[From IoM Examiner Annual 1919]

PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF 1918.

JANUARY — 1918.

6th. — Day of Intercession, appointed by The King in connection with "the world-wide struggle for the triumph o£ right and liberty," observed throughout the Island.

7th. — Mr B. E. Sargeaunt, Government Secretary, appointed by the King an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.).

12th. — The price of The Isle of Man Examiner (hitherto one penny from its inception in 1880) ) increased to three-halfpence owing to war-time expense of production.

25th. — Public presentation by the Lord Raglan of the Military Cross to the parents of the late Capt Edw. Quayle-Dickson and the late Major C. P. Atkin.

26th. — £66 received from Buffalo (U.S.A.) Manx Society, per Mrs Laughton, in aid of the Manx Disabled Soldiers and Sailors' Fund.

26th. — Death of Dr. H. C. Sugden, J.P., chairman of Ramsey Commissioners.

31st. — Mr R. Sayle Corlett resigned the Captaincy of the Parish of Andreas, his position of Justice of the Peace, and his membership of the Harbour Board — a sequel to certain remarks made in the Tynwald Court by the Lieutenant-Governor.

FEBRUARY.

2d. — The Rev G. Tinsley Peet, superintendent of the Peel Wesleyan Circuit, was, at Castle Rushen sentenced by High-Bailiff Gell to three months' imprisonment with hard labour, upon a charge of having made statements likely to prejudice the recruiting of H.M. Forces. Mr Peet was released from gaol on March 1st, but did not resume ministerial work in the Island.

9th. — Death of Dr. Godson, of Laxey.

MARCH.

24th. — Summer Time (Isle of Man) Act became operative as from 2 a.m. On September 30th Greenwich time was reverted to.

16th. — Death of Dr. W. Cregeen Faraker, M.R.C.S., of Peel, in his 80th year.

APRIL.

3rd. — The Imperial "Man Power" Act approved (with reservations) by Tynwald to be applied by Order in Council to the Isle of Man. — The purpose of the Act was to place absolute powers of recruiting with the Director-General of National Service.

4th. — Death of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Straton, formerly Bishop of Newcastle, and a former Bishop of Sodor and Man.

20th. — The Employees of Great Laxey Mine came, out on strike on a refusal of the directors to concede an increase in wages. The Minister of Munitions ordered the men to resume work pending a decision in the matter.

20th. — Death of Miss Harris, of Marathon, Douglas.

26th. — Tynwald Court impose increases in indirect taxation: Tobacco duty increased by 2d per oz.; spirits, from 13s 9d to 27s 6d a gallon; beer (imported), ale to 44s per barrel (36 gallons); and Manx brewed beer from 9s to 36s a barrel.

28th. — Frederick C. Brandauer, a millionaire manufacturer of steel pens, interned at Douglas Alien Detention Camp, committed suicide by taking an overdose of veronal.

MAY.

11th. — The Military Service (No. 2) Act, raising the military age to 51, extended to the Isle of Man by Order in Council.

13th. — The Operative Bakers and Confectioners Association sued for libel by a Douglas master baker. Judgment for £10 and costs entered for plaintiff.

14th. — Induction of the Rev Martin C. Taylor as pastor of Finch Hill Congregational Church, Douglas.

29th. — Death of Mr W. T. Crennell (51), for ten years representative of Ramsey in the House of Keys.

JUNE.

5th. — H.M.S. Snaefell, one of the I.o.M. Steam Packet Company's steamers, sunk by enemy submarine. 3 Manxmen lost.

8th. — Mr Thomas Henry Hall Caine awarded a Knighthood of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

21st. — House of Keys Bye-election in Ramsey: MT A. H. Teare (Progressive), 465 votes; Mr A. H. Hadley (Labour), 270.

22nd. — Announcement of the appointment of Sir W. F. K. Taylor, K.C. (Liverpool), as a Judge of the Manx Appeal Court. — Sir Francis Taylor sat in Staff of Government Division for the first time on 30th October.

28th. — Financial statement for the year ended 31st March laid before Tynwald. The realised surplus was £40,265.

JULY.

3rd. — As a protest against the discontinuance of the Government bread subsidy, which enabled the, quartern loaf to be sold for 9d, a general strike was proclaimed throughout the Island, to take place the following day. An unprecedented situation resulted. The general business of the Island was brought to a standstill, bread was unprocurable at the shops, while railways and steamer services were suspended. The ancient 5th July ceremony on Tynwald Hill was postponed, the authorities fearing an outbreak of disorder. At 3 o'clock on July 5th, the strike was raised, the Lieutenant-Governor having made arrangements for continuing the flour subsidy.

13th. — Tynwald heard statement by the Lieut.-Governor concerning his negotiations in London. To subsidise the 9d. loaf the Imperial Government suggested the levy of Income Tax in the Isle of Man on a basis sufficient to pay two-thirds of the cost, when the remaining third might be voted from the Accumulated Fund. With reference to Tynwald control of Inland Revenue, H.M. Government agreed to a clause being inserted in the Income Tax Bill earmarking the proceeds of the tax for the purpose of the flour subsidy.

15th. — Income Tax Bill considered and passed by the Council. It provided that the Tax be at the rate of 2s in the £ on incomes not exceeding £500; 2s 6d in the £ on incomes not exceeding £1,000; 3s in the £ on incomes not exceeding £1,500; and 3s 6d on incomes exceeding £1,500.

