Looking back to the Rasen Mail of ... 1900

February 24 - sheep 
worrying

A serious case of sheep worrying was notified to the police early on Saturday morning last.

One of the men who look after the sheep on turnips at Audleby Top farm, in the occupation of Andrew Brown Esq, resuming work on Saturday morning it was found that 18 sheep were dead in the fold, the majority from wounds received apparently from dogs, the rest having been smothered.

By investigation the depredation was traced to two dogs, one a sheep dog and the other a foxhound belonging to Mr Campbell, farmer Limber Grange. The former was at once destroyed and the latter was returned to Brocklesby Kennels, and the damage paid for by Mr Campbell.

April 28 - public reception to the Very Rev Father Hays

On Friday evening a public reception was accorded to the Very Rev Father Hays by the townspeople of Market Rasen.

The Holyrood Schools, which were very elaborately decorated with flags and bunting and a choice collection of flowers and plants, were crowded to the doors by an audience representative of all creeds and classes.

Mr Gerard Young JP, of Claxby, in well-chosen words most cordially welcomed Father Hays, and spoke in high terms of the great work accomplished throughout the country by Father Hays and of the experience gained by him in his labours in the large centres of population.

He also alluded to the very high esteem in which he was held by the people.

Mr Liddall, as a member of the Church of England, also spoke words of welcome which were received with applause.

Father Hays, who, on rising, was heartily cheered, said he feared he had done nothing to merit that public reception, and therefore he took it not so much as a personal tribute but as a recognition of the works with which for some years past his life had been identified.

When asked by the bishop to succeed Canon Dwyer he hesitated to leave the public works and the numerous friends he loved so much.

He came to them broken down in health and strength, condemned by the doctors on account of overwork. Nevertheless he was prepared to do God’s work in a quiet way.

At the same time he would do his duty fearlessly, and although not prepared to again take up public work, he would by word and example do his best to teach people the way of God and Heaven and bring peace and happiness and joy to their homes.

A musical entertainment was given during the evening under the direction of Mr Joe Drakes. Miss Maud Jackson gave a fine rendering of ‘Glory to God’, and Miss Pippet ‘The Gift’. Mr W H Thompson’s baritone voice was heard to advantage in ‘The Children’s Home’, whilst Mr Raspin was encored for ‘Calvary’. Miss F Marriott, Miss F Jackson and Miss Ada Mastyn also contributed songs.

The Rev Father Barry thanked all those who contributed to the great success of the meeting. It was encouraging to find so much respect shown by the people to their new pastor, who was to them their father, their guide and their friend. (Applause).

May 5 - smallpox

An outbreak of smallpox is always looked upon with more or less alarm, and when it became known last week that there were two cases in our salubrious town, evidence was not lacking that this feeling of alarm was felt by many of our townsfolk.

When we consider our admirable sanitary arrangements, and the excellent water supply with which the town is provided, it is, perhaps, almost needless to add that the smallpox cases were imported. They arose in a family of travelling hawkers, who had taken up their abode in Prospect Place, and who had been in Hull, and that is, as the Medical Officer of Health says, no doubt where the infection took place.

Thanks to the prompt measures which were taken to combat the disease and prevent its spread, all occasion for alarm has been removed.

On Saturday the patients (mother and son) were removed to the new Isolation Hospital, where they are receiving every attention at the hands of two trained nurses and a medical gentleman.

The nurses have expressed the greatest satisfaction with the hospital, its situation and arrangement being in every way adapted to the purpose for which it is intended.

When the outbreak occurred the hospital was a mere shell, having only practically left the hands of the builder the day before.

The Sanitary Inspector and Mr and Mrs Tillett soon got the necessary furniture and fittings together, and by the time trained nurses had been procured (a somewhat difficult matter) everything was in readiness for the reception of patients.

Up to the present, no other cases have been notified, and we have reason to believe that the disease has been stamped out so far as Rasen is concerned.

May 26 - Binbrook

There was not so large an attendance of servants of either sex as in previous years at the annual statute fair, held on Thursday week. Wages ruled higher for all classes of servants than in previous years. There was only a small amount of hiring done, both masters and mistresses holding off in their engagements.

There were the usual number of stalls set out, but the amusements for pleasure seekers were very meagre. We noticed that there was not one shooting gallery present, which was a disappointment to those sportsmen who like to try their hand at a shot to ring the bell. It is a noticeable fact that for many years they have not been absent.

