Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 02 January 1880
Chronology for 1879
We give below the principal local events which have taken place during the past year:—
January 5.—Attempted suicide of a man named Guest, at West Melton.
Jan. 7.—Annual soirée in connection with the Wesleyan Sunday School, Conisboro’.—Large meeting of Denaby miners with regard to a 5 per cent. reduction; decided to “stand out” until the district dispute was settled, and then apply for the recent 5 per cent. reduction to be returned to them.—Elopement of a railway porter’s wife with a lodger.
Jan. 8.—Special meeting of Swinton Local Board to take into consideration the application before Parliament of the Dearne Valley Water Co. to supply the district with water. Decision to petition against the Bill.—Adjourned meeting of the Mexbro’ Local Board with reference to the water supply to the town, and the objections and suggestions of Mr. F. W. Fisher, the legal adviser to the Board, having been considered, it was decided that the Water Company insert a clause in the draft order, by which the Local Board would have power (after due notice) to purchase the works of the company, at 10 per cent. premium upon the outlay.—Meeting of Denaby miners on strike; decision to return to work.—Wath Mechanics’ Institute soirée.
Jan. 9.—Death of Mr. W. Kemp, of Swinton.
Jan. 10.—Publication of the Medical Officer’s (Mr. A. H. Allen) report, showing a population of 6,000; deaths 119—67 males and 52 females—death-rate 19.83 per 1000.—Burning and sinking of a canal boat near the Manvers Main Colliery.
Jan. 13.—Extraordinary meeting of the Mexbro’ Local Board to receive the report of a deputation appointed to wait upon the Water Company in reference to certain modifications and alterations of the Provisional Order about to be applied for by the Company; decision not to oppose the application on condition that alterations suggested be carried out.—Meeting of the Swinton Relief Committee; a performance at the Theatre Royal to be given towards the relief of the distressed; subscriptions received, amounting to £54 10s.—Funeral of Mr. W. Kemp, of Swinton.
Jan. 14.—Special meeting of the Swinton School Board to consider tenders sent in for erection of Kilnhurst School; resolved to accept Mr. Wortley’s tender; also decided that application be made to the Education Department whether the cost paid by the Swinton parish towards this school would be refunded by the Rawmarsh parish.
Jan. 15.—Annual meeting of Mexbro’ Mechanics’ Institute; appointment of officers.
Jan. 20.—Resolved by the Mexbro’ School Board that a precept be served upon the ratepayers of Mexboro’ for the sum of £150, to meet the ordinary expenses of the Board.
Jan. 22.—Inauguration of the Mexboro’ Quadrille Class.
Jan. 24.—Great meeting of Manvers Main miners at Swinton Bridge; the seventh meeting held with reference to the 12½ per cent. reduction; arbitration agreed to.
Jan. 27.—At the weekly meeting of the Swinton Relief Committee, it was stated that the proprietor of the Theatre had not handed to the Committee the proper balance towards the distressed, as proposed; great indignation expressed; the total subscription amounted to £57 0s. 8d.
Jan. 28.—Reply received by the Swinton School Board, in answer to the address of condolence to her Majesty on the death of Princess Alice, saying the Queen had graciously received the same; communication received from the Education Department with regard to the application made by the Board as to the repayment of their money towards the Kilnhurst school by the ratepayers of the parish, the Secretary replying that the school was for the joint use of both Swinton and Kilnhurst.
Jan. 30.—Meeting of ratepayers at Swinton, agreeing to the action of the Local Board to advertise for tenders for new offices, on land purchased from Mr. E. T. Harrop.
Jan. 31.—Notice of 2s. reduction at the Swinton Glass Bottle Works.
February 3.—Strike of youths at Mexboro’ and Swinton against 1s. per week reduction.—Annual meeting of the Mexboro’ and District Water Company; election of officers.
Feb. 6.—Reported at the Mexboro’ Local Board that the Water Company had agreed to alterations suggested in reference to the Provisional Order; discussion upon the sewerage scheme, and decision to forward plan of and petition for the same to the Local Government Board.
Feb. 10.—Twenty tons of coal, promised by Messrs. Charlesworth, of Lofthouse, to be given to the distressed, was announced at the Swinton Relief Committee meeting; total amount of subscriptions were £59 3s. 7d.—Social gathering of Manvers Main miners at the Congregational Chapel, Mexboro’, and addresses by Messrs. J. F. Thompson, manager of the colliery; G. H. Chappell, V. Firth, and others.
Feb. 11.—Annual meeting of the members of the Mexboro’ Cricket Club; election of officers.
Feb. 13.—Rent dinner to the tenants of Mr. Montagu at the Montagu Arms.—Large meeting of masons and joiners at the Masons’ Arms, in opposition to proposed increase in the hours of labour.—Meeting of the Wath Conservative Association; presentation of a purse of gold (£30), with a splendid silver inkstand to Mr. J. H. Goldsmith, the secretary, who in his reply stated that there were then 1074 persons residing in the village; 578 being Conservatives and 496 being Liberals, giving a majority for the Conservative party of 82.
