Off to Canada—Yesterday two Rushden young men—Mr Horace Bull (son of the late Mr Geo. Bull) and his cousin Mr Leonard Bull (son of the late Mr Chas. Bull) started for Canada. On Sunday afternoon at the Queen-street Independent Wesleyan schools the emigrants were each presented with a gold fountain pen. Mr G Denton, senior superintendent, made the presentation on behalf of the school, and he and Mr T Bromage wished the recipients a happy and prosperous future. Mr John Mackness, the teacher of the young men'€s class, also spoke. €Mr T F Twigge, son of Mr Twigge, of Bencroft Grange, Bedford-road, Rushden, and Mr Sidney Miller, of Midland-road, Rushden, also left for Canada.

The Migration to the West—Mr and Mrs Britton, of Harborough Park, with their son, left Rushden on Monday for Canada. About ... schoolmates of Master Britton were at the Station to see him off by the 1.29 train. The voyage of the party is being made by the SS Lake Manitoba. [number unreadable]

Emigration—A considerable number of friends and relatives assembled at the Midland Railway Station on Wednesday evening to bid goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Hayes, who left Rushden for America some three years ago and who have been paying a visit to the old country. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were accompanied by Mrs. Grey, of Wellingborough-road, Rushden. They embark at Liverpool on the White Star liner “Celtic” for New York, whence they proceed to Aberdeen, South Dakota. Mr. Harold Holland, of Stanwick Mills, who goes by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company’s magnificent s.s. “Empress of Ireland” to St. John, Canada, left at the same time. His final destination is Estvan, Saskatchewan, Canada. The necessary arrangements were made by Mr. T. Swindall, of Station-road.

Across the Water—Mr. W. E. Sugars, fifth son of Mr. James Sugars, of Harborough-road, Rushden, arrived home on Saturday last after nearly two years in Canada and America. He will probably remain at Rushden for the next twelve months for a holiday and then return to Canada. For five months he was in a music store, and was subsequently engaged in “shoe-cutting” as it is called across the water, in a little German town called Milverton. Mr. Sugars says he received a copy of “The Rushden Echo” every week and followed local events with keen interest. Across the water he met with several old Rushdenites, including Mr. Horace Chettle. Asked by a “Rushden Echo” representative whether he would recommend anyone to go out to Canada at the present juncture or not, Mr. Sugars replied that he should not advise going out there just now. He says he likes the Canadian winters because the atmosphere is so dry and bracing; and he has felt the cold during the last few days in England more than he did in Canada. He is in excellent health—“never better in my life”—he says.

Mr. C. E. Long left Rushden yesterday morning by the 11.26 train, and Mr. C. Court this morning at 8.40, both en route for Canada.

Claim to £25,000—Mr. Edward McCracken, stonemason, of Thrapston, formerly of Rushden, who urges that he has a claim to an estate of £25,000 in America, is following up his claim with vigour. Mr. McCracken’s legal representative has set sail for America in connection with the claim.

Mr. J. J. Holt, formerly organist at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Rushden, who left a few years ago for Canada, and has been spending the winter here, has now returned to Canada, leaving on Wednesday. Most of the Rushden Primitive Methodists assembled at the M.R. station to bid him farewell.

To The Antipodes—The families of Messrs. W. H., C. and G. Perkins left England for Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, on Wednesday by the S.S. Oswestry Grange. [Diary of their journey]

Emigrants – Miss Frances Freeman, daughter of Mr C Freeman, of Crabb Street, and Miss Auger, are leaving Rushden this week for America. Miss Freeman will join her brother Mr C Freeman who formerly worked at the CWS factory at Rushden.

Emigrants—Mr Wakelin, late manager at Messrs Burton’s Stores, Rushden, and Mrs Wakelin left Rushden on Monday for Sheffield. After a brief stay there they will proceed to Canada.

A Hoax—A telegram was received in Rushden on Saturday stating that a vessel which had left Liverpool with Rushden passengers on board had gone down. Considerable anxiety was felt by the friends at home, and it was not until Monday that they discovered that the telegram was a practical joke.

COMING-OF-AGE—The coming-of-age of Miss Alice Dix, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Dix, late of Washbrook-road, Rushden, was celebrated at their present residence, 113, Colborne-street, London, Canada, on January 24th. A large number of relatives and friends assembled, and a real hearty, time was spent. Miss Dix was the recipient of many beautiful presents, and was not forgotten by her Rushden friends.

