July 1874
Isle of Wight Observer:
Jul 4th 1874: DANGERS OF DRINK – On Saturday last an accident of a serious character happened to a man named NEWNHAM. It appears he was assisting in unloading a vessel at the quay laden with beer, and on one of the casks being hoisted the slings gave way, the tub falling with great violence on the poor fellow’s left ankle, causing a compound fracture. He was conveyed to the Royal Isle of Wight Infirmary, where he is now going on favourably.
Jul 4th 1874: CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF GERMANY AT RYDE – Yesterday was a day long to be remembered, one which form an important item in the annals of “Beautiful Ryde”. The visit of their Royal Highnesses to the Isle of Wight is highly gratifying, as the inhabitants say in their address to the Royal visitors, “to know that the Princess Royal of England has not forgotten the pleasant shores where her early years were passed.” After the procession had passed from the Esplanade at Ryde, the school children were supplied with plum cake, each child receiving a paper bag containing ½. pound of cake which had been made by Messrs. HALL and COMDEN.
Jul 11th 1874: STEAMER ASHORE – On Monday afternoon, a large steamer, the Hipparchus, of Liverpool, owners, Messrs. LAMPORT and HOLT, bound from Brazil to Bremen, came ashore near the sewer buoy, east of the pier, and though on Tuesday morning four steam tugs were called into requisition to move her she did not get away until afternoon, when the tide floated her off.
Jul 11th 1874: ROYAL VISIT TO RYDE – On Monday afternoon their IMPERIAL and ROYAL HIGHNESSES again honoured Ryde with their presence. Here began a scene which we are almost ashamed to record. In the town were a large number of excursionists, many of whom appeared to have lost nearly every vestige of propriety, and as the Imperial Party walked along Pier-street and up Union-street they were followed by crowds of those gaping wonder-mongers, who clung to the flank of the distinguished visitors with a tenacity that amounted to a direct insult.
Jul 11th 1874: MESSRS. POOLE & YOUNG – This diorama illustrating the Duke of Edinburgh’s tour through India will be exhibited at the New Town-hall on Monday and following nights. Messrs. POOLE and YOUNG are justly celebrated for the excellence of their dioramas and panoramas, and we have little doubt that they will be well patronised during their stay in Ryde.
Jul 11th 1874: RYDE BOROUGH COUNCIL – The committee recommend that a door be placed in a certain passage leading from the Town-hall, which would be a very great convenience. It had been proposed that the forthcoming ball should be held at the Town-hall, but it would certainly not take place there if the door in the report was not put up.
Jul 18th 1874: A TAXING DEBATE – Alderman BOWLBY referred to the appeal that had been made against the income tax assessment. The reply was then that Ryde was notoriously unevenly assessed, and he should vote in favour. Here another scene occurred in which Mr. SMITH, Mr. KNIGHT, and The Mayor took prominent parts. The discussion became so warm that the Mayor threatened to send for a policeman for the special benefit of Mr. SMITH.
Jul 25th 1874: THE EXTRA CLERK – It was moved by Mr SMITH- “That this council considers that the employment of an extra clerk in the Town Clerk’s office, for the purpose of investigating the accounts of past years, unnecessary and improper, but does not object to any individual member further employing him at his own expense.” Mr SMITH said that he knew the Mayor did not want him to say anything about it. In employing a clerk they found a mare’s nest. The accounts were not worth the paper they were printed on.
Jul 25th 1874: ADVERT – Isaac TAYLOR begs to inform the nobility, gentry, and inhabitants of Ryde and the Island generally that he has commenced Business in CEMETERY WORK, Headstones, Tombs, Monuments, and all kind of Stone work; and hopes by careful attention to all kinds of orders, combined with moderate charges, to merit a share of public patronage.