Welcome to another issue of The Newport Cornucopia where we dig through the newspapers archives for interesting news articles and adverts. All articles are posted verbatim and most headlines are original (headlines in quotes are my own).
SIR, — Last week a notice appeared in the town cautioning boys against trundling their hoops. Now, sir, I think that if instead of the above notice, the following had appeared, it would have tended to put down a greater nuisance.
“Iron Hoops — Caution”
“Ladies are hereby cautioned that they will not be permitted to occupy the footways and carriage roads with their enormous hoops, within the town. The police have strict orders to seize the hoops and summon the offenders.
A CORRESPONDENT
— Cardiff Times, Saturday 4th December, 1858
‘Stow Hill Water Pipe Plug‘
The plug in the water pipe at the bottom of Stow-hill, flew out on Wednesday evening, and before it could be put in again many hundreds of tons of water were lost. The Street was flooded, and but for the vigilance and praise-worthy efforts of the police under the Inspector, there would have been much damage done to the surrounding property.
— Cardiff Times, Saturday 11th December, 1858
‘Simpleton Robbed by Prostitute’
Mary Ann Robinson, a prostitute, was charged with stealing a silver watch, the property of Richard Edward’s, on Saturday night. The prosecutor was met with on the bridge crossing the South Wales Railway Station by the prisoner, and on her invitation took a gas light walk down Mill-street to the yard in the purlieus of the Castle. It was then near midnight, and the girl, making some excuse, told the simpleton to wait in the yard until her return, and left him. There in the dark alone he stood for some minutes, when by some chance a suspicion that was not right crossed his obtuse senses, and he felt for his watch, which, alas! had gone with the charmer. Cold and dispirited the poor dupe groped his way out into the street where he met one of the guardians of the night, to whom he gave information of his loss, and having asked him to watch for the girl, he went watchless to his home in Market-street. The prisoner pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.
— Cardiff Times, Saturday 11th December, 1858
Mischievous Children
Emily Carter, Benjamin Carter, and William James, children, from Glebe-street, were summoned for willfully damaging shrubs, growing in the garden of Dr Andrew Davies, Cefn Parc, Maindee. They had been sitting on the shrubbery, and had broken and destroyed it. Mr Kessick remarked this was a great annoyance in Maindee. The Carters were fined 1s each and James was dismissed.
— South Wales Weekly Argus, Saturday 10th February, 1894 (subscription required)
Stealing a Side of Bacon
At Newport Police-court today William Walsh, aged 20, a hobbler, was charged with stealing a side of bacon, weighing about 26lb., and valued at 10s., from the stall of Mr. Joseph Watkins, in the provision market, on Thursday evening iast. The assistant in charge of the stall placed six sides of bacon out on Thursday, and on resuming business on Saturday found one of them gone. The prisoner was seen carrying something away from the market, and was arrested by Police-sergeant Dukelow on suspicion. Inspector Jones afterwards searched at Davies's lodging-house, and found the side of bacon wrapped in prisoner's coat there. He pleaded guilty, and said he should not have done it if he had not been drunk.—The Bench sent him to prison for 28 days with hard labour.
— Evening Express, Wednesday 1st April, 1896
A Tale of a Saucepan
At Newport Borough Police Court Maria Parkes, of Jeddo-street, was summoned for assaulting Mary Ann Tasker on Good Friday night by kicking her three times.— Complainant produced a medical certificate stating the nature of the injuries received. — Thomas Tasker said his mother was struck about the head with a saucepan, and had been attended by Dr Hurley. — Margaret Lane said that having had a row with her husband, the complainant came to the door, and called Mrs Parkes all sorts. Mrs Parkes went for an explanation, and then the row commended. Witness heard Mrs Parkes call out that her head was hurt, and she understood that Mrs Tasker had flung the saucepan at defendant. — Another witness was called for the defence, and the magistrates, thinking there was fault on both sides, bound the parties over to keep the peace, and ordered them to pay the costs between them.
— South Wales Argus, Saturday 2nd May, 1895 (Subscription Required)
‘Little Girl Hits Child in Face with Bible’
Lavinia Comley, a little girl, was summoned for assaulting Florence Hewlett, a child. The mother said that she let Comley take the child out on a Sunday evening. She took it to the fields, and beat it on the face with a Bible. The girl admitted the action, but promised not to do such a thing again, whereupon she was discharged.