Death—We deeply regret to record the death of Mrs Emily McConnachie, aged 34 years, wife of Mr Henry John McConnachie, of Toronto, Canada. Mrs McConnachie was a daughter of Mrs Eliza Rice, late of 36 Portland-road, Rushden, and now of Toronto, Canada.

Australian Appreciation – of the “Rushden Echo”
Writing to Mr. James Jaques, of Rushden, and old Rushden resident, Mr. Barry Lack, who left his native town about 30 years ago, sends interesting news about Australia. He says:-

“Thanks for the photo of your house, which looks very nice. I hope you will not get it spoilt by the Germans. I do not see a smile on either of your faces; I suppose it is the war you are thinking about. But don’t worry; I think we have got them beaten. Of course, it is something dreadful to read about. Pleased to say we have been very busy with the boarders, who seem to find plenty of money for holidays. Still, they have given very liberally to the war funds. I received the ‘Rushden Echo’ from you and found it very interesting to read about the Rushden soldiers at the war.”

Rushden Echo, 2nd August 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

Mr. Arthur Taylor, of Rochester, U.S.A., formerly of Rushden, has been appointed to a responsible post on the staff of the Y.M.C.A. in connection with their work among the soldiers.

Obituary—It is with deepest regret we have to report the death of Mr. Geo. Sidney Burfield, which took place at the age of 24 years at Marrickville Cottage Hospital, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia, on April 20th, after only four days’ illness from pneumonia following influenza. Deceased was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Burfield, late of 141 Queen-street, Rushden, who seven years ago left Rushden for Australia. As a lad deceased passed through the Queen-street Independent Wesleyan Sunday school, and he was much respected by all who knew him. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents and wife, the deceased only having been married six months.

Mrs. W. Adams, of 1192 Dovercourt-road, Toronto, Canada, is now in this country on a visit to her parents and her sister at 46 Portland-road, Rushden (Mr. and Mrs. John Linnitt and Miss L. Linnitt). Mrs. Adams has not been in England for nine years, and her friends wish her a pleasant stay with her relatives in Rushden. Mrs Adams will be better known as Miss Jennie Linnitt to her friends and associates in Rushden before her marriage to Mr. W. Adams, whose parents (Mr. and Mrs. John Adams) reside at 11 Midland-road, Rushden. Mr. W. Adams served all through the war in the Canadian Army. He came over with the 74th Battalion, and was in France and elsewhere. Mr. Adams is now back again in Toronto, having been demobilised, and is fit and well.

Emigrant—Mr. J. C. Darlow, son of Mr. C. Darlow, of Essex-road, Rushden, and an expert on the “Goodyear,” in the employ of the British United Shoe Machinery Company’s depot at Glasgow, set sail from Southampton on Friday last for South Africa, where he will fill an important post in the service of the same company.

A Pleasing Presentation was made this week to Miss Elsie Travail, who has been employed in the shoeroom at the C.W.S. factory, and who is setting sail for America. Mr. H. Dixon, the foreman of the shoeroom, in asking Miss Travail to accept a manicure set, subscribed for by all in the room, said how sorry they were to lose her. On behalf of all the employees in the room, he wished her bon voyage and every prosperity. He sincerely hoped she would meet with success in the future which lay before her. In accepting the present from the hands of Mr. Dixon, Miss Travail sincerely thanked them all for their beautiful present and the kindly thought which prompted it, and said it would be a happy reminder in days to come of the pleasant relations she had had with them. Miss Travail left Rushden today (Friday) for Liverpool, accompanied by Miss Alice Holmes, her friend, and sails from Liverpool on the Carmenia.

Emigrants—yesterday Mr. Arthur Macdonald Warren and his brother, William James Warren, the former aged 18 and the latter 14, set sail from Tilbury Docks for Australia. The lads were left orphans some months ago, and an aunt kept a home for them since. William had developed tuberculosis, but, thanks to the splendid treatment he received in time at Rushden House Sanatorium, he has been completely cured. An uncle of the lads, Mr. Jethro Warren, of Melbourne, Australia, who is in the boot industry, has sent for his two nephews to give them a chance of getting good occupations, probably out of doors. “Mac” has the good wishes of his former workfellows at Messrs. B. Ladds Ltd., and William’s school chums also wish him well.

