Volume 1, Number 51

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).

'Poole's Myriorama'

Poole's Myriorama was a form of early entertainment that evolved from the panoramic shows of the 19th century. Established by Charles and George Poole in 1837, the Poole family revolutionized pre-cinema experiences by combining large painted moving scenes, music, and live performances in their travelling shows across the UK. The term "Myriorama" was first used in 1883 to describe these moving panoramas, and by 1897, they incorporated actual film projections, marking a significant step toward modern cinema. The Poole family was instrumental in blending visual and auditory effects in their presentations, creating a precursor to cinema, with their shows often dramatising topical events like the Bombardment of Alexandria or the Titanic disaster.

Here's a report from the South Wales Argus about when Poole's Myriorama came to the Victoria Theatre.

So well received has been Poole's Myriorama at the Victoria Theatre that the management have felt justified in extending their visit over another week. A large "house" again assembled on Monday night, and the unfolding of the canvas, on which are depicted scenes from many of the countries of the world, was watched with great interest. Stanley's latest exploration in equatorial Africa continues to be one of the charms of the Myriorama, the scenes being remarkably realistic, and the effects introduced novel and ingenious. Diversion is afforded by the singing of songs, sentimental and comic, and by cleve trapeze performances. The incidental music is bright and pleasing. Altogether the Myriorama affords the opportunity of making a journey of many thousands of miles under most enjoyable circumstances.

Poor Newport Publicans

At Newport Borough Police Court on Monday,T. J. Davies, chief engineer, of Cardiff, applied to have the licence of the Mechanics' Arms, Commercial-street, transferred to him. Mr Goldsworthy asked Davies if he was going to lose all the money he had saved. Davies replied that he hoped not; he expected to be able to save in the house.

Mr Goldsworthy said that most of the men who took public-houses in Newport lost their money.

The transfer was granted.

— The Cardiff Times, 1st April, 1899

Coach Accident

Last Saturday evening, the coach of Mr. Charles Phillips, from Cardiff, was stopped near the bottom of Hill-street, for a few moments, during which something occurred that occasioned one of the horses to kick and plunge violently and in a second, the coach was brought into contact with the pavement, and the pole broken off by the animal's powerful kicks. The passengers were speedily off the vehicle, with the exception of a gentleman on the box, who prudently kept cool and collected, and retained his seat with the utmost indifference to the violence of the unruly horse. In a short time, a fresh pole was brought, and the coach was taken to the Tredegar Arms.

It was mentioned by a gentleman who stopped in a crowd on the pavement to look on for a moment, that while so engaged, he was quietly eased of his handkerchief from his coat pocket.

Mem.: Never mingle in a crowd, but go forward, and mind your own business.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 23rd September, 1848

An Overhead Ferry for Newport

WELCOME BOON TO ARTISANS

The project for the erection of an overhead ferry on the plan of the transbordeurs at Rouen and Bilbao was considered at a meeting on Tuesday of the Parliamentary Committee of the Newport Corporation. M.Arnodin, the inventor of this plan of communication across rivers, attended before the committee at their request, and conferred with them as to details. He also inspected the site of the proposed ferry, which is to be near Brithdir Wharf, opposite Mill-parade and expressed satisfaction with it. It is understood that the patent rights of M. Arnodin in the matter were arranged tentatively between the committee and the Frenchman.

It has been pointed out that the best spot for the erection of such a means of communication would be at the end of the present tramways in Commercial-road, but it appears that there are alleged insuperable difficulties to this site arising from the anchorage of cables which support the platform, and that in no long time the tramway system will be extended to the borders of the Alexandra Dock property.

The Brithdir Wharf is contiguous to this property, and it will thus be possible to convey tramcars bodily across the river. By constructing lines from the shore on the east side to the present tramlines along the Chepstow-road that district would be developer ano a through service secured from the lower end of the town to Maindee.

This will form a short cut to the far end of the suburb, and should prove a boon to the working men, who now, to live near to their work, have to pay very high rents in the Pillgwenlly district. A London contemporary, recently describing the transbordeur at Rouen, characterised it as the most remarkable ferry in the world.

