The First Issue of the South Wales Argus

On Monday May 30th, 1892, The South Wales Argus and Monmouthshire Daily Leader was launched. The newspaper is still being published Monday to Saturday although it's very much a shadow of its former self. This article gives a flavour for what was published and scans of the pages are included towards the end.

The South Wales Argus' First Editorial

The first appearance of a new paper necessarily demands a few words of introduction — some declaration with regard to aims and intentions. The objects the promoters of the "South Wales Argus and Monmouthshire Daily Leader" have in view may be briefly stated. It has long been felt that a constituency such as that to which we appeal should possess a daily paper worth of a district of great and growing importance, a journal that should faithfully reflect popular opinion and afford facilities for the discussion of questions of public interest, and which should bear its part in the political warfare of the day. So much, at least, it is hoped the "South Wales Argus" will be and will do.

In politics thoroughly and uncompromisingly Liberal, it will be found the constant advocate of those principles of civil and religious liberty and equality which have given to the party its noblest victories and proudest traditions in the past, and which call it to still further triumphs in the future. Foremost in the legislation that the next Liberal Administration wiull undertake is the great measure of justice to Ireland which promises to be the crowning achievement of Mr Gladstone's long and illustrious career. The policy which that measure will embody will receive the earnest support of the "South Wales Argus," as will every well-conceived effort to simplify and widen the franchise, and to deal with those grave social problems which grow in importance and complexity, and which constantly and strenuously strive for solution. If ever these questions, so full of difficulties and of danger, are satisfactorily dealt with, the works will be accomplished by the LIbery party to whom it naturally and necessarily falls. The General Election, which is now rapidly approaching should equip the party for the task. The prospects is full of encouragment, and there is reason to hope that the coming appeal to the constituencies will find Wales and Monmouthshire giving a solid Liberal vote. In the belief that a really Liberal paper would materially conribute to such a result, the "South Wales Argus" has been established, and its promoters trust that their anticipations will be realised.

Apart from politics, the "Argus" will strive to promote in every way the welfare of the community amongst which it circulates. Its conductors will endeavour to deal temerately, fairly and judiciously with subjects that especially concern its readers, whilst constant effort will be made to bring into prominence the great natural resources of the district and the important advantages it possesses. Care will be taken to furnish the latest information respecting all occurrences of interest in regard to commercial, shipping, and mining matters, and everything affecting the industrial world. Arrangements have been made with the chief Press agencies for an extensive supply of telegraphic news, embracing full services of home and foreign telegrams, Stock Exchange quotations, and sporting; besides which, writers of repute will be contributors on many and varied subjects. In short,

it will be our aim to produce a paper that will be generally acceptable

— differing through the tastes of our readers may be — and in order to make it such we invite the co-operation and suggestions of all who are able and willing to help.

'Neglecting to Send Children to School'

Margaret Reilley, Annie Gay, George Bennett, George White, and Catharine Thomas were summoned for neglecting to send their children to school. Margaret Reilley (who caused much laughter by producing from the bottom of her pocket a very old decayed tooth, for the purpose, as she explained, of proving to the magistrates that her son had suffered from toothache) was fined 5s, and the usual orders were inflicted in other cases.

Alleged Theft of Ducks at Langstone

Margaret Ann Jones, Langstone, was charged at the County Police Court, Newport, on Saturday, with stealing two ducks belonging to John Hull, labourer, Langstone, on the 20th inst. The ducks were fed by the prosecutor on the 20th inst. about noon, and when he returned home they were gone. Subsequent to this the prisoner sold two ducks to Mrs Puttock for 3s 6d. They were small white ones, and were undressed. She said they had come from London by train. Prisoner when apprehended by P.C. Lewis, said, I didn't want to steal ducks. I have got ducks of my own.

On the way to Newport, she said she bought six ducks from Mr Poole, butcher, and killed two of them on Saturday, selling them at Newport Market. She did not mention the ducks sold to Mrs Puttock.

The feathers of the ducks sold to Mrs Puttock were identified by proecutors as resembling those of the ducks owned by him.

Superintendent Bosquanet said when prisoner was in the cell she sent for him, and said, "If I had the ducks, I had them in mistake for my own; and I hope you will try and get me off with a fine." A Mrs Rosser, called for the defence, said she heard that a white duck and drake similar to those lost by the prosecutor, were down the brook. Prosecutor said he searched the brook for nearly two miles, and did not find the ducks there.

The chairman said the bench could not help concluding that the prisoner took and killed two ducks belonging to John Hill. As it was her first offence, they would discharge her with a caution as to her future conduct.

Facts and Fancies

Personal Names

A correspondent of the Standard gives the personal names which he has found in the records of the General Register Office. He has discovered a girl registered in 1847 as "Is it Maria"; in 1853, a boy as "Napoleon the Great"; 1857, "Robert Alma Balaclava Inkerman Sebastopol Delhi"; 1860, "Arthur Wellesley Wellington Waterloo"; 1861, "Not Wanted James"; 1863, "Jerome Napoleon Edward Henry John"; 1885, "Edward Byng Tallyho Forward"; 1870, "One Too Many"; 1877, "Peter the Great" and "William the Conqueror," twins' 1883, "Richard Coeur de Lion Tyler Walter"; 1886, "That's It Who'd Have Thought It"; 1887, "Laughing Waters." Some remarkable single names are to be met with, such as "Righteous," "Comfort," "Happy," "Elector," "Hopeful," "Redemption," "Meditation," "Obedience," and "Alphabet." Twins, "Love" and "Unity," are to be found and, besides "Faith," "Hope," and "Charity" as triplets, there are "Shadrach," "Meshach," and "Abednego," boys; and two boys and a girl, "Alpha," "Beatrice," and "Omega."

Nice Dishes

A selection of the recipes featured in the paper.

Entertainment

Swimming Baths

The Swimming Baths at Stow Hill had a double bill of entertainment advertised with two polo matches, bobbing for corks, a 50 yards swimming race (just for the police force), a coracle race and an egg and spoon race.

'Proper bathing costumes to be worn' and 'Ladies specially invited'.

The Empire

At the Empire on the night of the publication of the paper was the usual packed billing including Walter Munroe, a 'Irish Character Comedian and Hungarian Boot Dancer'. Born Joseph Jowett Walter Walker in Ballinasloe County Galway in 1856, this site has a more detailed history of the comedian.

Victoria Theatre

The Board of Guardians

The reports of the Board of Guardians was a regular feature of the Argus reporting on, amongst other things, the numbers at the workhouse. For this report there was a section on the number of imbeciles.

...there were at present in the house 24 persons who could be classed as imbeciles, six males and 18 females. There was one other case — that of a man who was an epileptic, but he could not be classed among the imbeciles, as he was perfectly sane between the fits.

Workhouse Statistics

In the week leading up to the publication of the first edition of the argus, the number of people in the workhouse was 325 with 64 being sick.