Mexborough & Swinton Times — Saturday, 31 October 1914
Marconigrams
The total of the National Relief Fund now amounts to £3,446,000.
A number of Canadian horses are to be broken and trained at Melton Hall.
Arrangements are being made at Mexboro’ for the accommodation of a party of Belgian refugees.
Thirty-nine years ago on Wednesday the first meeting of the Swinton Local Board was held.
Only 1500 men have been recruited from Doncaster since the outbreak of the war, and the bulk of these are miners.
The rate of recruiting in Mexboro’ is again steadily increasing, and there is an excellent prospect of another boom.
The Mexboro’ and Swinton Home Defence Corps is making good progress. The average number attending the drill is about 90.
The directors of the Cortonwood Collieries Co., Ltd., have declared a further interim dividend of 2½ per cent. (6d. per share), less tax.
A “Flower Day” is to be held at Swinton on Saturday, in aid of funds for the accommodation of Belgian refugees in the town.
A train load of wounded Belgian soldiers, numbering some forty in all, were transferred from Sheffield on Monday to the Barnsley Beckett Hospital.
Men joining the York and Lancaster Regiment from this district are allowed a month’s grace, for business or family purposes, to stay at Pontefract before going into field training.
Dr. Henz, Ashmount, Mexboro’, has contributed ten guineas to Lord Kitchener’s fund, which is being administered under his lordship’s personal supervision, to provide small comforts for the troops during the winter.
The Doncaster West Riding magistrates on Saturday decided that public-houses and clubs in their area shall be closed for the sale of intoxicating liquor at 10 p.m., while in certain districts the closing hour is fixed at 9-30 p.m.
The West Riding Distress Committee, through the instrumentality of district committees, is arranging for the accommodation of a large number of refugees.
The offers of hospitality include:—Holme and Holmfirth 10, Knottingley 25, Normanton 32, Bramham 31, Ridsworth 12, Selby 20, Wombwell 10, Denaby and Cadeby Collieries 50, Ackworth 10, Hemsworth 6, and Ulley and Brampton 6.
Gifts of suitable clothes are greatly wanted—more especially children’s clothes of all kinds, and women’s underclothing, cloaks, hats, and boots. Parcels of these may be addressed to the Secretary, War Refugees, County Hall, Wakefield.
Mr. W. Randerson informs us that he has received a post-card from his son, who is now at Doeberitz, in Germany. He was taken prisoner by the Germans, last week it was supposed that he was in Holland. Randerson says he is in good condition, merry, and comfortable.
Two important police changes are taking place in the district this week. Sergt. Redman, of Wath, has been drafted for special duty to Selby, and his place will be taken by Sergt. Greenwood, of Swinton.
The impending departure of Sergt. Redman from Wath will occasion genuine regret among all classes, for during his stay in the district he has made himself universally popular, and he is held in high esteem, not only by his men, but by the residents generally. We wish him luck.
News has been received in Mexboro’ that William Waddington, son of Mr. Harry Waddington, auctioneer, who is serving in the Coldstreams, and has been in nearly every action since the war commenced, is keeping well. He says he will have some startling stories to tell if he has the good luck to return to good old Mexboro’.
Dan Clayton, son of Mr. John Clayton, of Ingle Nook, Mexboro’, and formerly employed at the Motor works of Hadfield’s, Ltd., Sheffield, has been accepted as a transport driver in the service of the Government. Clayton, who is an experienced driver and mechanic, is expecting being drafted to France any time now. He is at present quartered at Lee, London.
The Treasury announce that all currency notes of the denomination of £1 issued from the Bank of England hereafter will be of a new design. It must, however, be clearly understood that £1 currency notes of the original design will continue to be legal tender. A new currency note for 10s. is in preparation, and will be issued after notice in due course. This note will be smaller than the £1 note, measuring 5 7-16in. by 3 1-16in., and will be printed in red ink. The paper and design will be similar to that of the new £1 note.
The annual All Saints’ social evening at Denaby is to be abandoned this year. In announcing this, the Vicar, the Rev. H. B. Greeves, says:—When so many families in England are in mourning, it would seem heartless to think only of our own pleasures. We want to be cheerful, but it ought to be sober cheerfulness, not selfish indifference to the sufferings of others. Anything like dancing, which in ordinary times is pleasant, harmless, and innocent, will not be provided or sanctioned by the Church.
The “Colliery Guardian” draws attention to the noble example of the Hickleton Main miners, and it may be taken as typical, it says, of what many other local collieries are doing. They had been paying 10s. per week for a wife and 2s. per week for a child of dependants who had enlisted up to October 9, but seeing that the new Army allowance has now been increased, the men have decided to pay the following amounts, which will ensure families of miners being kept in comfort:—Wife and one child, Army allowance 15s., local fund adds 6s., total £1 1s.; wife and two children, 17s. 6d., local fund 7s., total £1 4s. 6d.; wife and three children, £1, local fund 8s., total £1 8s.; wife and four children, £1 2s., local fund 9s., total £1 11s.; wife and five children, £1 4s., local fund 10s., total £1 14s.; wife and six children, £1 6s., local fund 11s., total £1 17s. Widows who are solely dependent are to receive 10s. per week; father and mother dependent on only son, 14s. and 7s. each; widows partially dependent, 5s. per week.
Taxis for Weddings or Hire can be had at J. H. White’s, 60, Bank St., Mexboro’. Terms most moderate. Ring up 133, Mexboro’.
A Whist Drive will be held in the Swinton Library every Wednesday Evening, commencing Wednesday, 28th inst., at 8 p.m. Admission 6d. each. (Advt.)
The “Times” Almanack, 1915.—Will Secretaries of Clubs, Societies, and Organisations of a public character in the Mexboro’, Swinton, and Don Valley District, kindly send details, with names of officials, for inclusion of the next issue of the “Times” Almanack?—Address Editor, “Times” Almanack, “Times” Office, Mexboro’; near Rotherham.