1896

  A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE

 1896

THE FIRST FOUR WARD FEATHERSTONE

  The local elections had always been conducted on the lines of every nominated person being on the same voting paper and the three who topped the poll being elected. When the nine man Local Board changed to a twelve man Urban District Council it was decided to change to a ward system. This new arrangement was first held in this year and when nominations were in there were 20 of them.
  A meeting was held to further the cause of Charles Cranswick and Sam Mason, both checkweighmen, who were considered to be the only two nominees to represent the workers but fewer then 50 turned up.
  The election was held on April 2 and the result was as follows. The Express did not give the political affiliation of the candidates.

PURSTON WARD
Peter Darlington, undermanager 244
John James Eley, colliery manager 220
Charles Cranswick, checkweighman 169
Thomas Waller, innkeeper 142
James Booth, farmer withdrew
SOUTH FEATHERSTONE WARD
Henry Gledhill, pawnbroker 136
John Langley, undermanager 120
Henry Wormald, engineer 107
Samuel Mason, checkweighman 104
Charles Thompson. stationmaster 31

NORTH FEATHERSTONE WARD
Thomas Thompson, colliery manager 195
Frank George Stebbing, vicar 171
Hubert St John Durnford, colliery manager 161
John Walmsley, builder 145
Henry Fawcett, contractor withdrew

ACKTON AND SNYDALE WARD
David Denton, grocer 194
Charles Keith, brickyard manager 190
William Swain, deputy 180
Joseph Walker, gentleman 136
Fenwick Moore, enginewright 96

The first three in each ward were elected. The one with the most votes would be on the council for three years, the next for two years, and the third elected would have to stand again next year.