Presentation—On the occasion of his marriage and forthcoming emigration to New Zealand, Mr. B. T. C. Payne, a tenor vocalist in the Park-road Baptist Choir was presented by his fellow-members on Sunday, before the evening service, with a gold-mounted Onoto Fountain pen. Mr. Bernard Tomkins, choirmaster, in handing the gift to Mr. Payne, wished him success in his new career, and expressed appreciation of the recipient’s services to the choir. Mr. Payne made appropriate response.

Rushden People in Australia
Mr and Mrs Arthur Bowers Return to Old Home
Bootmaking in the Antipodes
After three and a half years’ absence from Rushden, Mr and Mrs Arthur Bowers and their little daughter have returned from Australia. Mr Bowers first worked at farming at Glenthompson, in Victoria, but shortly afterwards, he and his family moved to the city of Melbourne, where Mr Bowers worked in the finishing department of a huge boot factory. He says that the class of product turned out of Australian boot factories is decidedly inferior in quality to the Rushden made boot, but the retail prices, even after allowing for the great addition to the British as a result of shipping, are not correspondingly different. Boots from England, although very much better in quality, style, finish, etc., cost very little more in Australia than Australian-made boots. The factory hours in Melbourne are 44 a week, and the minimum wage is £4 10s. But the minimum does not remain the maximum—a skilled and fast workman gets £5 a week or more.

The cost of living, however, is very high, and rents of houses are exorbitant. A five-roomed house, with a small front garden and the usual garden at the back is rented at 35s. a week! A man’s suit made in good quality serge costs from eight to nine guineas.

The Commonwealth Government’s scheme of assisting in the payment of passages to Australia and finding farm jobs is not the “bread of life” idea that some people imagine. An immigrant arrives in Australia under the assisted passage scheme and is sent up country to a farmer, who engages him at, say, £1 a week plus board and lodging. The work is long and arduous as compared with farmwork in England. After a few months the man, having made good, naturally asks for more money. The farmer replies by discharging him and applying to the Australian Government for another man! The

Out-of-Work Farm Labourer
then drifts to the cities and swells the ranks of the out-of-work, for whom, by the way, there is no “dole.”

Colonials, both Australians and South Africans, Mr Bowers says, are by no means friendly to the Englishman who goes out to get a job. They look on him as having taken what was legitimately their own means of livelihood. Generally speaking, Mr Bowers did not find the residents of Melbourne a church going people, although there are some magnificent churches there, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Anglican. Mr Bowers, who is an able vocalist, was appointed bass soloist at one big church in Melbourne, and his services at public festivities were much in demand/ On one occasion he sang in the presence of the Governor-General of the State, an ex-Prime Minister, and other notabilities.

The climate of Melbourne, Mr Bowers said, is even more changeable than the English. People have no idea at the beginning of the day what variations will take place in a few hours. His general opinion of Australia is that it is a country of wonderful possibilities in the way of development, but “if an Englishman has got a good job, he should stay where he is and not emigrate to Australia.” Mr Bowers and his family went to Australia over three years ago on account of the very bad state of the boot trade here. Comparing the two countries—with the home industries much improved—he says there is not a country to beat England.

During his stay in Australia Mr Bowers met Mr F Green, formerly of Rushden, and a contributor to the columns of the Rushden Echo (who is now in business on his own account), the Wilsons, and a number of other old Rushdenites.

Acting Editor—Mr. Edward Sayer, who was trained as a journalist on the “Rushden Echo” and left some three months ago to take up a responsible position on a daily newspaper in Hamilton, Bermuda, has been given editorial charge during a lengthy holiday season.

American Killed - Son of Former Rushden Resident
Pvt. James W Sanders, US Army, son of Mr and Mrs James Sanders, of 127, Knickerbocker-avenue, Rochester, N.Y., who has been killed in action while serving in Normandy, was the nephew of Mr Arthur Sanders, the Rushden building contractor, and visited Rushden on his last leave. He was aged 26 and married, and before enlistment worked for Messrs Kodak. His father formerly resided in Hayway, Rushden, and emigrated to the United States in 1906.