prudent to place Denis Dillane on trial. It was proved in evidence, chiefly circumstantial, that Denis Dillane was an instigator and abettor of the murder, because of Mr. Fitzgerald having threatened to take his farm from him; that on the 8th March, 1862, notice to quit had been served upon him, and documents were found in his (Dillane's) house showing that a correspondence was carried on between him and Mr. Fitzgerald until the 26th of April, which was the date of the last letter from Denis Dillane. Some of the letters contained some expressions rather unfavourable to the prisoner, who was told that he need expect no indulgence, and was otherwise discouraged. There was also a controversy between them in reference to some costs incurred for the preparation of leases. - It was clearly proved on the trial of Beckham that he and Denis Dillane purchased a case of pistols in Limerick, at the shop of Mr. Whittaker, gunmaker, a few days previous to the murder of Mr. Fitzgerald, and for which pistols Dillane paid £1 5s. - In the thatch of the house where Beckham was arrested the identical pistols in question were found, as deposed to by the shop-boy who sold them, and who also identified both parties. Denis Dillane was the person who asked for the pistols upon the first occasion of the visit to Whittaker's, and subsequently bought and handed them to Beckham. Dillane walked from the press room to the scaffold with rather a firm step, accompanied by the Rev. Messrs. O'Sullivan and Conway. He was deeply absorbed in prayer, and seemed to be perfectly resigned and calm, frequently kissing the crucifix, which the Rev. Mr. O'Sullivan placed to his lips. He stood firmly, and frequently raised his eyes towards heaven, invoking mercy. The rope having bee adjusted and the cap placed over his face, the fatal belt was drawn, and he died almost without struggle. Dillane took no breakfast this morning. Freeman's Journal. |
 CRIME IN IRELAND - The report of the Inspectors-General of Prisons in Ireland, which has just been issued, bears testimony to the continued comparative absence of crime in the country. There has been a slight increase - 378 on a total of about 30,000 - in the number of commitments; but this is more than accounted for, the inspectors state, by the increase in the number of drunkards, vagrants, and military offenders. The number of commitments, which in 1854 was 60,445, was only 29,879 in 1869. There has been a considerable decrease in the number of juveniles committed to prison, the number in 1869 being 201 fewer than in 1868. The total number of "persons confined" on the 1st of January last was 2029, against 2024 in 1868, and 10,084 in 1851. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A rather amusing joke has been played off on a publican residing in the suburbs of Derry by a few waggish young gentlemen. They obtained a donkey, and enveloped it in a bullock's hide. At dusk, one of them called at the public-house, and offered the "bullock" for sale, representing that he had been at the fair of Buncrana, where he did not succeed in disposing of the animal. Both man and beast seemed somewhat fatigued from the distance they should have travelled that day. The owner of the public-house entered at once upon a bargain; and so well did the "dull domestic drudge" appear in its new dress that, notwithstanding the scrutiny that it underwent by the sagacious and astute publican, he failed to detect the trick so artfully played upon him, nor did he entertain the slightest suspicion as to the boná fide nature of the sale. A good price was asked for the quadruped, but after a good deal of negotiation the sum was reduced to £2 10s. the selling price. The publican seemed quite satisfied with his bargain, which was closed, of course, with a social drop and the interchange of friendly sentiments. The animal was placed in the outhouse, and a feed of hay left for it; but in the morning it was found that it had not taken any of the fare. On a closer inspection than that which it underwent on the previous evening, the cause of its fasting was soon discovered. The mouth of the animal was sewed up in the skin, to prevent it from braying, and thus disclosing the genus to which it belonged. On the hide being cut, the ass begun to below lustily through the aperture, and the purchaser had then no difficulty in discovering the trick that had been played upon him. With a rather dejected mien he began to disencumber the donkey of its covering, and, rather than that his simplicity should become known, he declined to follow the parties who had thus duped him. He sold the donkey and the hide in Derry, and sustained a loss of £1 by the transaction. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National Education in Ireland - The report of the Commissioners of National Education for 1867 has been published. There were 6,520 schools in operation, under the board, at the close of 1867, showing an increase of 67 on the previous year. There were 913,198 children on the rolls, and the average daily attendance was 321,683, showing an increase of 2,379 on the rolls, and an increase of 5,458 in the average daily attendance. There are 81 school-houses, comprising 125 separate schoolrooms, in course of erection. Seventy-three schools were struck off the list, and five were suspended during the year. The number of pupils belonging to the Established Church was 66,146; Roman Catholics, 737,267; Presbyterians, 102,768; other denominations, 6,564. Of the 175,478 Protestant pupils, 155,343 are in attendance in mixed schools. Workhouse schools number 145, with 18,774 pupils on the rolls. The number of district and minor model schools is 27. There are 142 convent and monastic schools, the pupils attending these amounting to 73,344. The facts concerning these 142 convent and monastic schools are returned by their managers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS "This return includes the
marriages registered during April, May and June 1868; and the births and
deaths registered during July, August and September 1868, in the 724
Registrars' districts of Ireland. These districts are co-extensive with
the dispensary districts of the 163 Poor Law Unions; which later form the
districts of the Superintendent Registrars. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE LATE JOHN FISHER MURRAY The announcement of the death of John
Fisher Murray will be read with regret by his many friends in the North of
Ireland. He was the eldest son of Sir James Murray, M.D., and was born
in Belfast in 1811. He graduated in the University of Edinburgh in
1832. A series of brilliant sketches of metropolitan life and manners,
which he published in Blackwood's Magazine, first attracted attention to his
remarkable powers as a writer. These essays were afterwards republished
in a collected form, under the title of the "World of London."
They are especially characterised by strong powers of observation, a quaint
and genial humour, and an overflowing tenderness and compassion for the poor
and suffering. THE CLOSING SCENE When fading fast from all we see, What now shall cheer this dreadful
day- Some cruel word best left unsaid, A simple life, an honest heart, An honourable life hard pressed Alert to serve at need a friend, These are thy treasures; this thy
store These, fading fast from all we see, THE MASSACRE AT TIENTSIN. We have been favoured with the following private letter, dated Choo-Foo, June 30, 1870:- On Tuesday, the 21st June, a Chinese mob, with the obvious connivance of the mandarins, and especially of Chung How, the Governor of Tientsin, simultaneously attacked the French Consulate, the Catholic Church Mission, and the hospital of the Sisters of Mercy. It was at two o'clock that the assault commenced. The French Consul, M. Fontanier, seeing himself menaced, and his windows broken by stones, left the Consulate in uniform, and insisted on being accompanied by a petty mandarin, who was looking on at the mob without impeding them, to the Yamen of Chung How, and there he demanded protection for the Consulate, the persons who were resident, and for himself. He also asked Chung How to protect the Sisters of Mercy and their hospital, as he had by that time heard they were in danger. Chung How told him that he could not protect any of the persons whom he had names. Some remonstrances took place, and as the French Consul had a revolver in his hand that he had brought for his own defence, Chung How got frightened, and left the room. The French Consul then addressed his demand for protection to another Mandarin, and he was answered that nothing could be done to help him. Some altercation took place, when one of the soldiers of the Yamen stabbed the French Consul with a spear in the thigh, and in that wounded state, with the blood having reddened the whole side of his white linen trousers, the Consul went to the door of the Yamen and holding up the French flag, asked leave to pass the soldiers, and the mob seemed awed for a moment, but it was for a moment only. They fell upon the unfortunate Consul, pierced him with spears and swords, and after mutilating him, threw his corpse into the river. M. Courtraix also witnessed the Consul advance in a bleeding state to the Yamen's door, and also saw the first of the brutal murder of M. Fontanier. Meanwhile the mob, after allowing the French Consul to go towards the Yamen, immediately broke open the Consulate and murdered Mons. and Madame Thomassin and the Abbe Chevrier, and another Catholic priest. It is reported that in the terrible moment of impending death M. Thomassin killed several Chinese in order to defend himself and wife. The mob, led on by soldiers, then set fire to the Consulate and the church of the Catholic Mission, and burned all the other inmates who could not escape. Simultaneously with the assault on the French