— South Wales Daily News, 5th October, 1899

Newport Intermediate Schools

Public Footpaths at Uskside

The Newport Corporation, at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, the Mayor (Alderman Bear) presiding, took half an hour of the prime of the morning in retrying the question of an alleged public footpath near Messrs Lysaght's works on the east side of the river. The question was referred back at the last monthly meeting to the Works Committee, and Alderman Moses said the committee were now more emphatic in recommendation that the path be allowed to be closed than they were before. Mr Williams, read the prayer of a memorial from 181 Lliswerry ratepayers that Messrs Lysaght be called upon to remove the obstruction, and moved an amendment that the rights of the community should not be given away, and the district injured. Mr Parfitt seconded the amendment and the floodgates of talk were loosed.

Mr Little culminated things by talking about the peopleof Liswerry using crowbar and hatchet, and about his appearing before the Mayor in his judicial capacity, with the chance, as Alderman Jones afterwards said, of getting "three months hard." Mr Wilkinson rose, whilst Mr Little was haranguing the Council, to a point of order, and promptly directed by the hon. councillor to sit down. Mr Williams's amendment was lost for to 21 against—a decision which met applause. Mr Brown then moved that application be made to Quarter Sessions for close the footpath up to the boundary of Lysaght's works. Mr Baker seconded this new amendment, in order to properly raise the legal issue.

The Town Clerk contributed to the discussion the declaration that a public footpath from one public point to another public point; occupation path started at a public point and ended nowhere, or at a, farmhouse.

The add terror of the names being taken was imported into the discussion, but the majority stuck to their guns, although in lessened numbers, figures being 13 for the second amendment, and 18 against. It was according lost.

In relation to an alleged public footpath leading from Malpas-road to Barrack Hill, the Corporation agreed unanimously that retention of the path to the public was of importance, and decided to give financial support to to persons affected prejudicially.

— The Cardiff Times, 16th April, 1898

Malpas-Road Cars

Question of Fares

The following motion was brought forward by Mr Graham W. White: "That so much of minute 255 of the Council of the 11th June, as adopts a recommendation of the Electricity and Tramways Committee that the fare on the Malpas-road tramways route between the Westgate Hotel and Malpas-road terminus be one penny be revoked together with any other decision or decisions requiring revocation, and that the fares on the Malpas-road terminus to Evans-street and vice versa, 1/2d; Evans-street to Westgate Hotel and vice versa, 1/2d; and Evans-street to Pill terminus, and vice versa, 1d."

The Town Clerk read a resolution passed at a public meeting of Crindau ratepayers in favour of Mr White's motion.

Mr White said he made no apology for bringing forward that resolution. The Malpas-road and Shaftesbury-street section — from the Malpas-road terminus to the Westgate Hotel — was the shortest section of the service. They carried passengers on that route for one penny, and for the same sum they carried passengers on the Caerleon-road, Corporation-road, and Chepstow-road routes, which were very much longer, particularly the latter route.

Then again, Crindau was the poorest locality — he said it with no disrespect to the residents of that part of the town — and nine-tenths were of the artisan or working classes*.

If any consideration was sown to anybody it should be to the residents of Crindau. He strongly advocated that halfpenny fares should be tried on the section. An increased number of people visited Shaftesbury Park on Saturday afternoons either to look on or take part in games, and he contended that the introduction of halpenny fares on that section would increase the revenue and the trade. Taking the whole of the route from Malpas-road terminus to Pill there was only an average of 14 passengers carried on each car — to and fro — and surely there was a big margin allowing for an increase in the traffic and for increasing the return of the district. The alteration would meet a public service. From Chepstow-road to the Westgate was longer by about 200 yards than from the Malpas-road terminus to Pill.

Mr C. Thomas seconded, although he was not altogether sanguine that halfpenny fares would pay in Newport. He though, however, it would be a great convenience to the people of Malpas, and hoped the experiment would succeed. The Council a month ago decided to increase the fares from Malpas to Pill by halfpenny, but he thought they would immediately see that they had made a mistake, for the people would not pay this increase. Mr Graham White's motion would limit the difficulty, although he thought that the Council would have to revert to the old system.

