1925: Control of a Motor Car
The adventures attached to a motor car's journey between Balmoral and the city centre were detailed in the Belfast Police Court yesterday, when Captain John McCrea, Onslow Gardens, was fined 40s for having been drunk while in charge of the vehicle, pounds 5 (with an endorsement of his licence) for negligent driving, and a nominal fine of one shilling for failing to stop after an accident. Mr Tughan defended.
Sergeant Ormond said that on Saturday last he examined a milk cart, which had been damaged, and in consequence of further inquiries he went to Castle Lane, where he saw a motor car outside a restaurant. Defendant, who was drunk, came out with another man, and entered the car. Witness had him taken out, and had the car removed.
Constable Sullivan said he saw the car being driven in a zig-zag way along the Lisburn Road at a very fast pace - a bout 30 to 35 miles per hour.
Robert McGilton said he saw a motor car collide with a motor bicycle. The bicycle was standing at the kerb, and the car was going in a zig-zag manner.
The owner of the bicycle said the damage done amounted to between pounds 7 and pounds 10. Defendant went to him and said that if his car had caused any damage he would make it good.
Robert Miller said he left his milk cart on the Lisburn Road, and later found that a motor car had collided with it, knocking onto the pavement. The motorist drove on.
Defendant said he had been driving a car for the last 10 years. He had served in India and had a touch of malaria there. He was at the sports at Balmoral on Saturday and had four small whiskies and sodas during the afternoon. He did not know that he had struck the motor cycle.
Mr Toppin - Do you admit you were under the influence of drink? - I admit I had drink taken, but I was quite capable.
In announcing the decision of the magistrates, Mr Toppin said the defendant had behaved in a manner would expect of him, for when he was informed of the damage done to the motor cycle and milk cart he at once accepted responsibility. Nothing could have been better or more honourable than that.
1948: Bangor Wants New Hospital
At a meeting of Bangor Borough Council, held last night, a resolution was passed unanimously urging the Hospitals' Authority to erect in the borough a first class hospital.
In the resolution, references were made to the representations which had been made to the Ministry of Health and Local Government as to the need for a hospital in Bangor, and it was mentioned that there were 800 names on the Ards District Hospital's waiting list.
Councillor R T Gray, moving the resolution on behalf of Alderman Nixon, who was unable to be present owing to a family bereavement, paid tribute to the work of the Bangor Hospital, but it was, he added, much too small for a population of 20,000.
Councillor T Brice Smyth seconded the proposal.
The Mayor (Councillor W H McMillan) said that another hospital was needed in the North Down area and it should be located in Bangor as the largest centre of population in the North Down area.
Belfast Newsboys' Club Members of the Belfast Newsboys' Club, in camp near Dublin this month, found that conditions in Eire permitted a fuller and more varied menu than at most recent annual camps, but prices were high.
There were 46 boys, seven over age members and three voluntary helpers, in addition to the warden. Five-a-side football was organised by the over age members and won by Tent No 1, Leader Gerald McManus. Matches were also played against local sides, three by seniors and two by juniors, all of which were won. In the competition for neatness and care of tents and equipment, most points were gained by Tent No 3 under the leadership of A Miller.
1962: Presentations to Belfast Nurse
A Belfast nurse whose wartime bravery won her hundreds of friends, is retiring at the end of the month after 40 years service with the Ulster Hospital for Women and children, Whitehall Parade.
She is Sister Louise Maud Mills, who yesterday received three presentations - one from the ex-nursing staff of the hospital who are scattered throughout the world - a silver tea service from the present staff and a coffee table for the domestic staff.
Sister Mills, who received the MBE in 1952 for her services to the nursing profession, started her training in 1916 at the Ulster Hospital, then situated at Templemore Avenue. After which she went to Liverpool to complete her training. She returned to the Ulster Hospital in 1922.
Sister Mills spent most of the war years at the hospital and when it was damaged by enemy action in 1941, she was one of the sisters on duty and her courage and determination helped many of the patients and staff with whom she came in contact.