Consulate the mob and soldiery surrounded the hospital of the French Sisters of Mercy. Having set fire to a portion of the building, they entered the gates and dragged all the Sisters of Charity into the street. There they stripped them naked, exposed them to the public gaze, plucked out their eyes, cut off their breasts, ripped them open, dragged out their hearts, deliberately cut them to pieces, and divided portions of their flesh amongst the infuriated mob. No European witnessed these outrages on humanity save the poor victims, who, in presence of each other, passed through the terrible ordeal and perished without hope of release, and without any support in their extreme hour of misery and torment save their confidence in a merciful God, whose behests they had endeavoured to fulfill at the peril of their lives. Chinese spectators of the bloody scene relate other horrors perpetrated on these innocent ladies that cannot be mentioned. The lady superior of the hospital was cut in twain while yet alive. God alone and the Sisters know what they endured of agony and bodily suffering. No sooner had the mob and the soldiers glutted their thirst for human blood on the unfortunate Sisters, than they burned the entire hospital. Nearly a hundred orphan children who had been received into the orphanage attached to the hospital, perished in the flames. The mutilated members of the dead Sisters were thrown into the burning ruins, and thus, together with the little children they were charitably nurturing, was the holocaust completed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One of the prettiest Christmas customs is the Norwegian practice of giving, on Christmas Day, a dinner to the birds. On Christmas morning, every gable, gateway, or barn door is decorated with a sheaf of corn fixed on the top of a tall pole, where from it is intended that the birds shall make their Christmas dinner. Even the peasants will contrive to have a handful set by for this purpose, and what the birds do not eat on Christmas day remains for them to finish as their leisure through the Winter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Waste not, Want not - A gentleman who had put aside two bottles of capital ale, to recreate some friends, discovered, just before dinner, that his servant, a country bumpkin, had emptied them both. "Scoundrel!" said his master, "what do you mean by this?" "Why, Sir, I saw plain enough by the clouds that it were going to thunder, so I drank up the yale at once, lest it should turn sour, for there is nothing I do abominate like waste." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How to prevent garden thieves - A fruit grower over in Jersey being much annoyed by depredators, obtained a human leg from a hospital, and putting it in a large steel trap in his grapery, began to make inquiries in a disturbed and melancholy manner for the owner of the limb; neighbours flocked in to see it; the cunning fruit grower was berated for his cruelty; reports were circulated that the "horrid wretch" had filled his grounds with traps, and his fruit was no more stolen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I
do not love an angry frown where pleasant smiles should be, I
do not love a babbling tongue whose words are full of guile, I
do not love the sordid elf who grasps and toils for gain, I
do not love the coward slave who bends unto the rod, I
do not love mere outward show that hides dark fruits within, I
do not love full many things I cannot even name, |
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 The Present Style of Railroad Traveling |
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| a selection of the hundreds of newspaper clippings in the scrapbook | |||||
|
S |
1 |
January First Municipal Act obtained for
Belfast, 1800 February Surrender of Kells Priory by
Murtagh McAnullowe, 1542 March The Irish Church Bill brought in by
Mr. Gladstone, 1869 April Mr. Dargan commenced the New
Channel at Belfast, 1839 May Consecration of Dr. Crolly to the
See of Down, 1825 June Battle of Drumclog, 1679 |
S |
1 |
July Archd. Hamilton Rowan pleads for
pardon in person, 1805 August Bangor first Lighted with gas, 1855 September Extraordinary Trial for Ghost Raising in North Street, 1841 October Seven Persons Burned to Death at
Bayswater, 1869 November Linen Hall News-room Opened, 1815 December Four men killed off a scaffold in Queen Street, 1835 |
| THE
KILLARNEY BOAT SONG (Suggested by visiting Dr. Corry's Diorama of Ireland) Smoothly the boat o'er the water is gliding, Bright is the Summer sky, beaming tranquility, At ease in the leafy glade, safe in their
ambuscade, The boatmen, refreshed, cheery, bend to the oars
anew; Then come to the green-mantled Isle of the