Alderman Canning agreed with Mr Graham White, and Mr W. James supported the motion. The latter said he believed halfpenny fares would be a good thing, and halfpenny stages might be tried in Commercial-street.

Mr Moxon stated that the Committee had many well wishers. Everyone had their own pet scheme. The proposal of Mr Graham White was absolutely and wholly impracticable. The Committee were doing their best to put the tramways undertaking on a proper earning basis. By common consent the best paying tramway concern was at Glasgow, where the trams had paid so well that halfpenny fares had gone to the relief of the ratepayers; bu Glasgow could not be compared to Newport. The Committee had endeavoured to do justice to the workers and the travelling public. They gave the public extremely long rides for a penny. Mr Moxon quoted the experience of a number of other towns in which halfpenny fares had been proposed. Eighty-six of the 89 towns would not look at halfpenny fares at any price. The three places which had adopted them were London, Leeds and Ayr. The Committee also had the advice of their tramway experts. The undertaking was on the right track, and it would not be wise to introduce halfpenny fares just at the time they wanted every penny they could get. If the motion was carried it would lead the Committee into financial loss.

Mr Graham White, in reply, said they all knew the electricity department had a difficult problem, and no one more wished to help them tahn himself. But on account of the shortness of the route, the circumstances were exceptional as applied to Newport. The ward was like the neck of a bottle, and the people all had to come to town by one route. He appealed to the Council to try and experiment for a time. He had no doubt it would be a great public convenience — for which the cards primarily existed — and he did not believe there would be any financial loss.

The question was then put to the vote, and the motion was lost by one vote, 12 voting and 13 against.

Mr C.F. Williams was understood to ask if the Committee would be prepared to recommend halfpeny fares between Stow Park-avenue and the Risca-road terminus. (Mr Thomas: "Order, order.")

After some laughter, Mr Williams resumed his seat.

— South Wales Argusm, 13th July, 1912 (Subscription Required)

'Pigeons Stolen in Clytha Square'

This locality has been again visited by thieves. During Monday night fourteen or fifteen pigeons were stolen from a house there.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 13th August, 1880

'Stealing Ducks'

Wm. Rees, dressed as a railway porter, and Fanny Rees, his wife, were charged with stealing nine ducks, the property of Jas. Harrison, at St. Woolos, on 15th inst.—Mr. Bradgate appeared for prisoner.

The main facts were very simple. —P.C. Williams, of the Borough police, met Rees in Clytha-square, at a quarter past one in the morning, with a bag, which turned out to contain a number of ducks. He attempted to escape, but Williams succeeded in securing his capture. On his house being searched three other ducks were found. The whole of the ducks were warm. Prisoner was eventually confronted with Mr. Harrison, who identified the ducks as his, and prisoner then said he did it through poverty, as he had not a bed to lie on. Evidence in identification of the ducks was taken.

Mr. Bradgate, for the defence, urged that although there was no doubt the ducks were in prisoner's possession, the evidence as to their being stolen was not conclusive. The Bench discharged the woman, and committed the male prisoner for trial. 

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 28th January, 1876

An Artful Swindler

Enoch Parker, a sailor, was charged under a warrant with obtaining by false pretences sundry goods and money from Bartholomew Collins, a lodging-house keeper, Llanarth-street also from Thomas Evans, the Moulders' Arms James Edmunds, of the Temperance House, Thornas-street, and other persons.

The case was one of some intricacy, and occupied the attention of the court a considerable time. The prisoner had gone about to the several houses named, representing that he was a sailor belonging to the ships Lord Macaulay and Ferona that the sum of £42 6s. 8d. was due to him, from the masters of these vessels, and produced documents which purported to be securities for the payment of the money. In the first place he took apartments for a month, and agreed for board and lodging at £1 per week. He worked upon the credulity of those with whom he came in contact, and by these means obtained food, lodgings, and money.