A DEADLOCKED COUNCIL

  The new council met on April 16 and the first task was to appoint a chairman. The clerk took the chair to conduct the election. Cr Durnford proposed Cr Thompson and Cr Stebbing seconded saying it would be advisable to elect a chairman who lived in their midst and not one who lived far away. Cr Swain proposed Cr Denton and said he was more entitled to it because he had stood in when their late chairman died, and he had been connected with the place and public affairs for 16 years. Cr Cranswick seconded and said Cr Denton was the oldest member of the council and as to him not living in their midst it had not been any drawback before and he was there when he was wanted.
  Cr Denton said he had no ambition for the chairmanship, but he was asked to stand in owing to the death of Mr Wardman and he thought he was entitled to the position again. On the vote being taken Crs Swain, Cranswick, Denton, Keith, Eley and Gledhill voted for Cr Denton, and Crs Durnford, Darlington, Wormald, Thompson, Stebbing and Langley voted for Cr Thompson. The clerk did not have a casting vote so there was deadlock.
  A lengthy silence ensued and eventually Cr Swain said were they going to sit there like dummies all night. Cr Keith said he could only see one way out if neither side would give way and that was to elect an outsider as chairman. Cr Denton did not agree so that idea was not pursued.
  Any business was out of the question so the members left the table and conversed in small groups. Someone produced whisky and wine and Cr Swain made himself unofficial chairman and asked Cr Stebbing (the vicar) if he would join the side of the angels because he had been on the side of the devil long enough. He got no response and the members were asked to resume their seats.
  Cr Durnford said he had obtained permission from his supporters to withdraw his proposal and he would now propose Dr Buncle as chairman providing he gave up his position as medical officer. Cr Swain opposed this. He would let the opposition know they were not fools and if they thought so they were sadly mistaken. He hoped Cr Durnford would not make any more silly propositions. Even so it was put to the vote with the same result - six each.
  Cr Stebbing then suggested Mr Walmsley who had been a member of the council before and had only lost by a few votes. Cr Swain expressed surprise at this as Cr Stebbing had gone tooth and nail to defeat Mr Walmsley in the election. Cr Durnford tried to interrupt, but Cr Swain said he would say what he had to say even if the devil tried to stop him. A vote for Mr Walmsley ended the same way.
  Once again the members left the table for their cigars and glasses. After two hours of amusing themselves Cr Durnford put forward a suggestion that they did not want to stop there all night and so they should adjourn for a week and seek the opinion of the Local Government Board. Cr Darlington seconded. Then followed an argument about what the LGB could or could not do. Cr Denton said whatever the LGB suggested his friends would not alter their opinions and he hoped they would fight it out to the bitter end. By now it was midnight and there was another break for refreshments.
  Cr Denton restarted the discussion by saying he had talked the matter over with his supporters and they had agreed if Cr Thompson would withdraw then he would also providing a chairman was elected from Cr Denton's group. Cr Thompson said his side was not going to give way, but after further talks Cr Stebbing proposed Cr Keith as chairman and Cr Wormald seconded.
  Cr Keith said he did not care for the position and whoever got it it would not be an honour. He would not accept it unless it was unanimous. Six members voted for him and five against so he refused it. He said it was only right that a man who had been connected with the council and Local Board for 16 years had more right to the position than a new member with little or no experience.
  Cr Langley denied any member was better then another. Cr Swain said it was his opinion the opposition had come there that night with the sole intention of making a division in his party. But it that was their aim they would not succeed. Before the meeting they had decided to stick to Mr Denton and they would stay with him to the end. Another resolution to adjourn the meeting was lost.
  There was another break in the proceedings and the members sat about until 4.30am when Cr Swain regaled the company with Auld Lang Syne because it was time for some to go to work. The Express commented "Those members whose work lay below ground had nice time to get home and change their clothes to face the music in the bowels of the earth - another piece of relaxation which, doubtless, would not go down so well after the extra business which had so prolonged their stay at the council chamber". The meeting was adjourned until Monday.
  At the resumed meeting Mr Kaberry again took the chair and the twelve members sat at both sides of the table in their two groups. News of the deadlock had got round and all available space was packed with onlookers.
  Cr Stebbing again proposed Cr Keith and Cr Wormald seconded. Cr Keith said under the present circumstances he could not take the chair and it should be Cr Denton who they had called upon to be chairman when they were without one.
  Cr Gledhill said it was colliery against colliery - Featherstone and Ackton against Snydale. Cr Swain denied it and said Cr Denton had never had any connection with Snydale Colliery.
  Cr Denton said Cr Keith was in an awkward position. If he voted for himself or if he did not vote he would be elected. Cr Keith said he would only stand when all other means had been exhausted and until then he would stick to his party. So when the other side put him up for election against Cr Denton, Cr Keith voted for Cr Denton so the result was another 6-6 tie.
  Cr Swain asked if the chairman could be elected by ballot (a secret vote) but Mr Kaberry ruled that out of order. He also told the members he had been to see the clerk to the county council and had been told no other authority could interfere in the matter. The Featherstone Council could have another election if they wanted but they would have to pay for it themselves. It was agreed to adjourn until 7.45 pm.
  When the meeting resumed Cr Thompson asked Cr Keith if he intended to stand. Cr Keith said he objected to being knocked about like a football between the two parties and he considered Cr Denton should have the chair and he would vote for him. Cr Durnford said neither Cr Thompson nor Cr Denton could be elected now because there had been so many personal things said.
  Cr Denton was then asked if he would give way to anyone outside the council as chairman. He replied he would not give way to anyone until he was defeated in a vote. Another long pause followed.
  The room was now getting unbearably hot with the fire, the gas lamps and the overcrowding from the public. The council thought about excluding those who did not have a seat but decided it was too delicate a matter to pursue.
  Cr Wormald (the engineer at Ackton Hall Colliery) was used to working all hours and snatching a nap where he could. He put his overcoat on the floor in the chimney corner and went to sleep, oblivious of the continuing rabble round him. Other members tried to sleep in their chairs and the chairman settled down to read a book. A move was eventually made to elect Mr Booth, a past member of the council, as chairman but when that failed the meeting adjourned at 8am to the Junction Hotel for breakfast.
  They came back an hour later but could not make any progress, and by now some heads were beginning to nod. The clerk wired the county council and the Local Government Board seeking inspiration but none came. Another adjournment was made until 2pm.
  On resumption another attempt at getting Cr Keith to stand was made. He said he would providing he was proposed by his own side. His party of six retired to consider this in private. When they came back Cr Swain proposed Cr Keith for chairman and Cr Durnford seconded. He was elected by nine votes to one. Only Cr Denton voted against and Crs Gledhill and Keith did not vote. Cr Eley was unanimously elected vice-chairman and the clerk was heartily thanked for the efficient way he had performed his arduous and difficult task in the chair. The meeting was finally concluded at 4.15pm on Tuesday afternoon having lasted more than 33 hours.
  The Express commented "Featherstone's most recent claim to distinction has been provided by the Urban Council, which has benefited to such an extent by having had its membership increased from nine to twelve that it has taken two long nights and a day before it has been able to appoint a chairman. There is no doubt public sympathy is with Mr Denton, at least among the working class electors".