Feb. 16.—Annual distribution of prizes to the scholars of St. Thomas’s school, Kilnhurst.
Feb. 17.—Death of a miner at Thrybergh Hall Colliery by a fall of roof.
Feb. 18.—Opening of the Mexboro’ Cocoa and Coffee House.
Feb. 22.—End of the Wath Quadrille Parties’ season.
Feb. 24.—Close of the Mexboro’ Quadrille Class for the season.
Feb. 25.—Mexboro’ Mechanics’ Institute and Literary Society’s soirée.—Consent of the Education Department to the borrowing of a loan of £3,358 for the erection of Kilnhurst school.
Feb. 27.—Annual meeting of the Wath Association for the Prosecution of Felons; the annual statement showed a balance of £18 8s. 7d. due to the Treasurer; officers were elected.—The annual report of the Medical Officer was read at the Swinton Local Board, showing that the population was 7,428; the number of deaths, 158, 119 being in Swinton and 39 in Kilnhurst; death-rate, 21.2 per 1000; births 389, 314 being in Swinton and 75 in Kilnhurst; birth-rate, 53.7 per 1000.
Feb. 28.—Examination of scholars in the Mexboro’ and District Sunday School Union; the first prize in the junior division was obtained by Master Warwell Hall; in the middle division by Master H. W. Tyas; and in the senior division by Miss Lucy Turner.
March 1.—The Salvation Army; farewell tea to the Jockey; the receipts for the previous six months were stated to be £107 7s. 0d., and the expenditure £106 6s. 4d.—Joseph Rawson, of Tickhill, sent for trial for stabbing a sister-in-law.
March 3.—Fortnightly meeting of the Swinton Relief Committee; subscription amounted to £73 0s. 7d.
March 4.—Annual dinner of the Mexboro’ and District Liberal Association.—Meeting of miners at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Wath, in advocacy of the Wath Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund.
March 5.—The members of the Mexboro’ and Swinton Harmonic Society (newly established) gave an entertainment at the Board Schools, Swinton Bridge.
March 6.—The Clerk at the Mexboro’ Local Board meeting tendered his resignation on account of what he alleged some one having privately taken away several of his books, which, he said, was not a proper thing to do.
March 10.—Strike of glass-blowers at Mexboro’ and Swinton against proposed reduction.
March 12.—Heavy gale at Mexboro’.—Departure of “the Jockey” and his wife to Barnsley.
March 13.—Annual dinner of the Wath Association for the Prosecution of Felons.
March 14.—Publication of the report of the Mexboro’, Swinton, and District Building Society, showing contributions during the year £1,567 12s. 11d.; cash turned over by the society, £6,184 5s. 1d.; dividend of 7½ per cent. declared; also publication of the Mexboro’ Working Men’s Industrial Society’s quarterly reports showing income £2,057 18s. 4d.; expenditure £1,748 18s. 11d.; balance in hand £314 5s. 5d.
March 19.—Ejectment of Denaby miners, who had received notice to quit.
March 20.—Confirmation at Wath Parish Church by the Bishop of Sodor and Man.
March 21.—Publication of the annual report of the Mexboro’ Mechanics’ Institute, which appeals for greater interest in its good work.—At the Vestry meeting, Swinton, it was recommended that the cemetery at that place be enlarged.—Settlement of the dispute between the Mexboro’ and Swinton glassblowers, the men returning at the old rate of wages.
March 24.—Quarterly meeting of the Wath Wesleyan Circuit; the number of church members was stated to be 1,119.
March 27.—Nomination of overseers for Mexboro’.
March 28.—Abandonment of the Dearne Water Bill owing to the great opposition.—Meeting at the Mexboro’ Congregational Chapel to advance the claims of Messrs. Scorah, Allison, Bennett, and White, as members of the Local Board, in view of the forthcoming election.
March 31.—Annual soirée at Swinton Parish Church.
April 1.—An excited and disorderly meeting in the Market-place with reference to the Local Board election.
April 3.—Further discussions on the Sewerage and Market Hall questions by the Mexboro’ Local Board.
April 4.—The Swinton Local Board election.
April 5.—The Mexboro’ Local Board election.
April 6.—Roman Terrace Wesleyan Sunday School Anniversary.—Re-opening services at Swinton Congregational Chapel.
April 9.—Close of the Swinton soup kitchen.
April 10.—Complimentary dinner to the defeated Local Board candidates.
April 11.—Being Good Friday several tea parties were held, and a large number of persons spent the day at Conisbro’.—Opening match of the Mexbro’ Cricket Club.
April 14.—Lecture by Mr. J. Symes, of Leeds, under the auspices of the Mexboro’ Liberal Association.
April 15.—Annual Vestry meeting at Mexboro’; ditto Conisbro’; ditto Wath.
