April 29, 1903

The three fields which will constitute the site of Newark's new Magnus schools have been almost cleared of dividing hedges and thrown together, affording, no doubt, one of the best sites for a large public school to be found in the kingdom.

The subscriptions, which have been so well started, do not yet amount to the sum fixed as the one which should be in hand before commencing to build.

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A painful accident happened to Mr John Wright and Mrs Wright. They were out driving, and when proceeding through Easthorpe, Southwell, the horse took fright and came into collision with a cow near Easthorpe corner.

Both of the occupants were thrown out, Mr Wright sustaining severe cuts and bruises to his face, while Mrs Wright was severely bruised all over her body.

Mr Morris (surveyor) was passing at the time, and at once informed Dr Elliott of the occurrence.

A cab was obtained from the Saracen's Head Hotel, and the injured lady and gentleman were conveyed home and medically attended.

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Special services in connection with the anniversary of the Newark Baptist School were held at the Baptist Chapel on Sunday.

On Monday there was a public tea in the school, which was largely attended, and was followed by a public meeting, at which Mr E. H. Quibell distributed prizes to successful scholars.

In presenting the 96th annual report, the secretary said the number of scholars, including infants, is 200, the largest number there has ever been since the formation of the school.

April 22, 1903

The Council Chamber at Newark Town Hall has just been decorated under the direction of Alderman Crossley with great taste and charming effect. The walls are treated in turquoise blue.

A frieze 3ft deep is based on a pretty foliage design, and surmounted with an Adams cornice picked out in harmonious colours, and in the same style as the Adams brothers used in their celebrated decorations.

The ceilings are panelled round in a lighter blue with foliated ornaments at the corners and centre in conventional character.

Around the frieze are tablets on which are inscribed the names of former Mayors of the century.

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Under the style of Hunt and Co, Miss Hunt and Miss Robinson (daughter of Mr Robinson, of the firm Wildsmith and Robinson, who is himself an expert amateur) have commenced business in Stodman Street as photographic artists.

A handsome studio, fitted with all modern appliances and the best cameras and lenses, has been erected in Hardy's Yard, contiguous to the main street and specimens of the work already done by the ladies are now on view.

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Last night at the Town Hall, Madame Norledge's pupils' concert was given, there being a good attendance.

The first part of the programme consisted of The Daisy Chain, being 12 songs of childhood, the poems of Laurence Alma Tadema, R. L. Stevenson, Norman Gale and W. B. Rands, and the music composed by Liza Lehmann.

April 15, 1903

The annual vestry meeting was held at Newark Parish Church, the Vicar being in the chair.

He said a horrid custom had grown up of late, which, like all bad customs, had a tendency to increase, and that was the throwing at weddings of that abominable stuff called confetti.

He had tried to exercise all the authority he could to prevent it being thrown in the church, but it was always thrown just outside, and when there was a west wind it blew all over the place, and had to be swept up as best they could, though there seemed to be no means of entirely getting rid of it.

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The Rev Dr Moulton of Tonga, brother-in-law to Mr W. E. Knight of The Ivies, Newark, has just completed the translation of the Bible into the Tonga language, a work in which he has been engaged for over 25 years.

Dr Moulton has been labouring in Tonga for 39 years and when last on a visit to this country he was engaged in the translation of the New Testament.

In a copy of a Sydney paper just received we see the Methodist Conference assembled there congratulated Dr Moulton on his work.

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An important sale of property took place at The Nag's Head, Sutton-on-Trent. Lot one consisted of a dwelling house known as Holly Cottage, with gardens and outbuildings, and having a frontage to Church Street, Sutton-on-Trent. Bidding commenced at £130 and at £205 the hammer fell.

April 8, 1903

On Monday, as Mr Wm Young, a travelling showman at present residing in Newark, was cycling from Fiskerton to Rolleston, his machine skidded and both rider and bicycle were precipitated into a dyke some five feet deep and containing about three feet of water.

Mr Young was entangled in the machine which held him down, but luckily Mr D. Palin, of the White Hart Hotel, and Mr Richards, in the employ of Messrs Eastmans Ltd, were passing at the time and succeeded in extricating him from his dangerous position.

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The annual parade of sires, shires, hunters, and hackneys, was held in Castlegate, Newark.

There was, as usual, a large assemblage of farmers and breeders, and the various animals were critically scanned and discussed. Mr F. Wilson, West Farm Stud, Hoveringham, had General Buller.

He is a bay colt, rising four-years-old, big, well proportioned, standing on short legs, with plenty of bone, nice hair, big open feet, deep quarters, big thighs running down into his hocks, a good strong back, well ribbed up, a masculine head, well carried.

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An accident occurred in Lombard Street, Newark, to Mr Weightman, farmer of Averham.

It seems that an engine and trucks, loaded with malt, were proceeding to the Midland Station and stopped to let Mr Weightman pass.

Somehow or other his horse and trap collided with coal carts waiting by the kerb some yards beyond.

The trap overturned and Mr Weightman was rolled into the roadway. Mr Weightman, who received severe shaking, was afterwards conveyed home.

April 1, 1903

At a meeting of the Newark Fire Brigade Committee tenders were received for new tunics for the Fire Brigade.

It was resolved that the dark blue cloth of second quality sent in by Messrs Matthews and Son be chosen, and that their tender for ten firemen's tunics of that cloth at 22s 6d and an engineer's jacket at 25s be accepted, and that the captain's tunic be also made of the same cloth.

The captain of the brigade reported outbreaks of fires on premises of Mr Doubleday, in the Market Place, and at Cross Street, and submitted account of the cost of the brigade attending them.

It was ordered that £10 1s 6d be paid to the captain to clear off the amount due to him.

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The Mayor of Newark reported that the sum required from the rates for school maintenance in Newark will be about £1,670 per annum, equivalent to a rate of 6d in the pound.

Hitherto, his Worship said, the elementary schools had lived from hand to mouth, except the Board School, and had suffered from want of sufficient teachers and apparatus.

The new Bill will, of course, put all the Newark schools on the same financial level, and if we are to have great educational reforms and improvements - and this is what people have been crying out for - the money must be raised to provide them.

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A successful jumble sale in aid of St Stephen's, Brough, completion fund took place in the Public Hall, Collingham.

It is estimated that about 170 people attended and the total receipts amounted to about £16.