From Mrs. Collins he borrowed 2s. in order to join the Good Templars, and not suspecting anything wrong she subsequently advanced him another 3s. Then he decamped, and she heard nothing further about him until he was in custody. He also assured Mrs. Edmunds that he was a teetotaller, and, acting under certain pretences, obtained accommodation and board from her. But at the Moulders' Arms prisoner went in heavily for gin and other spirits, borrowed money from a sergeant in the 103rd Regiment, and likewise from the landlord. On seeing that he had been detected, he made his exit through the back door, through the yard, over a railway fencing, but was pursued, eventually captured, and given into the custody of the police, who lodged the enterprising young man in durance vile.

It has since been discovered that a number of other parties have been taken in by this quondam sailor, and the tricks "Jack" had played, as revealed to the court, created hearty laughter. The Bench directed the prisoner to be found board and lodgings at the expense of the county until the next quarter sessions, when he would be tried for his offences. 

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 28th January, 1876

Sabbath Breaking

Catherine De Borrs, was summoned for carrying on her worldly calling on Sunday, in Mill-parade. Defendant keeps a kind of eating house. The Mayor said it was a case of a trifling nature, and it was dismissed.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 28th January, 1876

'A Disorderly Prostitute'

Bridget Lancaster, in custody, was charged with being a disorderly prostitute. She said she had got a situation on the Gold Tops. Ordered to pay costs.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 28th January, 1876

'Using Obscene Language'

Ellen Watkins was charged with being disorderly and using obscene language, in Court-y-bella-terrace. The Mayor said the Magistrates were determined to put a stop, if possible, to the use of obscene language in the streets. Fined 10s.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 28th January, 1876

Female Loafers

Annie Savage, Rachel Moraney, and Mary Murphy, regular attendants, were charged with hanging about the top of Cross-street, and causing an obstruction. Dismissed with a caution.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 28th January, 1876

An Irish Row

 Michael Crowley and Mary Crowley, brother and sister, were charged with assaulting Margaret -Stowell. The parties are of the "Irish persuasion," and all three being very voluble, and the male defendant partially drunk, the case caused considerable amusement. The people lodge in the same house. According to the fair Margaret's story, on Saturday night she retired to rest at eleven o'clock, with her husband. At twelve, Michael and Mary, "more like two lions than two Christians," came to the bedroom door, and tried to break it in. Her husband put his back against it, and she also assisted to "hold the fort." Mary, however, managed to get the poker through the top of the door, and struck Margaret twice on the arm with it. The disturbance lasted from twelve to two o'clock.

Michael threatened to empty her interior with the aid of a knife, and Mary said she would kill her with a poker. The female defendant alleged that Mrs. Stowell threw a tub, full of an unmentionable fluid, over her, and made her "dreeping" wet.

The man stated that Mrs. Stowell drank seven pints of beer always before breakfast. (Laughter.)

He then waxed noisy, asserting that he had been on board a man-of-war, he had fought like a man, he was an honest brother, and his sister was an honest sister, and so on. The defendants were fined 5s. each. Michael, determined to have the last word, said the woman Stowell was a bad woman, and would swear the life out of an old iron pot. 

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 4th February, 1876

'Child Buried in the Sand'

We have an Account from Newport in Wales, that as fome Gentlemen were hunting this Week, the Dogs ftopp'd all on a fudden near the Rock and Fountain, to the great Surprize of the Gentlemen, who, when they came up, found a Child buried in the Sand; Search was made foon after, and the Mother difcover'd, who, we hear, is committed to Monmouth Gaol..

— Gloucester Journal, 10th October, 1732 (Subscription Required)

The New Constitutional Club

An article about the opening of the New Constitutional Club on Stow Hill from John's Newport Directory, 1895.

These buildings, for the erection of which, Cromwell House, for one of the historical land-marks of the town, has been removed, have a frontage to stow Hill of about 8 feet, and extend back towards North Street for a distance of nearly 200 feet.