April 17.—Annual meeting of the Mexboro’ Local Board.
April 20.—Sudden death of Mr. W. Johnson, of Wath.—Anniversary services at Swinton Wesleyan Chapel in connection with the school.
April 21.—Formal opening of the Mexbro’ Rowing Club.—Concert at Wath on behalf of the Manvers Main Cricket Club.—Close of the Conisbro’ Castle Football Club season.
April 22.—Bazaar at Wath towards the funds of a new vicarage.—Presentation of an electro-silver tea-pot to Mr. E. J. Bower, on the occasion of his marriage, by the teachers at Swinton Church Sunday School.
April 23.—Vestry meeting at Swinton; ditto at Thorne.
April 24.—Annual meeting of the Swinton Local Board.
April 27.—Anniversary services in connection with the Mexboro’ Congregational Church Sunday School; ditto at Primitive Methodist Chapel, Swinton; ditto at Kilnhurst United Methodist Free Church School.
April 30.—Influential meeting of Swinton ratepayers with reference to the churchyard enlargement question, when it was decided that, should the mission to Lord Fitzwilliam fail, arrangements be made with Mr. W. Jenkinson for the purchase of some of his land.—Fire in a bedroom at Wath; a servant girl had been reading, and left the candle lit by the side of the bed, when she fell asleep.
May 1.—At the monthly meeting of the Mexbro’ Local Board it was resolved that the amount of land required for the improvement of High-street be obtained from Mr. Woodruff.—The Rawmarsh School Board election.—Consecration of St. Joseph’s Church, Wath.
May 3.—The body of a man found in the canal at Wombwell.
May 4.—Wesleyan Sunday School Anniversary, Mexboro’.
May 8.—Local Government enquiry with regard to the loan for the erection of the Market Hall; ditto at Swinton, with reference to the loan for the new Local Board Offices.
May 9.—Inspection of the new line of the Swinton and Knottingley Railway by Col. Hutchinson.
May 10.—Anniversary services at Swinton Congregational Chapel; ditto Wesleyan Chapel, Parkgate.
May 11.—Stone laying of Wesleyan Reform Chapel School, Parkgate.
May 13.—First annual examination at Swinton Board Schools.—United Methodist Free Church bazaar, Kilnhurst.
May 14.—Presentation to Mr. J. Lewis by the parishioners of Mexboro’, in recognition of the impartial manner in which he had fulfilled the duties of parish churchwarden during the previous three years.
May 15.—Launch of “The Only Son,” the property of Mr. T. Scholey and Mr. W. Wilkinson, of Swinton.
May 16.—Laying of the corner stone of the new offices of the Swinton Local Board of Health.
May 17.—Anniversary sermons at Congregational Sunday School, Rawmarsh.
May 19.—Sale of fancy articles at National School, Swinton, on behalf of the Church Missionary Society.—Wath Rowing Club; annual contest between the “Cambridge” and “Oxford” crews.—Bazaar at the Congregational Chapel, Mexboro’, on behalf of the organ fund.
May 25.—Anniversary of the Mexboro’ Primitive Methodist Sunday School; ditto Primitive Methodist Chapel, Rawmarsh; and also of Darfield Main Chapel.—Finding of the body of a man in the canal at Swinton; left a widow and five children.
May 26.—Visit of the Captain of the Salvation Army to the Mexboro’ branch.
May 31.—Heavy thunderstorm at Mexboro’.—Death of a miner at Manvers Main by a fall of roof.
June 2.—Annual treat of the Wesleyan School scholars at Conisbro’.—Annual festival in connection with the Mexboro’ and District Sunday School Union.
June 3.—Annual treat of St. Thomas’s Church Sunday School scholars, Kilnhurst.
June 4.—Meeting of the Conisbro’ Gas Company; the yearly profit was 6 per cent.
June 6.—Fatal accident at Manvers Main through fall of roof.—At the monthly meeting of the Mexboro’ Local Board, a petition from 400 ratepayers was presented urging the authority to do what they could in order to secure a morning despatch of letters from this town.
June 10.—Meeting of parishioners decided that the old bells of the Church be recast.—Meeting of the Wath Conservative Association to appoint chairman and committee.
June 13.—Reported outbreak of scarlatina at Swinton.
June 14.—Brutal attack on two Swinton men by five colliers.
June 18.—Sale of work at Conisbro’ Church Sunday School on behalf of the cost towards the restoration of the tower.
June 24.—Annual gala in connection with the Mexboro’ Cricket Club.—Annual examination at National Schools, Wath.
June 26.—A “Lady” swindler making extensive purchases at Swinton and Wath.
June 27.—Publication of the report of Her Majesty’s Inspector on the recent examination at the Swinton Schools.
June 30.—Great meeting of miners at Swinton when addresses were delivered on their present position and the best means to adopt for the future.—The half-yearly meeting of the members of the Wath Mechanics’ Institute.