— South Wales Argus, Saturday 2nd May, 1895 (Subscription Required)
He Wasted His Beer
Albert Henry Pengelly was summoned for assaulting his wife Matilda. — Complainant said her husband was in the Rose and Crown, and when she asked him to come home, he flung part of the contents of a pint of beer in her face. When he got outside he struck her. — Defendant complained that his wife went to Caerleon Fair, and did not cook him a bit of food for two days. — He was bound over to keep the peace.
— South Wales Argus, Tuesday 7th May, 1895 (Subscription Required)
Sleeping Out
Thomas Doolan (12), Henry Morgan (14), Thomas Ferris (13), William Lewis (14), Arthur Sanson (15), Valentine Waite (14), Albert Toulouse (13) were charged with being in a shed at the back of 29 Dolphin-street for an unlawful purpose. — The lads were dismissed with a warning.
— South Wales Argus, Tuesday 7th May, 1895 (Subscription Required)
Onion Thieves
We would wish to caution our readers living in or near to Newport, who may have gardens, to be on the look out. Mrs Phillips, who resides near to the Machine*, lost nearly a bushel of onions on Monday night last. A reward is offered for the apprehension of the offenders.
— The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Saturday November 1st, 1845
Onion Thieves Update
We noticed in our last paper that Mrs Phillips, who resides near to the machine, had lost a quantity of onions. Early on Monday morning last, some expert thieves burglariously broke upon her fowl house, and stole five young hens.
— The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Saturday 8th November, 1845
Startled Bull Falls Into Dock, Takes Horse and Cart With It
On Friday last, the 25th of July, a curious accident took place in the immediate neighbourhood of this town. A horse and a bull were fastened to a cart at the Newport Dock, when the bull, having probably been stung by some insect, started — fell into the dock, and drew the horse and cart in with him. The horse, which was a rather valuable animal, was drowned, but the bull escaped. This is the second horse which has, within the last few months, been drowned in the dock.
— The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Saturday 2nd August, 1845
Mud Bath
A few days since, an earthenware dealer, who had just emptied his basket in dealing with the captain of one of the ships in our dock, leisurely took a walk along the quay wall, to calculate his profits; suddenly hearing some one call him, he turned smartly round and losing his equilibrium, fell headlong down into the mouth of the dock entrance. Very fortunately, the tide was out and he went plump from the high wall into a bed of almost liquid mud, from which he was speedily extricated and it only by his sputtering and something like a terrible rattle in the throat, that his head could be distinguished from his heels, so perfectly was he bedaubed. He has since got off the mud externally, and what stuck in his throat he has since washed down by Allfrey's stout.
— Monmouthshire Merlin, Saturday 12th December, 1846
4,000 Watch Launch of Elephante
Although the Interesting scene of a launch is, we are glad to say, now of frequent occurrence at Newport, yet the immense crowds that assembled to view the spectacle, on Thursday morning, prove that such pleasures do not cloy by repetation (sic). The Elephante, which then gracefully glided from Rodney yard into the river, is for her dimensions, one of the finest vessels ever finished here. and reflects the highest credit on the builders, indeed we way fairly say on the trade of Newport.
She is pronounced by competent judges, a perfect model of naval architecture, in material and build the following are her dimensions, 95 feet keel, 18 feet 3 depth of hold. 26 feet 3 inches of beam, 105 feet over all, register about 310 tons. She is coppered and copper fastened, and bought for the East India trade by an eminent merchant of Glasgow, and will be commanded by Captain Buchanan. The launch, which took place about half-past eight 0 clock was successful in every respect, and we should think that about 4000 persons assembled on the occasion.
— Monmouthshire Merlin, Saturday 20th February, 1836
‘St Woolos Poor House vs Westgate Inn’
A meeting of the Town Council was held on Wednesday last, at the Westgate Inn, present the Mayor, and eleven members of the Council. The Committee to whom it was referred, to consider the propriety of renting a room, in which the Justices of the borough may sit, and Council meet: reported that the most convenient place for the purpose is that at the Westgate Inn, in which the Council now assembled, and that the Messrs. Iggulden had agreed to receive for the use of the same, and provide fire, candles, and writing paper, for £26 per annum.