The front elevation is built with red facing brick, with Bath stone and red forest stone dressings, and is carried up for five floors, including the basement, and surmounted by a turret. The elevation is relieved with bay windows and recessed alcoves and balconies.

The premises may be said internally to consist of three parts or blocks, the tront portion nearest Stow Hill being the mair club and association buildings, the centre block consisting of the large hall, and the back part the working men's club and institute. The front or club premises comprise on the ground floor four large shops, with extensive cellarage underneath, and also a large central entrance and vestibule, and two other entrance passages to the hall, one at each extremity of the building. The Newport Association's committee room is also on this floor.

The slope of the hill permits a mezzanine floor being constructed above the lower shops, and on this floor is placed the Primrose League and ladies' rooms, and also the club secretary's offices.

On the first and second floors come the various club rooms, viz.:-The large dining room, 48 ft. by 24 ft.; smoking room, reading room, manager'8, room, waiters' room, billiard room, 35 ft. by 30ft.; card room, kitchen, lavatories, &c., and five bedrooms. The kitchen and the billiard room are on the highest floor, the latter being large enough for two tables, and lighted by skylights in the roof.

The middle block consists of the large concert hall, which comfortably seats about 1,400 people, but if crowded, Will hold 2,000. At the further end is a large platform and orchestra, with two galleries carried round the hall, one above the other. The entrances and exits are ample. The hall is provided with the new incandescent light. The third or rear block comprises the working men's club rooms, accommodation being provided for reading, smoking, billiard rooms, &c., and a large skittle alley in the basement.

The designs for the buildings were prepared by Messrs. Habershon & Fawckner, High Street, Newport, and the work was carried out under their superintendence, by Mr. George Wilkins, of Clytha Park Road, Newport, to whom the contract was let for £7,898.

The foundation stone of the new building was laid by the Marquess of Salisbury on the 29th November, 1893, in the presence of a very large and distinguished company.

The trowel, with which his lordship performed the ceremony, was of solid silver with ivory handle, and was supplied by our townsmen, Messrs. Nugent Wells & Son. It was splendidly chased, and the blade was surmounted with Lord Salisbury's coat of arms and motto, "Sero sed serio," below which was a very neat and accurate view of Newport Bridge from the river, giving just a glimpse of the old castle and town in the background.

On either side of the view was a bundle of sticks, a band around bearing the motto, "Union is Strength," then at the foot the Borough Arms, and the following inscription: "Presented to the Most Noble the Marquess of Salisbury, K.G., upon laying the foundation stone of the Constitutional Club at Newport, Mon., on November 29, 1893, by the architects, Messrs. Habershon & Fawckner."

Hylton's Menagerie, Pentonville

On Thursday morning a procession of caravans was observed making the tour of the town, preceded by a fine brass band and a monster of the elephant species, while on the broad back of the stupendous animal, arrayed in the costume of a female-equestrian, sat a lady of commanding mien and lion-taming glances, though of small and elegant frame. This demoiselle we understood to possess the title of "Madame Rosina Morette, the mighty Lion Queen," whose power of eye—so resistless in woman—and apparent determination of character, have rendered her equal to the celebrated Van Amburgh, in the art of rendering docile the king of the Forest.

Notwithstanding the lady's continental appellation, however, many recognised her to be one of the black-eyed daughters of Wallia, whilom a resident of Abergavenny, and later of Newport; and by this local association, coupled with the feats and prowess which she is said to exhibit in the lion's den, and the large collection of beasts in the exhibition, there could be no doubt of bumpers every night the menagerie stays in Pentonville.

We understand that owing to the improper meddling of a lad with the tail of the royal beast last evening, his majesty felt so wroth, that in turning suddenly around to resent the indignity, he thrust his nose through the grating, and grinned so horribly, that the company fled shrieking and the report was current in the town immediately, that the lion had escaped from his den, and eaten up a whole bevy of children and six grown-up folks.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 23rd September, 1848

This advert for the menagerie touring in West Wales in 1848 mentions that the elephant, called Davy, was the largest in Europe.