Children of Grace and John Ashworth

NEGLECT OF WORK.—Francis Cox and John Harley, colliers, were charged by James Ashworth, under the 41st special rule of the Mines Regulation Act. On the part of Cox it was stated that he had worked more than a turn, had overslept himself, and knew it was no good going late.—The nominal fine of 1s. each was imposed.

A petition in liquidation has been filed in the Hanley, Burslem, and Tunstall Bankruptcy Court, by James Ashworth, colliery proprietor, Burslem. The liabilities are put down at £14,000; the assets are not ascertained.

INFRINGEMENT OF COLLIERY RULES.—Edwin Selby, Collier, was summoned by James Ashworth, on behalf of the Glendon Iron Company, Mapperley, for having on the 21st September, unlawfully rammed a charge of gunpowder which had missed fire. Mr. Hextall, solicitor, Derby, appeared for the company, and, in opening the case, said that the information was laid under the 51st section of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, which said that a charge of powder which had missed fire should not be rammed. On the 20th, defendant, as in duty bound, reported to the deputy that a shot which he had drilled had missed fire. On the following day, the deputy, on visiting the mine, found that the defendant had rammed the shot and taken away a portion of the fuse. The matter was reported, and the present proceedings instituted. By his conduct the defendant had not only broken the colliery rules, but had endangered his life and the lives of his fellow-workmen; and he (Mr. Hextall) asked that a sufficient penalty be inflicted to act as a warning to others. Herbert Toplis gave evidence in corroboration. The defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 1l. and 10s. 6d. costs; in default, one month.

A BUILDER'S CLAIM.

Robert F. Brown, builder, sued Mr. James Ashworth, of Stanley, for payment for work done and materials supplied partly in accordance with specification and partly otherwise, while Mr. Ashworth was one of the committee of management of the Stanley schools.—The amount claimed was £4 15s., which the defendant said he had paid, although he did not produce any formal receipt.—His HONOR gave a verdict for the payment of £4 15s.

Mr. James Ashworth, of Stanley, near Derby, the inventor of the most approved miners' safety lamps, exhibits a most interesting collection of his latest inventions. By one of his lamps the very smallest amount of gas is detected. His improved Davy has never been known to explode.

Mr. James Ashworth, mining engineer, of Stanley Hall, near Derby, has been made the recipient of a handsome presentation on his leaving the village, by the people of Stanley, who wished to substantially acknowledge his kindness to them during his sojourn in their midst. A valuable timepiece was the gift decided upon, and was presented to Mr. Ashworth on Monday evening, accompanied by an address, both of which were feelingly and suitably acknowledged by Mr. Ashworth.

"A paper by Professor F. CLOWES (Nottingham) describing a lamp invented by Mr. James Ashworth, Stanley, Derby, for the detection of fire damp, gave rise to an interesting discussion"

Mr. Robert Ashworth, steward for Mr. Henry Seymour Hoare, said the manor of Turton was formerly one estate belonging to Mr. Green. Part of it passed to Mr. Hoare, who married Miss Green, part to Mr. Peter Richard Hoare, part to Mrs. Frere, and part to the Rev. Mr. Timson. Mrs. Frere's portion was purchased by Mr. James Kay, of Turton Tower. The division of the estate took place in 1835. Either Mr. H. S. Hoare, or his tenants, who paid him for the work, had repaired the length of road belonging to him. Witness had not known the work done by the township. There were roads repairable by the township.

Mr. Robert Ashworth, as chairman of the Tramways Committee of the Turton Council, said the Council were very favourable to the scheme, which would be an advantage to the works and the district generally. As a land agent, he considered the railway would assist the development of the district, which was partly industrial and partly agricultural.

Mr. Robert Ashworth, the newly-elected Chairman of the Turton District Council, has been a member of that authority and the Local Government Board which preceded it for a matter of a score of years, and has previously presided over the deliberations of the body. He is a relative of the Ashworths of Egerton Hall, being a son of the late Mr. John Ashworth, who, 40 or 50 years ago, was well-known in business circles in Bolton, where he carried on as a valuer and land agent.

Robert Ashworth (78), of Windy Harbour, Turton, near Bolton, Lancs., surveyor and estate agent. Net personalty, £38,969; gross ... ... ... ... £35,392.

John Ashworth, mining engineer, of Manchester, who is a quaker, gave evidence. He was a strong temperance man, he said, and as a general rule he had opposed the granting and extension of licences. But as long as public-houses were required, he thought if they were better arranged there would be less drinking, and this house was conducted in such a way as he approved. He had known the house about ten years. He often required the house for lunch in the course of business, and he also had occasion frequently to take his pupils there.

LATE MRS. JOHN WHITTAKER.

FUNERAL OF WHITTLE LADY AT WALTON-LE-DALE.

The funeral of Mrs. Whittaker, wife of Mr. John Whittaker, J.P., of Shaw Hill, Whittle-le-Woods, took place to-day in the family vault at St. Leonard's, Walton-le-Dale. Service was held at St. John's Church, Whittle-le-Woods, the chancel of which had been decorated with plants and white lilies. As the cortège proceeded along Preston-road the blinds of the residences en route were drawn, and on reaching the church gates the funeral party was met by the Vicar (Rev. L.A. Bellhouse) and surpliced choir. As the body was borne in the church the organist (Mr. T.B. Lane) played a funeral march by Kinross, and the introduction from Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius," and the funeral service, which was conducted by the Vicar, the hymns, "Now the Labourer's Task is O'er," and "On the Resurrection Morn," were sung. As the body was carried out the organist played, "O Rest in the Lord."

The principal mourners were Mr. and Miss Whittaker (husband and daughter), Mr. Robt. Ashworth (brother), Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Ashworth., Mr. Ashworth, Mr. Arthur Ashworth, Mr. J.D. Whittaker, Mr. T. Whittaker, Mr. R.L. Whittaker, Mr. A. Whittaker, Mr. Myles Whittaker, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wrigley, and Miss Heywood. Among the friends in church, and those who sent carriages were Sir William and Lady Hulton, Sir Frank Hollins, and Miss Hollins, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Cross, Col. Armstrong Archdeacon Fletcher, Dr. Collinson, Mr. Stanning, Mrs. Hans Hamilton and Miss Hans Hamilton, Mr. Frank Calvert, Mr. and Mrs. N. Bretherton, the Rev. H.W. Bretherton, Mrs. and Miss Harcourt Clare, Mr. A. L. Ormrod, Dr. Rayper, Mr P.S. Mayhew, and Mr. N. ffarington. The hearse was covered with beautiful wreaths, and a carriage in front was also filled with floral tributes.