All passed off in good order, without the interference of the men in blue.

June 9

Swimming Club

The general annual meeting of the swimming club was held at the King’s Head Inn on Thursday last, Mr J Hackney in the chair.

The accounts for the season 1899 were produced, showing a balance in hand of 7s 9½d.

A discussion took place as to the desirability of carrying on the club for the season 1900, and it was resolved that the rent (£5) for three months use of the waters was too expensive, and unless Mr Hill would reduce it to £3, the club, considering the amount of support received, would not justify its carrying it on for the present season.

June 23

Smallpox

The outbreak of smallpox has, so far as Market Rasen is concerned, been completely wiped out.

On Thursday the last of the patients left the Isolation Hospital at Osgodby, which has now been closed, and we hope will not be required again.

The outbreak, it will be remembered, occurred in a family of itinerant hawkers, six of whom were admitted to the hospital. Of this number, one, a young man, has died, and the others, thanks to the excellent nursing and medical attention, have all entirely recovered.

It was a very fortunate circumstance that the building of many names should have just been erected when the smallpox broke out in our midst, thus enabling the authorities the better to cope with the disease.

June 30

Transport

It is not many towns the size of Rasen that can boast possessing two motor cars and two motor tricycles.

The motor tricycles are owned by Mr W J East and Mr W B Jevons, the latter gentleman and also Mr A A Padley being the happy possessors of the motor cars.

Mr Padley came into possession of his car, which is a Benz motor, on Tuesday.

He, together with a man in charge, travelled from London on it that day, arriving into the town in the evening.

August 11

Thornton-le-Moor

On Wednesday, August 1st, this pretty little village was en fete from early morning in consequence of a combined treat being given to the children of Nettleton and Thornton-le-Moor.

About two o’clock the rector of Nettleton, with his churchwarden, and Mrs Baker (schoolmistress), and Mr Thomas Johnson, Caistor, drove up and immediately afterwards they were followed to the Rectory by a waggon-load of children from Nettleton, with flags flying, in the highest state of good spirits, where they were met by the Thornton-le-Moor children.

A nice little play in the Rectory field was immediately begun, and afterwards a substantial tea was given to the children of both parishes on the lawn in front of the Rectory. Mrs Birkett of the Manor Farm kindly boiled the water for tea.

All the residents were invited and a goodly number sat down to tea at various times in the Rectory.

At six o’clock the bells rang, calling the parishioners and children to church, when a short service was held, an address being given to the children by the Rev Hugh S Campbell MA, rector of Nettleton.

Afterwards the parishioners and children again adjourned to the Rectory field, where various games and races were indulged in for money and other prizes, which were given by Mrs Birkett and the rector’s family.

Mr Thomas Johns of Caistor (who had been postman from there to Thornton-le-Moor for 36 years), proposed a vote of thanks and three cheers for the rector of Thornton-le-Moor and his family, Mrs Birkett and the other ladies who had helped, and also three cheers for the Rev Hugh S Campbell, rector of Nettleton, and those kind friends which had helped him.

So a happy day terminated at Thornton-le-Moor about nine o’clock, all present hoping to be spared for another combined treat like it next year.

September 22

Wickenby

A treat was given by the Misses Cust to the school children and tenantry on the Wickenby, Snelland and Claybridge estate in the schoolroom on Wednesday, in commemoration of the marriage of Miss Porcelli Cust to Capt Nicholson.

The school children, numbering 55, partook of tea in the afternoon, and could the kind donors have seen their happy faces and heard their ringing cheers for the health and happiness of the bride and bridegroom, it would indeed have been gratifying to them.

Later the tenants and their wives were invited to a capital knife and fork tea, when 70 out of the 90 invited responded to the invitation.

December 22

New headmaster

Market Rasen and district is to be congratulated upon having secured the services of a first-rate man as headmaster of the De Aston School. The governors had no easy task in their selection of a successor to the Rev A Temperley MA, about 250 replies to advertisements having been sent in.

Of this number 129 sent in testimonials in definite support of their applications, and their claims were duly considered by a small sub-committee, who selected finally 11 candidates, out of whom five were eventually asked to attend at the meeting of governors at Lincoln yesterday, any one of whom, we hear, would have been a very suitable person.

The final selection rested on Mr C Elliott BA, at present headmaster of Kirton Grammar School, and who is only 88 years of age. A great deal of time and trouble has been given to the work of selection by the sub-committee, who thoroughly deserve the thanks of all concerned.