EDUCATION IN 1896

  The redesigned Purston National School was opened in January. The new classrooms could accommodate an extra 86 pupils. The cost had gone up to about £700 of which £400 had already been obtained.
  In June the School Board increased the salaries of four teachers. That of Mr Cowey, assistant master at George Street was increased from £62 10s a year to £70.
  The inspector's report said the Boys' School continued to make progress in efficiency. Three classes were taught in the main room and partitions would make good class management and intelligent instruction easier. At the Girls' School the teachers worked very diligently. The children were trained to be orderly and industrious. Some special care was needed to train the girls to speak up intelligently and audibly. The Infants' School was carried on under considerable difficulties. Many children who were admitted were old and backward and the accommodation was too small for the number of children. The teachers worked energetically and managed the children kindly. Credit was due to them for the degree of efficiency attained. The babies' room (nursery?) was habitually used for a larger number of scholars than that for which it was passed by the Education Department.
  Grants were given for boys 14s, girls 12s 6d and infants 9s. The total grant from the Education Department was £1,008. Because of the high grant and the Boys' School receiving the maximum possible, headmaster Tinley Simpson was given a bonus of £15.
  In October the outstanding amount of £11 on the Purston National School improvements was paid off by John Shaw of Snydale Hall and Captain Wood of Purston Hall.
  The School Board received complaints a teacher at the Girls' School had used the cane too freely and bad marks had been caused by the blows. The board objected to such proceedings by any of the teachers, and the clerk was instructed to write to the headmistress, Miss Cockerham, who was thought to be the proper person to deal with unruly scholars.

THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS

  In October it was announced a new company had been formed called the Featherstone Assembly Rooms and Institute Company Ltd with 10,000 £1 shares. The directors were:
H St John Durnford, manager of Ackton Hall Colliery, chairman.
Edwin Lawson, brewery manager from Knottingley.
Dr Buncle, surgeon.
Peter Darlington, undermanager at Featherstone Main Colliery.
Adam Hirst, farmer.
Richard Cowling, farmer.
Harry Wormald, engineer at Ackton Hall Colliery.
  A scheme had been prepared by architects Garside and Keyworth of Pontefract for a substantial building of brick and stone. The front would have four shops with live-in accommodation and two lock-up shops with offices (toilet?). These would be divided by a vestibule leading in to a market hall which would have a glass roof and would contain ten lock-up shops and 24 open stalls. There would be three large lock-up shops facing Earle Street.
  On the ground floor there would also be a club with its own private entrance. The club would have two billiards tables, reading and games rooms and a caretaker's house. The club would be under the direct control of the directors and would be made as attractive as possible.
The assembly room would be on the upper floor and designed for all modern requirements for public and private meetings, theatrical, musical and other entertainments. There would be special provision for safety and comfort. The room would be capable of seating 900 persons.
The prospectus inviting applications for shares was:
  "The situation is most favourable for all purposes to which the buildings are intended to be devoted, being very central and within easy reach of the large and rapidly increasing population of Featherstone and surrounding districts. The Featherstone Station is within 300 yards. The extensive collieries belonging to Lord Masham and John Shaw Esq at which between three and four thousand men are employed are also within close proximity. The surrounding property is steadily increasing in value, and applications are already being made for the purchase of all available building sites in the immediate vicinity. It is reasonably expected that Featherstone will extend itself very rapidly in this direction, thus centralising more and more this company's property.
  "Featherstone and Purston District combined have a population of upwards of eleven thousand, and yet there is no Market Hall - there is no assembly room - there is no institute for the working men. These have been long-felt wants, and the unsolicited support promised to the Company on all sides only goes to show how much the several objects of the Company are appreciated. Over 2,000 shares have already been applied for."
  A public meeting was held at the beginning of November where it was revealed Walter Fearnley had prepared two schemes. One was on land near to the Girls' School with an entrance to Oxford Street and would cost £2,400 exclusive of land; the other was at the top of Station Lane and was costed at £2,600 exclusive of land. The directors had promised to subscribe £800 and others at the meeting offered to take shares. 

