Wisbech Standard, 15 December 1899 - Upwell News

        Upwell
        
        School Board - The usual monthly meeting of the Board took place on Monday.
        Present:  Mr. R.F. Bailey [chairman], Mr. Hugh West [vice-chairman], and Messrs. T. Bower,
        C. Squires, and W.W. CAWTHORN - The Clerk [Mr. James Webber] reported the receipts, including
        the grant under the Agricultural Rates Act of �102 11s., as amounting to �151 8s. 5d. - Petty
        cash payments for the past month were reported at �3 17s. 10d. and cheques were ordered to be
        drawn in payment of salaries, &c., amounting to �47 17s.

        Miss Chenery was appointed assistant teacher in St. Peter's Boys School at the salary of
        �20 per annum. - All schools under the Board were ordered to be closed during Christmas week.

        Fire - On Sunday night at a few minutes before six, the alarm of fire was raised
        here and in a short space of time a large number of people wended their to the scene of the 
        conflagration,  Messrs. Coote and Son's coal wharf.  This is situated on the east side of the 
        tram station and the fire originated at the Small Lode end of the wharf.  At the back of the 
        coal depot there are various small woodedn buildings partitioned off from each other under the
        same roof, used as stores, also stables, chaff-house, &c.  On inquiry, it was ascertained that
        Messrs. Coote's man was there about four o'clock to feed the horses and when he left shortly 
        after that time all was apparently right, and not until a few minutes before six was smoke 
        observed issuing from the end of the wharf.  In a few minutes the flames spread up the woodwork
        of the building which was soon one blaze of fire.  The fire-engine arrived on the spot at 
        half-past six and within seven minutes of being landed at the yard all apparatus was adjusted 
        and the hose placed over a small field to an adjoining dyke. Water was thrown with .... force
        over the flames which quickly subdued and stopped them spreading any further along the building,
        one-third of which was well nigh destroyed before the assistance could arrive.  This was the first
        time the new engine had been requistioned for service, and the opinion of it's efficiency was most
        favourably expressed by all who saw it work.  Mr. J.S. Balding, the superindent, directed the 
        operations which were carried out most satisfactorily.  How the fire originated remains a mystery,
        as no one was known to be in .. ... the  yard prior to the circumstances above mentioned.  We
        understand the wharf is insured and also that the agent's [Mr. F. Ely] property there was insured 
        in the Liverpool & Globe Office.  The damages are estimated at about �150.

        Transvaal Relief Fund - Meeting at Upwell - A meeting was held in the Public Hall 
        here on Wednesday to decide upon what course was to be adopted in the parish in aid of this fund. 
        Not a large attendance was made, those present including Messrs. W. Welchman, J. Cole, James Webber, 
        Revs. Young and Richardson, Dr. Hills, Messrs. T. Bowers, F.W. Newell, T. Hill, W. Griffin, J. Hunt, 
        R.F. Bailey, J.W. Varley, C. Tillenham, B. Watts, F. Ely, and others.
        The Rev. Richardson was voted to the chair.
        In explaining the object of the meeting the CHAIRMAN  thought it desirable that the meeting should 
        decide firstly, whether the parish should be canvassed for contributions to the War Fund and what 
        fund the monies collected should be sent to as there were several public funds in existence for 
        aid to those engaged in the war and those dependent upon them and invited discussion upon the point.

        Mr. WELCHMAN explained that there were four funds, viz.:
              1.  Widows and Orphans.
              2.  Sick and wounded - administered by the Red Cross Society.
              3.  Soldiers and Sailors Fund.
              4.  Wives and children of men fighting.

        For the purpose of the War Fund the regiments took their territorial districts which prevented any 
        overlapping and was most desirable for them.  He [Mr. Welchman] had received a letter from Capt. Sir 
        Alfred Baggs of the Royal Navy to whom he suggested the subscriptions for Upwell Norfolk should be 
        forwarded and for Upwell Isle he advised the funds to be sent to Wisbech for the Cambridgeshire 
        district.  By this course they would be assisting the Reservists, of whom some 80 per cent were
        married men and he moved that the contributions collected in the parish be sent to Sir. A. Baggs
        for Upwell Norfolk, and to Wisbech what was collected in Upwell Isle.

        Mr. BOWERS seconded the motion which was carried unanimously.

        Mr. HILL thought the Government allowance to the Reservists was certain to make provision for them
        and he rather thought the Widows and Orphans Fund should receive help from them.

           Rest of print unreadable.
            
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