After some discussion on this subject, it was moved by Mr. Mullock, and seconded by Mr. T. J. Phillips and carried, that such report be not confirmed but that the same be referred back to the Committee for re-consideration, in order that they may ascertain whether the great room of the St. Woollos Poor House may not be taken for the purposes mentioned in the report.
— Monmouthshire Merlin, Saturday 5th March, 1836
Police in Pill
An article in the Monmouthshire Merlin on 6th February, 1836, discusses a need for an increase in constables partly due to Pillgwenlly and Commercial Wharfs being added to the borough and recent acts of Parliament. It mentions that in 90% of cases disorder originates in Beer Houses and that an increased population has led to an increase in cases of disorder. It also lists constables to be sworn in and their occupations.
“Under and by virtue of the provisions contained in a certain Act of Parliament, made and passed in the 5th and 6th years of the Reign of his present Majesty, William the Fourth, intituled “An Act to provide for the Regulation of Municipal Corporations in England and Wales." We, whose names are hereunder signed, were appointed the Watch Committee for the said Boroughs. We are required, by the seventy-sixth section of the same Act, within three weeks after our first formation, and from time to time, thereafter, as occasion shall require, to appoint a sufficient number of fit men to be sworn in before some Justice of the Peace, having jurisdiction within the said Borough, to act as constables for preserving the peace by day and by night, and preventing robberies and other felonies, and apprehending offenders against the peace. And we are authorised, by the 77th section of the same Act, to frame such Regulations as we shall deem expedient for preventing negtect or abuse, and for rendering such constables efficient in the discharge of their duties. And by the 82nd section of the same Act, the Treasurer of the said Borough is required to pay to the constables appointed under the provisions thereof, such salaries wages and allowances; and at such periods as the Watch Committee shall, subject to the approbation of the council, direct.
“In the performance of the duty entrusted to us, we have found that Sergeant Redman, holds the appointment of Police Constable, within the said Borough, at the yearly salary of £90., that he had no additional perquisite, and that all fees, charged by him, have been paid over by order of the Town Magistrates to the Commissioners acting under the Improvement Act. That Sergeant Redman is the only officer at present receiving a salary. That he also holds the office of Bailiff of the Prison for the performance of the duty of that office he receives no salary or emolument.
“That up to the present time there are twelve Petty Constables appointed by the Magistrates of the Borough, that generally, such Constables have been very inefficient and negligent of their duties. That, in consequence of Pillgwenlly, and the Commercial Wharfs having recently been added to the Borough, and the great and continual increase of its population, it is desirable, and indeed absolutely necessary, that, in future, the Constabulory force for the preservation of the peace and the prevention of crime, shall be much more active and efficient, than it has hitherto been.
“That from the information of Sergeant Redman, in 9 cases out of ten, disorder originates in Beer Houses, and that such disorder has lately very much increased within the Borough.
That the Sergeant of Police has been in the habit, of making daily reports, to the Magistrates, of the state of the Town, and particularly of the disorder prevailing in Beer Houses, that such reports have been sometimes acted upon, and sometimes not.
”That it will be desirable and necessary to appoint a Chief Constable, to be stationed at Pillgwenlly, and that he shall receive such a salary as will justly entitle the inhabitants to require from him a strict performance of his duty.
“That it will be necessary to frame Regulations for the guidance of Constables, and we advise that a printed copy of such Regulations, be delivered to every Constable at the time of his being sworn into office.
“We, therefore, in pursuance and by virtue of the powers given to us by the said Act, do hereby appoint the men whose names are hereinafter set forth, to be sworn in and act as Constables within the said Borough:- Sergeant Redman; Rees Rees, Pillgwenlly, (shoemaker); David Lewi (mason); William Roberts (smith) John Lewis (labourer) all of Pillgwenlly, and Commeicial Wharf; William Roberts (ship-carpenter), Queen's Parade; John Griffiths (Cross- street); John Allen (Club-row); John Collins (Gardner Friar's Field); William Mills (shopkeeper, Mill-street) Thomas Samuel (Commercial-street); Joseph Hill, (George-street); William Jones (carpenter), Charles-street.
