December 1874
Isle of Wight Observer:
Dec 12th 1874: PIER – A contemporary suggests that a railway pier should be run off Apley, with a long tunnel under the hill. This is, like most advice gratuitously given by those who know nothing of what they are talking about.
Dec 12th 1874: SCREW v. PADDLE STEAMERS – We hear that the directors of the Ryde Packet Company have determined to use paddle-wheel steamers only in future, and have sold both their screw vessels, which they found to be unsuited for the traffic and very much disliked by passengers.
Dec 12th 1874: BUILDING FUND – We have pleasure in announcing a concert at the Town-hall on Monday next, in aid of a fund for building a parochial chapel at Ashey, in the extreme south of this parish. The population of Ashey is scattered over a wide surface, and up to the present time no provision for church privileges has been attempted. We trust that so much kind and charitable exertion will result in a substantial addition to the small fund required for building the mission chapel.
Dec 12th 1874: SHOAL OF PORPOISES – On Thursday about noon a large shoal of porpoises were seen off the pier, their graceful movements attracting a great deal of attention. Such a visit as this is said to be a sign that there is plenty of other fish about.
Dec 12th 1874: ACCIDENT ON THE LINE – On Saturday a navvy named RHODES working on the railway, and living at Weeks’, fell out of one of the wagons he was helping to unload, and in his fall received a very severe contusion on the side of his head, and was conveyed in an insensible condition to the Infirmary, where he still remains.
Dec 19th 1874: WORKMEN’S DINNER – On Thursday evening Mrs. HALSTED, of St. Thomas’-street, celebrated the majority of her son, Mr. Henry HALSTED, by giving a dinner in the justices’-room of the Town-hall, to about 40 of her employes and their friends. The dinner was arranged by Mrs. WILLIAMS, of 2 the colonnade, and gave general satisfaction.
Dec 19th 1874: POST CARDS – A desire having been expressed for a post card of a superior quality to those now in use, it is intended to issue experimentally a limited number of somewhat superior cards on the 1st of February next, at a price of 8d. the dozen.
Dec 26th 1874: HINT TO THE POLICE – While perfectly aware that some parts of Swanmore are not the most aristocratic in the town, we still think that those who worship in Swanmore Church ought not to be annoyed, when leaving, by groups of unruly boys and young men.
Dec 26th 1874: CHRISTMAS SHOPS – It does seem to us that preparations for Christmas are not made upon such an extensive scale as they used to be by shopkeepers to celebrate the festive season. At one time every grocer’s shop had some special feature to recommend it to notice. Now, in several instances, even leading tradesmen in the town have made no preparations and there is little about their establishments to denote that Christmas is at hand.
Dec 26th 1874: HE’D NOT FORGET THE POOR – It is with the greatest pleasure we chronicle the fact that his worship, the Mayor, has given an order to each of the town labourers for a piece of beef, to enable them to celebrate the arrival of old Father Christmas in a right and fitting manner.
Dec 26th 1874: COMMUNICATION – The fog on Wednesday was again the means of reminding us that we are the inhabitants of an island liable to have our communication with the mainland suspended at any time. The Southampton boats were suspended, and the Portsmouth boats run backwards and forwards but a few times. Great inconvenience resulted as a matter of course.
Dec 26th 1874: ROYAL ISLE OF WIGHT INFIRMARY – The committee gratefully acknowledge the receipt of a case of wine, containing two dozen, from R. YELF, esq., and three turkeys from “A Lady,” for the use of the patients.