ocean, Beverley, Yorkshire, J.A. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr. J. M. Johnston Scott, student of the Queen's University, who left Belfast a few days ago to join the French military hospitals, has been appointed assistant surgeon to the Anglo-American Ambulance, which left Paris on Saturday for the front. This is the ambulance to which Dr. MacCormac was appointed surgeon-in-chief. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Holywood Steamer, Lady of the Lake - We understand that this favourite little steamer, which formerly plied between Belfast and Holywood, and which for some time back has been chartered as a pleasure steamer in Blackpool, will shortly again resume her station between Belfast and Holywood. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POLICE COURT Alleged Stealing of a Horse - Falkiner Beatty was brought up charged by Charles O'Neill, Little Patrick Street, with having stolen from out his stable a horse, value £15. It appeared the prisoner was in the employment of Mr. Torbitt, North Street, and complainant had given him an order to the amount of £4 2s 6d for goods which had been supplied. Complainant afterwards went to Scotland. The horse was taken away in his absense in lieu of the amount of goods so obtained and not paid for. Mr. Rea took exception to the arrest, and said the horse would be handed over to complainant on his paying the £4 2s 6d. Mr. O'Donnell considered the complainant was very much to blame in contracting debts and then leaving the country. He had no hesitation in discharging the prisoner. A Poor Looking Mortal - Mary Kelly, who appeared in the dock with a young child in her arms, presenting a melancholy appearance, was charged by Sub-Constable George Halliday with having been drunk and disorderly, and shouting that where she lived "they were a parcel of Papist bitches." Prisoner was fined 40s and costs, or a fortnight's imprisonment. Disorderly Conduct - James McManus and George Macaulay were put forward, charged by Sub-Constable Keely with being disorderly; and Macaulay was also charged with assaulting a man named John Mairs. Macaulay was fined 10s and costs for the assault, and 10s and costs for the disorderly conduct; or, in default, one month's imprisonment. The other prisoner was fined in 5s and costs. or one week in jail. Drunk in Charge of a Horse and Cart - Thomas Woods was charged by Sub-Constable Dowall with having been drunk in charge of a horse and cart the previous day in Ballymacarrett. The prisoner was fined in 20s and costs. A Disorderly Farmer - James McClenaghan, a farmer from County Antrim, was charged with having been drunk whilst in charge of a horse and cart, he was also charged with having done damage to a car driven by a man names William Lindsay, who stated that on the previous day he was driving three ladies on a car through Ballymacarrett. He called to the prisoner to get out of the way, but instead of that he deliberately seized the reins of his horse, struck it, at the same time saying he would "knock the thrapple out of him." (Laughter) The result was that one of the ladies' legs was injured. Prisoner was very disorderly, and appeared quite reckless as to his conduct. The Bench ordered the prisoner to pay a fine of 15s as compensation to Lindsay for his loss of time and damage sustained; and 20s and costs for being drunk in charge of his horse and cart. POLICE COURT Larceny - Jane Campbell was charged with stealing a piece of soap from Eliza Tuite, grocer, Ballymacarrett. A further larceny was charged against the prisoner for that she stole a piece of muslin from a man named Devlin. The prisoner was sent to jail for seven days. Drunk and Disorderly - William Martin, who also had the felicity of rejoicing in the sobriquet of Allen, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in North Queen Street. He was not content with conducting himself against all notions of decency, but when a policeman presented himself he pitched into him also. The constable deposed that when he saw the prisoner he took him into custody for being drunk and for making a row, and when he did so the prisoner said he was a 'bloody old Presbyterian' - an offence in a policeman that ought not to be tolerated. As the defender of the public peace was so miscalled and public decency was so outraged, the prisoner was sent to jail for three months. Anywhere Out of the World - Anne Quigley, who seemed to be tired of her life, was brought up in custody, charged with attempting to commit suicide. Fortunately for her existence, a young man, who had heard her threatening to drown herself, followed her, and when she attempted to throw herself off the edge of Donegall Quay he caught hold of her and prevented the rash act. These facts being proved the magistrates remanded the prisoner for a week. A False Pretender - Daniel Close, a young fellow, was charged with obtaining a cost from Mr. McLaren, of Rosemary Street, under false pretences. It appeared that he went to the premises of the prosecutor and got a coat fitted upon him, telling that his father would pay for it, but his