“And subject to your approbation, we direct that the Treasurer of the said Borough to be appointed under the said Act, shall pay to the said Sergeant Redman, from the date of his appointment, the yearly salary of £90 by quarterly and equal payments, such salary to be, as heretofore, in full, for his services. And subject to such approbation as aforesaid, we further direct that the said Treasurer shall pay to the said Rees Rees, on account of his services as Chief Constable, to be stationed at Pillgwenlly, aforesaid, the yearly salary of £25., by quarterly and equal payments, and that in addition to such salary, he be authorised to receive and apply to his own use, the regular and allowed fees, for executing warrants and serving summonses and orders granted by justices.”
— Monmouthshire Merlin, Saturday 6th February, 1836
‘A name for the thoroughfare between High Street and Marshes Road’
I hear that there is a proposal to give a name to that Newport thoroughfare which extends from High-street to Marshes-road, and that there is some difference of opinion as to what it shall be called. At present, I believe, one portion of the road is like a foundling — without a name — and Castle-road to Castle-street has been suggested as the appropriate title.
Certainly the vicinity of the ancient castle would make the name historic and reasonable, but there is an objection inasmuch as there is already a Caste-street in Pill, and the Council has set its face like a flint against the duplication of names. But “just for this once” — well, we might make a concession to sentiment and call the road after the castle which so long has frowned upon the Usk.
— South wales Argus, Saturday 4th May, 1895 (Subscription Required)
‘Quite a Storm Among Newport Jewellers’
I hear that there has been quite a storm among the Newport jewellers with regard to the tender for the plate for the Conservative Club. It seems that tenders were invited from the jewellers of Newport, many of whom sent in prices, but when the committee came to examine and compare the specimens they were much puzzled, for the prices varied and the goods were much alike.
In their hour of need and difficulty they appealed to a Newport pawnbroker to bring his practical knowledge to bear, and to advise them as to which was the best value for the price asked. He gave a decision, and the contract was awarded to one of the jewellers, but when the others ascertained the facts of the consultation their indignation boiled over.
— South wales Argus, Saturday 4th May, 1895 (Subscription Required)
‘Complaining About How People Walk in Newport’
Is there a town in the country where people walk worse than in Newport? If so, and any reader will kindly mention its name, I will make a note —to avoid it.
At times, High-street and Commercial-street are more congested with pedestrians than the Strand or Fleet-street in London, and yet those who are there seem absolutely indifferent to the “rules of the road” and the ordinary precautions that even children observe elsewhere.
You are going down Commercial-street at a good pace, when a lady coming up the street has her attracted, and turning her head over her shoulder drifts across the pathway as unconcerned as if she were along in a nine-acre field. Result — collision, with hat in the gutter, and lady indignant at your carelessness.
Recovering, you move a little further, and are then brought up sharply with a heel on your favourite corn, an idea having struck the gentleman just ahead of you that induced him to stop suddenly and back, without troubling himself as to whether anybody is behind.
The next trial, perhaps, arises from a quartette or quintette of damsels walking abreast, and driving you into the road to imminent peril from cycles and vehicles. Or it may be, some nautical gentlemen come rolling along, half a dozen of them requiring as much space for movement as would suffice for six times as many Londoners.
Then there are those delightful family groups stretching across the pavement and calmly discussing domestic affairs, Mary Ann meanwhile making “alarums and excursions” with the perambulator, and Tommy and his cousins having a little entertainment on their own account.
Add to these trifles the horseplay of hobble-decoys, the baiting of some poor half-witted creature, impromptu games of football, and wholesale loafing and lounging around and about, and a walk from the bridge to the Cardiff-road offers an admirable test of amiability and should prove an excellent incentive to patience and goodwill.
— South wales Argus, Saturday 4th May, 1895 (Subscription Required)
‘A Call For Buses To Malpas’
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “SOUTH WALES ARGUS”
SIR,—With your permission, I should like to call the attention of some of our North Ward members and councillors generally to the want of some public conveyance for the convenience of the Malpas and Marshes-road ratepayers. This district is fast becoming one of the most thickly populated districts in our town, and if there was a service of ‘busses running between Malpas-road and High-street, I am sure it would be supplying a want much needed by the residents in this district. Trusting you will insert this.
Yours truly,
A NORTH AND EAST RATEPAYER
Newport, May 2, 1895
— South Wales Argus, Friday 3rd May, 1895
Member discussion