A DIFFERENT WATER PROBLEM

  The building of houses in Featherstone proceeded at an extraordinary rate and the struggle to get the water consumption up to the contract minimum was soon replaced by the opposite difficulty, the council was now taking the maximum quantity under the contract and had to enter into negotiations with Wakefield Corporation to increase the maximum allowed.
  The council's waterworks committee considered the minimum quantity should be put up from 30,000 gallons to 50,000 gallons per day, but the full council meeting decided on a figure of 60,000 gallons, which Wakefield Corporation agreed to. It was said some houses were still not taking water from the mains. The surveyor said after six months of trying it was useless attempting to patch up the reservoir and it needed thoroughly reconstructing, but the council did not make a decision.
  Although there was agreement on the minimum quantity of water to be taken from Wakefield, the corporation refused to increase the maximum contract amount which was now the same as the minimum amount. They were charging an extra three-farthings per 1,000 gallons over the contract price and it had cost the council an extra £60 during the last six months for extra water totalling six million gallons. The council decided to look elsewhere for a water supply for part of the district.

THE STATION GOODS YARD

   The Tradesmen's Association wanted a delivery service from the station goods yard but after 12 months of no progress they decided to ask the Midland Railway Company to open the line for Featherstone Main Colliery to goods traffic and provide a goods shed at Green Lane as a competitor to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. It took the Midland six months to reply and then all they said was the request was receiving attention.

   The thought of competition stirred the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company into action but they said they were unable to get a carter to make deliveries. Several members of the association said they knew one carter who had offered to do the work at one penny per hundredweight. Once again nothing happened.

1896 NEWS ITEMS

JANUARY An inquest was held at the Featherstone Hotel on Leonard Foster aged 21, a lodger in Earle Street. He was killed while getting coal in Ackton Hall Colliery. The jury's verdict was crushed by a fall of roof.

  The men at Snydale Colliery wanted a medical fund run by Dr Thomas. A deputation met James Eley, the manager, but he refused (probably because the colliery would have to stand the cost of collecting the weekly payments and passing them on). A meeting was then held at the Featherstone Hotel and a resolution was passed to refer it to the owner John Rhodes. Dr Thomas thanked those who had taken any part on his behalf, and said previous to him coming to Featherstone no such thing as a medical sick club was thought of by the resident medical gentlemen. He was the first to introduce the system into the neighbourhood (at Streethouse) two years ago. He had asked the management at Snydale Colliery to allow him to place one of his bills in the lamproom the same as Drs Buncle and Steven but he had been refused.
 

  The Ackton Hall estate at Ackton of about 62 acres was put up for auction in Leeds. Bidding started at £4,000 and reached £4,250. It was then withdrawn and sold by private contract.

 Thomas Booth, a deputy at Featherstone Main Colliery, was charged at Barnsley with neglecting to maintain his mother who was chargeable to the Barnsley Union. Selina Booth was 84 and had received 4s a week from Barnsley Union for many years. In Barnsley Court it was said Thomas Booth earned £2 6s 6d a week and he had three sons working. The total income of his household was £5 16s 7d. He had been asked to contribute many times but he had refused because he said there was a home for her at his house but she did not want to come. 

  The Barnsley Union asked for an order for him to pay 4s a week. Thomas Booth said he had offered her a home for 14 years. She had an income of her own and had no right to ask for anything. He already had a court order of 14s a week for debt. He was ordered to pay 4s a week. "I can't pay and I won't" he said. He was told he could appeal.

FEBRUARY  The curator at the cemetery said ornaments had been stolen from graves together with other items belonging to the cemetery. The Burial Board decided to offer a reward for the detection of the offenders.

   The council met a deputation from Pontefract Corporation about making Halfpenny Lane into a proper road. The council said they could not meet the cost because it would mean doing Green Lane as well and the rates were already high.

   Two men and three women were charged with stealing coal from Ackton Hall Colliery tip. All pleaded guilty and had to pay the costs except Sophia Hill whose mother said she was of poor intellect and sometimes did not know what she was doing.

   Martha Dealey aged 62, a lodger in Albert Street, was lying on a couch and a spark from the fire set her clothes alight. She died a few days later. The inquest jury said she died from the effects of burns caused by misadventure.

   William Speight of Henrietta Street was charged with gaming with coins. PC Coombes said he saw four men sitting on the ground and when they saw him they all picked up some money and ran away. The defendant ran into his house. William Speight said it was common for men to sit in this place and make a row on Sunday afternoon, and he had gone out to tell them to go. He was just returning when he saw the policeman. The case was dismissed.

MARCH   The Tradesmen's Association decided to put up candidates for the local elections. They were against the opening out of Halfpenny Lane which was proposed by Pontefract Corporation.