father denied giving any authority, and as he was old enough to be responsible for his own actions he was committed for trial. More Disorderlies - Hugh Jordan and Edward McHenry were charged by Sub-Constable Kennedy with fighting on Donegall Quay. No end of riot occurred in consequence of the conduct of the prisoners; but as Jordan was the worst, he was fined 10s, and the other man was ordered to pay 5s and costs. Why Don't Policemen Shave? - Alexander Collins was charged with assaulting Sub Constable Adam Picket. The officer saw the prisoner conducting himself in a disorderly manner and took him into custody, but that interference with the liberty of the subject was indignantly resisted, and as the custodian had a hirsuit appendage to his face of considerable "graspability" it was seized by the prisoner to the punishment of the policeman, and thereby an assault was committed. Two months imprisonment was the penalty; but the question yet remains, why should policemen adorn themselves with such temptations for disorderly persons to take advantage of them. THE BELFAST NEWS-LETTER One of the most remarkable events of the age is the receipt from India yesterday afternoon of telegrams dated only the previous day. The wonders of science, after all, are ever new. We are all aware that in theory a girdle can be put about the globe in a few minutes; but when we have a practical matter-of-fact message from India within eight hours and a-half we are still disposed to look on it as little short of miraculous. The messages received hitherto have been principally by private houses; but the fact tat messages have been received within so short a time cannot but be extremely satisfactory. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1st September 1870 - The Albert Memorial - To-day, two of the four lamp-posts to be erected at each corner of the kerb of the footways at the Clock Tower, were put into position. The lamps are already finished and ready for erection. The design harmonises with the general appearance of the tower, while the castings, handwrought iron, and copper-work are careful and ingenious. The central column is of cast-iron, having, in four niches around the pediment, twisted dwarf pillars, with capitals and well-modelled lions supporting brass shield, with monogram embossed. Around the shafts are fitted wrought-iron vertical straps or pilasters. The capital consists of richly foliated hammered copper. The neck of the column is ornamented with copper leaves and rosettes, and from it also spring the wrought-iron scroll arms, which have accommodation for supporting a ladder for lighting and cleaning purposes. The lamps, which are surmounted with foliated copper crown, are all of stout copper, and spherically glazed in eight longitudinal panes, having ventilating zone and crown ventilators. The work is painted a handsome bronze green, and the copper capitals and crown and other foliations will be suitably gilt after erection. The design was by one of the draughtsmen of the Messrs. Riddel & Co., Donegall Place, under the instructions of Mr. Montgomery, Borough Surveyor. 1st September 1870 - Caution to Parents - Death by Drowning - To-day an inquest was held by the Coroner and a respectable jury on the body of a young lad names James Morrison, whose parents reside in Mayne Street, who had met his death the previous evening. While playing with a number of other children in the neighbourhood of a brickpit in Tea Lane, he accidentally fell into the water. Mr. John Boyd, undermanager of the Linfield Mill, who happened to witness the accident, in the most praiseworthy manner jumped into the pit, and having dived, caught hold of the lad and brought him to the surface. All attempts, however, of Dr. Brady, who was in immediate attendance, to restore animation were unavailing. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned. |
TO
THE SMOKING WORLD
Learn to smoke slow. The other grace is, SONG OF THE ORGAN GRINDER I roam and wander o'er the town, Forth comes a servant from the door, He says his mistress is a-bed, So off I walk, repeat the trick, The times are getting so hard that people can't pay attention. Which side of a horse invariably has the most hair on? - the outside LITTLE ALLIE The day was gloomy and chill. At the
freshly-opened grave stood a little delicate girl of five years, the only
mourner for the silent heart beneath. Friendless, hopeless, homeless, she had
wept till she had no more tears to shed; and now she stood, with her scanty
clothing fluttering in the chill wind, pressing her little hands tightly over
her heart, as if to still its beating. "It's no use
fretting," said the rough man, as he stamped the last shovelful of earth
over all the child had left to love. "Fretting won't bring dead folks to
life. Pity you hadn't for no cousins somewheres to take you. It's a tough
world, this 'ere, I tell ye. I don't see how ye're going to weather it.
