October 14, 2010

Date Published: {J}

1910

Children’s Smoking Act

At the City Petty Sessions, John Flaherty, Cross-street, was charged with selling cigarettes to a boy under 14 years of age. Constable Finn swore on the 6th inst he was on duty at Kirwan’s lane. He saw a young boy named John Smyth smoking a cigarette.

He questioned him as to where he got the cigarettes, and he said it was from defendant. The young boy said his name was Curran. Witness to the boy to the house, and defendant said he did not remember selling him the cigarettes.

John Smyth swore to purchasing the cigarettes at Mr O’Flaherty’s.

Defendant: I do not remember him in the shop.

Chairman: The fine for the first offence is £2. I see lots of other boys smoking cigarettes in the town.

Chairman (to witness): How much did you buy? – A halfpenny worth.

How much did you get? – Two and a half (laughter).

Constable Finn: He told me he purchases a halfpenny worth. He got two and a half and was smoking the half first (laughter).

Chairman: He was smoking very economically (laughter). This is the first case of the kind that has been brought up here.

Chairman (to defendant): How long are you in business? – Three years.

Chairman: It is a very serious thing to be selling cigarettes to these children. I believe it is the first case that has been brought forward here under the Act.

Constable Finn: Yes.

Chairman: As it is the first offence, I will not impose a severe penalty.

Defendant was fined 2s 6d and costs.

Council damage

The Galway Urban Council had a number of boys summoned for damaging hay, their property, at Salthill.

Mr. Blake, solr., who appeared for the Urban Council, said he understood there was an application to have the cases adjourned. The cases were adjourned for three months.

1935

Arm mangled

John McCabe, a young boy, aged about 19, who was employed by John Kelly, Renville, Oranmore, had his left arm severely mangled in a threshing machine while working on behalf of Mr. Kelly at a threshing for Mr. Bernard Healy of the same locality on Monday.

The boy was rushed immediately to the Galway Central Hospital where the arm was amputated. He is now reported to be improving. Young McCabe has been working for Mr. Kelly since he left an industrial school about a year ago.

Tenant’s apology

A tenant who was causing a disturbance and annoying other tenants in the Council’s new area in St. Brenadn’s-terrace, and who got notice to quit, wrote to the Ballinasloe Council at their meeting on Tuesday night, apologising for her conduct.

Her husband’s conduct, she said, was the whole cause of the trouble, but all the differences were now reconciled, and she asked to be allowed to remain. She enclosed a long list of tenants, her neighbours, who had, she said, now forgiven her since the last meeting when complaints were made.

The sanitary officer said many of the names on that list were obtained by fear or intimidation – all of the people in the area were afraid of the woman’s tongue. He himself lived near her, and if he could get another house, he would soon move out of the place.

The Chairman (Mr. Connolly) said there was a letter from the rev. administrator asking to give her another chance. There was now a mission on in Ballinasloe which might inspire her to change her ways and be more agreeable to her neighbours.

The Council cancelled the notice to quit for a month, during which time she was put on probation.

Lucky guard

Guard Murchadh Feiriteir, Eglinton street Station, Galway, won a prize of £100 10s in the “Sunday Independent” “Opsits” competition this week. Guard Feiriteir was in bed on Sunday morning when he was informed by some of his station companions of his luck.

He was not convinced, however, until he saw his name on the “Sunday Independent”. Naturally, he was delighted with his luck.

He told a “Connacht Tribune” representative that the third attempt which won him the prize was his third. He considers the competition amusing and instructive. He was the recipient of many hearty congratulations from his station companions.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.