  PC Hurst found ten miners gambling with coins in Little Lane. They were fined between 5s 6d and 15s 6d depending on previous convictions.

  The council fixed a half-year rate of 2s. The chairman said they had to strike out many items they would have liked because it would have meant a 2s 6d rate. It was passed unanimously to appoint Mr Kaberry permanently in place of his late father.

  Walter Hoyle, the landlord of the Travellers' Rest Hotel, was going to Baghill Station with his mother and a visitor in a pony and trap. The horse fell and Mrs Hoyle was thrown out. She struck her head and was unconscious. She was taken to her daughter's house in the horse ambulance where she was still unconscious three days later and she died five days after the accident.

  George Worman aged 16 lived at The Huts on Middle Lane. He worked on the surface at Ackton Hall Colliery and was going home for his snap at 1.50pm. He should have gone over the gantry but he went through the sidings instead and was run over by a wagon and killed. The jury decided it was accidental death. William Austin, a hairdresser in Station Lane, was not present at the appointed time to take his place on the jury and another person had to be sworn in. The coroner, Major Arundel, fined Mr Austin 10s. 

 

  Thomas Booth was in court again for being 23s in arrears with his mother's maintenance. This time he decided he would have to pay.

APRIL  An accidental death verdict was reached on Joseph Parkes aged five of Fourteen House Row who was fatally scalded by a pan of boiling water. 

  The consecrated part of the cemetery was almost full and the Burial Board was seeking to buy land to extend it. Six roods had been purchased in 1874, three roods of which were for Church of England rites. It was agreed to ask Christ Church, Oxford, for the price of one acre of land at the west end. In the meantime the undertakers were to be asked to suggest to the bereaved that the unconsecrated side should be used. 

MAY   The Ackton Hall Accident Society agreed to a levy of 6d per man and 3d per boy in aid of the Micklefield Colliery Disaster Fund.

  Visitors arrived from Bradford to Ackton Hall Colliery to inspect the new washing and sizing plant. It was said Lord Masham was sparing no outlay in the equipping of the undertaking. 

  The Tradesmen's Association decided to ask the council to keep all their trade such as printing in the town. 

JUNE  A meeting was held at the Travellers' Rest Hotel for the purpose of forming a cycling club but so few people turned up no decision was taken. 

  Featherstone and Pontefract brass bands headed processions to the station by miners from Ackton Hall and Featherstone Main Collieries for the annual Yorkshire Miners' Association demonstration. The two branches at Snydale Colliery fell out over hiring a band so they did not turn out. 

  The ballot at Ackton Hall Colliery for the annual excursion was 732 for Liverpool and 394 for Southport. There were 1.040 tickets booked for the trip. Some went on from Liverpool to Southport and New Brighton. They all arrived back in Featherstone at 2.30am on Sunday morning. 

  At the council meeting Cr Denton proposed rescinding a minute he had proposed in 1889 for measles to be added to the list of infectious diseases to be notified to the council by the doctors. He said it was costing the council £14 for three months to the doctors for these notifications - more than it cost for the medical officer of health for all his other work. The council agreed to take measles off the list. 

AUGUST  Joe Debney and F Bath of Featherstone RU Club had signed on for Huddersfield, and Bob Johnson and Jimmy Metcalfe were going to Wakefield Trinity. It was said there were serious difficulties among the Featherstone committee and some had left to form a new club in Purston. 

  George Bradley was summonsed for £8 12s 2d poor rates up to the time he sold the Ackton Hall Estate. The overseers claimed up to March 15 but for Bradley it was said the estate was sold on February 3. The Bench decided 40 days should be knocked off the rate demand.

  The second Hospital Sunday was held in the sports field at the back of the New Inn. The brass band and choir entertained the crowd. The Express commented some of the singing was not satisfactory because the practices had not been well attended.

  It was announced £36 had been collected in the first year. Collecting boxes had been placed in all the public houses and Miss F C Hoyle of the Travellers' Rest Hotel was awarded the gold medal for collecting the largest amount. Reuben Johnson of the New Inn received the silver medal. 

  The council passed plans for a new Post Office although Cr Thompson expressed regret it was to be built up a side street off Station Lane. 

SEPTEMBER  The Tradesmen's Association decided to write to the police superintendent asking for a special effort to stop gambling in the fields about to be transferred to the council for recreation grounds, and about the reckless way in which many young people went about the streets, much to the annoyance of the inhabitants. 