But I'll take ye round to Miss Fetherbee's; she's got a power of children,
and wants a hand to help her, so come along. If you cry enough to float
the ark, it won't do you no good." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OCTOBER 16, 1863 Sir Robert Peel is incorrigible, and it is not our wish to waste more words upon him. For the sake of the name he bears, the title he owns, and the position he occupies, we should have been glad to see him amend his ways. But this, it appears, is not to be. It is not the first time that a great father has had a foolish son, or that a name which one generation loved and honored has become a synonym for eccentricity in the next. Two wise men and a fool - such is said to be the proverbial series of the house of Peel; and it seems that the present baronet's next two successors are likely to be men of remarkable discretion. With this reflection we can contrive to console ourselves not unsuccessfully. There is no accounting for tastes, and if Sir Robert aspires to hold a similar position in the political world to that acquired by Mr. Windham in social life, we have nothing to say against it. Whether position, prospects, and good repute are worth sacrificing for the sake of being talked about and laughed at, is a question each man must decide for himself. The process of interdiction is happily unknown in England; and our prodigals may waste their substance, pecuniary, social, or political, without risk of interference. We have, however, a right to ask that the public interest should not be sacrificed to private absurdities. If the member for Tamworth likes to make a buffoon of himself, well and good. He and his constituents must settle the matter between them; if they choose to send a political mountebank to Parliament, that, we admit again, is their concern, not ours. But when a Minister of the Crown, a holder of one of the most important offices, degrades by his conduct the Government to which he belongs, the office which he fills, and the country which he serves, then we feel bound to protest openly, and without mincing words. Sir Robert Peel is Chief Secretary for Ireland. It is his duty, placed as he is in the midst of a disorderly and discontented population, to show an example of respect for law, of orderly behaviour, and temperate fairness. On the other side of St. George's Channel, he is the most prominent, if not the most important, representative of the English Government. That his appointment would prove so unfortunate as it has done could hardly have been expected. Nobody gave the Irish Secretary credit for wisdom or caution; but still, everybody supposed that if he did no good he would do little harm, and that, at any rate, he would not lower the character of an office which was more than he could reasonably have hoped for. Their expectation, moderate as it was, has not been fulfilled. Ever since Sir Robert has formed part of the Ministry he has devoted his undoubted energies to convincing the public of his unfitness for any responsible post whatever; and it is strange if his colleagues have not learned by this time to share the opinion of the public. Even the most loyal attachment for the son of an old friend and fellow labourer cannot stand proof against such an exhibition as that which disgraced the polling day at Tamworth. When we read the account of the proceedings in which the right honorable baronet took the leading part, it is difficult to believe that the scene of such a riot lay in Staffordshire, not in Donegal or Kerry - at an English borough, and not at Tralee or Lisburn. We have no wish to repeat an unpleasant story. Fancy an English gentleman bandying abuse with a drunken mob, an English member of Parliament having a hand-to-hand tussle is public with one of his own constituents, and an English Minister hallooing on a crowd to "bonnet" an elector who had voted against his favourite candidate. Fancy all this, and you will have a sufficiently clear impression of the scene at Tamworth. Let us, however, do Sir Robert justice. The man who swam ashore in perfect coolness from the sinking Ercolana, and who walked alone the other day through the streets of Tamworth with a yelling mob dogging his heels, is not devoid of that wild pluck which all Englishmen admire at heart, however much they may disapprove of its manifestation. In a more congenial sphere we have no doubt the present baronet would have shown himself worthy to be the brother of "Balaclava" Peel; but daredevil courage is not the one essential requisite for a Minister of State. There is no disguising the fact that the seat of Tamworth has been lost by Sir Robert's want of temper, wisdom, and good taste. Had he taken no part in the contest, Mr. Cowper would probably have won an easy victory; this gentleman owes his failure simply and solely to the fact that he was regarded as the nominee of the most unpopular person in Tamworth. Now, a man who gives such offence to his candidate for his own borough, is not fit to conciliate the goodwill of a disaffected province. Whatever else may be the merits of the member for Tamworth, they are not those of a Secretary for Ireland. Our object, indeed, in making these remarks, is to point out how much mischief is done to the cause of Government in the sister kingdom by such conduct as that recently displayed by the Chief Secretary. In out happier land, respect for law, order, and fairness is too firmly established to suffer much injury from the eccentricities