16th -17th. — House of Keys met for the consideration of the Income Tax Bill. After a conference with the Council, the scale of the tax was amended as follows: On incomes up to £500, 1s 6d in the £; not exceeding £1,000, 1s 10½d; not exceeding £1,501, 2s 3d; over £1,5010, 2s 7½.d. Incomes not exceeding £130 per annum are exempt. — The Bill was signed in Tynwald.

7th. — Death of Dr. Robert Stitt, of Port St Mary, at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

8th. — Death of Mr Robert Killip, J.P., of Liverpool and Onchan, aged 70.

27th. — The will of the late Dr. Straton (a former Bishop), proved at £22,542.

27th. — Great influx of visitors to the Island. Remarkable scenes witnessed in Douglas Market. Prices soared fabulously, eggs being retailed at 6d each and butter at 3s 6d per lb.

12th. — Mr C. L. Fraser, manager of the Isle of Man Children's Homes, died; in his 58th year.

AUGUST.

1st. — Promulgation ceremony Tynwald Hill. 2nd. — Royal Assent given to the Income Tax Act, 1918. The Act became operative as from lst April.

3rd. — Some 58 Pictures from the brush of the late Mr John M. Nicholson, acquired as the nucleus of a Manx National Collection. The Pictures were purchased by Mr D. Maitland, S.H.K., in his capacity as surviving devisee under the will of the late Pierre Henri Josef Baume.

8th. — Garden Fete at the Nunnery in aid of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers. Proceeds over £200.
12th. — Probate granted to Mr J. H. Clarke of the will of Mr W. H. Wilkin (of Douglas), deceased. The testator left legacies to local charitable objects amounting to over £9,000.

16th. — Third annual meeting of the Manx Industries Association. During the year 1,101,000 pairs of socks were manufacturead, and the wages bill totalled £20,000.

22nd. — Carnival at Silverdale in aid of war charities. Proceeds, £440.

SEPTEMBER.

7th. — Mr. Harold B. Lewis appointed master of the Isle of Man Homes for Orphan and Destitute Children, Glencrutchery, Douglas — vacant by the death of Mr C. L. Fraser.

7th. — First annual Conference of the Manx Labour Party. Extensive political and social programme outlined.

15th. — Compulsory Early Closing Order became operative throughout the Isle of Man. Shops closed at 6 p.m. first three days of week, 1 on Thursdays, 7 on Friday, and 8 on Saturday. Newsagents and some other shops exempted.

15th. — Rain fell in torrents continuously from 9 a.m. on Sunday to 9 a.m. on Monday, 4·68 inches being registered at Douglas. It was estimated that 68 million tons of rain fell over the Isle of Man.

23rd. — First visit of a contingent of the U.S.A. Navy to Douglas. Mayoral hospitality was extended to the visitors.

OCTOBER.

3rd. — Manx Discharged Sailors and Soldiers' Association Clubroom at Prospect Hill, Douglas, formally opened by the Bishop.

11th. — The Lieutenant-Governor fixed the price of milk in Douglas and Onchan at sixpence a quart.

14th. — Death of Mr M. W. Corran, retired auctioneer, of Douglas, in his, 84th year.

OCTOBER.

16th. — Organised by the Barrow ,Manx Society, a " Flag Day" in aid of Manx Prisoners of War realised £104.

19th. — Two Thousandth weekly issue of The Isle of Man Examiner. The first number appeared in July, 1880.

26th. — Death of Mr W. A. Stevenson, J.P., Captain of the Parish of Arbory.

26th. — Death of Mr James A. Place, for twenty years Headmaster of Port St. Mary Boys' School.

26th. — Death of Mr J. W. Vondy, Captain of the Parish of Andreas.

31st. — The deficit for the four war years of the Palace and Derby Castle Co., amounted to £10,292.

NOVEMBER.

1st. — An epidemic of Influenza claimed a large number of victims throughout the _Island. Happily there were but few fatal oases, compared with its effects in England and elsewhere. 2nd. — Price of The Isle of Man Examiner increased to twopence.

9th. — Quite a number of bodies of victims of the s.s. Leinster (torpedoed without warning in the Irish Sea on October 10th) were washed up on the Manx coast during the month, inquests being held.

9th. — Installation of Alderman John Kelly as Mayor of Douglas.

11th. — World War ceased, Germany (following the course of Bulgaria, Turkey, and Austria) accepting armistice terms laid down by the Allied Powers. — In the Isle of Man the receipt of this news was followed by Thanksgiving Services in the churches, and general manifestations of rejoicing.

16th. — Announcement of the award of the Nobel Prize for 1917 to Dr. Chas. Glover Barkla, D.Sc., F.R.S., Professor of Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh University. Dr. Barkla is son-in-law of Mr John T. Cowell, Receiver-General.

17th. — Monstre Thanksgiving Service in Villa Marina to celebrate end of war. Addresses by the Bishop and the Rev H. Williams; 3,600 persons present.

26th. — £20,000 voted on account by Tynwald to provide out-of-work donations in the Isle of Man following the conclusion of the war.

26th. — Income Tax officials' salaries approved by Tynwald. The total immediate cost is £1,170 per annum.

DECEMBER

14th. — Issue of Examiner 1919 Annual.

19th. — Grand Fete in Villa Marina in aid of Manx and National War Charities.