  Three Featherstone youths were in court for setting off fireworks in Duke Street. George Workman said the fireworks had been pushed under his door and he had been hit in the face. Mr Kaberry, for the accused, said Duke Street was not a public place. Mr Workman admitted as much so the magistrates had to dismiss the charge. They said Mr Workman should bring a case of assault. 

  Burglars broke into the house of Mr Fawbert in Station Lane and stole money from the bedroom in which he and his wife were sleeping. They also broke into the Globe Tea Company shop and opened tins and packets for a feast. On the same night they had a go at the tailor's shop of S Haggas but were scared off by his dog. 

OCTOBER   A miners' meeting was held at the Railway Hotel, one of a series in the district to propagate trades union principals among miners. Frank Wood acted as chairman and said the miners needed the Eight Hours Act to limit working hours. He was suffering today because he had worked in years gone by under conditions in which he could not live two days now. He knew the 6d subscription was a deterrent to some but he urged all present to join the union. Mr S Mason, checkweighman at Featherstone Main Colliery, said they had only about half a dozen out of the union at his colliery and they hoped in a few weeks to get them in. 

  St Peter's Mission Church was opened in Green Lane on a site given by Lord Masham. The opening ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Beverley. It was lit by two gas lamps and two oil lamps in the chancel, and cost about £475.

  At the council meeting Dr Buncle said there was a scarlet fever epidemic. The council reduced the rateable value of Ackton Hall from £60 to £10 because it was now unoccupied.

NOVEMBER  Dr Buncle reported to the council the scarlet fever epidemic was continuing and had been joined by flu and chicken pox. There were also some cases of diphtheria and typhoid fever. 

  The sanitary committee had recommended Mr Freeman's salary should be increased from £50 to £70. The full council discussed if Mr Freeman should be full time sanitary inspector instead of part time. Mr Freeman said he frequently had to spend more time than the three days a week on his work and he would accept it full time at 30s a week. The Council accepted.

  It was agreed to get samples and prices for naming the streets and numbering the houses. The Council agreed to take over as a public highway any street if properly made up by the landowners on both sides.

  John Langley, who had been the underviewer of the Haigh Moor Seam at Featherstone Main Colliery, was presented with a gold medal and £15 in gold from the workmen.

  A serious fire broke out at 12.30am at Mr Turvey's farm near the railway station. The station night watchman telephoned the Tanshelf Station for the Pontefract Fire Brigade but the Ackton Hall Colliery Fire Brigade were first on the scene and used water from a well and a pond. When these supplies ran out they used mains water. Mr Turvey and his wife were sound asleep and it took some time to wake them. A barn and its newly threshed contents were destroyed. The stock belonging to Mr Turvey was valued at about £100 and was not insured, The barn belonged to Mr Umpleby of the Railway Hotel and was insured.

  The photo of the brigade below is from the Tony Lumb Collection.

DECEMBER  Ackton Hall Colliery applied for permission to alter the line of the footpath, which ran in a straight line from Purston to Green Lane, to avoid it crossing their new sidings. The Council agreed to it being diverted alongside the main railway line to join the track from Halfpenny Lane, providing the colliery did not extend their sidings to cross the new route.

  The council decided to write to Mr Maxwell pointing out there were no sanitary arrangements for people living in vans on the vacant land in Station Lane (the fair ground) and asking him to provide a remedy.
  It was agreed to purchase brass house numbers from Naylor and Holmes at 7s per 100. it was also agreed to press for a full-time registrar in Featherstone. It was said the population had grown so rapidly in the last five years it was now larger than Pontefract's.

  The Tradesmen's Association decided to close the shops on Christmas Day and the following Saturday.

  The Featherstone Main Colliery Accident Society agreed to purchase a good topcoat for Mr Fox, the stableman, for use when driving the ambulance.

  The Registrar General turned down the requests for a sub-district registration office in Featherstone. He said a new Pontefract registrar was due to be appointed and he would ensure there were attendances at a fixed time which would do away with the inconvenience of which the residents complained.

  Thomas Smales, a Purston blacksmith, had been summonsed for ill-treating his wife. At the first hearing the case was adjourned for 12 weeks. When it came up again Smales couldn't be found. It was said he had gone to South Africa as a smith at £24 a month.

  Mr A Sutcliffe, the Urban Council's surveyor, died. There were more than 70 applications for his job and Mr Rowlands of Louth was appointed.