of half-a-hundred Sir Robert Peels. On the other side of the Irish Channel this is not the case. We believe that much of the turbulence and disorder which have impeded the progress of Ireland are due to the example - or rather the absence of example - set by men high in power and position. How can a cottier or peasant be expected to respect the majesty of the law or the dignity of the Government when he sees that the very men appointed to uphold the honor of the Crown are ready to sacrifice their duty to the gratification of any personal caprice or prejudice? But the other day an occurrence took place which serves to show how very little Irish magnates comprehend the responsibilities of their position. Now, we cannot hope to give wisdom to Irish peers, or a sense of decency to Hibernian grandees; but we can reasonably expect that English officials, appointed to manage Irish affairs, should be possessed of an average amount of good sense and temper. In a country where Earls of Leitrim are the rule, Sir Robert Peels ought to be the rare exception. In this valedictory address to the ungrateful electors of Tamworth, the Secretary for Ireland uttered one sentiment which we can endorse readily. "It was most objectionable," he considers, "that two of the name of Peel should be returned for the borough." We cordially agree with him, though which of the two Peels should be eliminated from the representation it is not for us to say. As a corollary, we beg to suggest, for his delicate appreciation, an opinion that it had become even more objectionable to have two Peels in the Ministry. |
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| BIRTHS,
MARRIAGES AND DEATHS 1st September 1870 Births Marriages Deaths Honour to a Lisburn Man - We copy the following from the Overland China Mail:- Mr. R. Hart, Inspector-General of Chinese Customs, has received from the Austrian Government the Grand Cross and Star of the Order of Francis Joseph, for services rendered to the Austrian Embassy, in the framing and passing of the Austro-Hungarian Treaty with China. This is the fourth foreign order of knighthood which has been conferred on the Inspector-General of Customs during the year. Mr. Hart is son of Henry Hart, Esq., Ravareiette House, Lisburn Inquest - Yesterday, an inquest was held on the body of a young man names Daniel Boyd, who met with his death by becoming entangled in the machinery of a brick manufactory on the Ormeau Road. From the evidence, it appeared that the occurrence was quite accidental, and a verdict in accordance with the facts was returned. |
1st
September 1870
Fire in Great Patrick Street - About five minutes to one o'clock this morning a fire broke out in Mr. McCarter's cabinet warehouse, Great Patrick Street, which at one time threatened to become serious in its results. Mr. Reilly and the fire brigade were promptly on the spot, and succeeded in preventing the mischief that seemed imminent. The supply of water being plentiful, the fire was in the course of three-quarters of an hour completely mastered. Mr. Vance, Salvage Inspector, was present, and there was also a large attendance of the Constabulary. Funeral of an Orangeman - Yesterday, at four o'clock, the remains of Mr. John W. Williams, of the Boyne Tavern, were removed from his late residence, Sandy Row, for interment in the Shankhill Burying-ground. The deceased was a young man, and had served her Majesty in the Royal Artillery, in which he occupied the position of a non commissioned officer. He had taken part in the Crimea at the siege of Sebastopol, for his services at which he obtained the English and Turkish medals. For the last few years he occupied a high position in the Orange Institution, being Deputy-Master of L.O.L. Schomberg, No. 486. Some time ago, in conjunction with the Worshipful Master, he was the recipient of a most expressive token of esteem from the members of the lodge. He was connected with the Masonic Fraternity, and was also an Apprentice Boy of Derry. The coffin was carried on the shoulders of several of the brethren, and was followed by an immense concourse of people. Mr. John Reid, W.M., headed the cortege, which consisted of the chief officers of the Orange Institution in Belfast. The melancholy cause of death was an accident, received on the 1st March last, by endeavouring to stop a runaway horse and drag. BIRTHS
- Eames, August 28, at the Asylum, Letterkenny, the wife of James Alexander
eames, Esq., M.D., Resident Physician, of a daughter. MARRIAGES
- Robinson - Phillips, on the 31st ult., at Malone Presbyterian Church, by
the Rev. George Shaw, Mr. James Robinson, to Miss Mary Phillips, both of
Belfast DEATHS
- Alexander, August 31, qt her father's residence, Hawhill, Mrs. Jane
Alexander |
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| Belfast Telegraph - September 1st, 1870 - Belfast Town Council | |||||
|
Shortly after twelve o'clock this
day, the usual monthly meeting of this body was held in the Connell Chamber,
Town Hall, the Mayor (Dr. Browne, R.N.) in the Chair. THE TOWN IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE This committee reported that the
average weekly payment of wages to paviors, labourers, etc., for the past
month, have been £173 15s 1d (estimated at £185). For cartage, £87
18s 3d (estimated at £55). Plans approved :- 6 houses in Limestone
Road, for Mr. James Cobain; 4 in Posnett Street, for Mr. Samuel Beggs; 1 in
Leeson Street, for Mr. Archibald Creswell; 2 in Lawther Street, for Mr.
Boyle; 2 in new street off the Avenue, for Mr. R. W. Corry, as amended; 4 in
Vernon Street, Mr. J. Thompson; 9 in Hurst Street, for Mr. Jas. Hughes, as
amended; a street on south side of Elm Street, for Mr. John Browne; a store
in Lonsdale Street, for Messrs. Moorehead & Morrow; 14 houses in Vernon
Street, for Messrs. Cooke; 3 streets in College Park, for Mr. Wm. Sherrie
and others, so far as streets L.N. and E.M. are concerned; alterations to
shop front in Donegall Place, for Mr. Adam Craig; 4 streets in Clifton Park,
for Messrs. Thomas Dixon & Sons, as amended; 10 houses in proposed
street off Elm Street, for Messrs. J. & J. Guiler; 3 in Botanic Avenue,
for Mr. Archibald McCallum; amended plan of 12 houses in Kinnaird Street,
for Mr. Samuel Keith; 1 house in Pilot Street, for Mr. John Gill; shop and
house at corner of Clifton Street Road and Carrick Hill, for Mr. John
Taylor. Street plans disapproved :- 1 house for Mr. William Wright, in
Matilda Street; 3 in Howard Street South, for Mr. Wm. Johnstone; 14 in
course of erection in Byron Street, and new street of same, for Mr. James
McNea; 8 at corner of University Road and University Square, for Messrs.
Moreland, Brothers; a plan for converting one house into two in a court off
Bogan Street, for Mr. James McGuickan. MARKET COMMITTEE This
Committee reported that the memorial of certain ratepayers in Smithfield and
the neighbourhood, praying for the establishment of a market for the sale of
hay, straw, etc., convenient to Shankhill or Falls Road, referred by the
Council to a Joint Meeting of this and the Improvement Committee, was
carefully considered, but before doing so the Committee thought it right to
have a report from the Clerk of the Markets (Mr. Woods) on the subject
generally. |
doubt continue to go to the present
established markets, consequently the new market would be left unsupplied,
and buyers would just find themselves in the same position as
formerly. The quantity of hay brought to market having in a few years
been doubled, there is not sufficient space in Smithfield square for its
accommodation, consequently the removal of the market to some other place
has become necessary. The place already proposed is the property of
the Corporation; it is in the same district as the other markets, and would
be the most suitable place, so long as the markets are kept in that
locality, for various reasons. In the first place, it would be often
more convenient for the seller. Most people who sell hay and straw
sell other farm produce, and it frequently happens that they would wish to
attend two or three markets on the same day, a thing easily done if the
markets are convenient to each other, but quite impossible if at a
distance. In the second place, the buyers would find the same
advantage. Most of our export merchants trade in a variety of farm
produce. I have often known them to buy pigs, grain, potatoes, hay and
straw, etc., all on the same day. Dairy men want cows, hay, turnips,
potatoes, and grain. The owners of horses require hay, straw, oats,
carrots, etc.; and when all the different sorts of produce can be obtained
within two minutes' walk of each other, it must clearly be a benefit to the
purchasers as a rule. In conclusion, I have only to say, having
carefully studied the entire subject, that I have no hesitation in
recommending, as much as possible, the concentration of the markets, as
being the best principle to adopt, both as regards convenience and finance. THE SANITARY COMMITTEE This committee reported that the health of the town continues very good. Sanitary regulations continue to be strictly enforced. Orders have been made in the past month by the magistrates for closing up 80 houses which were unfit for human habitation. Two of these are in Kent Street, 11 in Lagan Court, 17 in Factory Row, Blackstaff Road. The workshops are regularly inspected; most of the owners are complying with the law. 27 cases of fever were reported to your inspector during the month; 19 of these were removed to hospital. Also, three cases of English cholera. THE POLICE COMMITTEE This committee reported the payments, salaries, etc., to be made, amounting to £2,756 17s 4d. The report also contained the following paragraph :- Mr. John Wallace having applied for liberty to start the Crumlin Road and Hollywood Railway omnibus from the corner of the new street opposite the Scottish Widows' Fund Buildings, in High Street, instead of from the Commercial Buildings, the committee considered the proposal change would be desirable, and have approved of same. THE PUBLIC PARKS COMMITTEE This committee reported that since possession of Ormeau was obtained, the surveyor, by their directions, had prepared plans for a new approach. They have also directed the old farm buildings to be taken down, and the materials stored, as they will be very valuable for the formation of roads, walls, and other works. Wire fencing is being erected along the avenue. These works are proceeding satisfactorily. The amount received for grazing, up to the present date, is £193 9s; the outlay for wages has amounted to £31 8s. |
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