Newspaper references to Baird 1870-1880

The Herald Thursday Evening January 13th 1870
With reference to the committal for trial of Dr Radford at Casterton, by the coroner, Mr G Trangmar the "Hamilton Spectator Remarks" "There is not much to add to the statement as the evidence in detail is unfit for publication. The facts were simply that the deceased [Mrs Levik] who is wife of the Casterton herdsman was attended to in her confinement by Dr Radford and the testimony of Dr Baird who made the post mortum examination. Dr Radford is now on bail.

The Herald Thursday Evening Feb 3rd 1870
On Tuesday a man named Richard Taylor, who had been in the employment of Mr M. H Baird of Mount Bute station for several years as a shepherd was brought before the bench at Linton on a charge of lunacy and was ordered to be forwarded to the Ararat Lunatic Asylum. The unfortunate man has a wife and family, he is said to have been once a member of the Victorian Police Force.

The Herald Saturday Evening April 30th 1870
The Portland Gaurdian reports that a traveller called Willian Clare late on the night of the 25th, whilst in a state of temporary insanity through drink, cut his throat on the public street at Coloraine with a large pocket knife and was found about 11.30 by Constable Mahon and a civilian. The man was at once removed to a hotel and Dr Baird called in. Clare was still alive on the 26th but the doctor holds out no hope of his recovery.

The Herald Wednesday Evening May 4th 1870
The North Western Railway:- Mr Higginbottom, the engineer in chief arrived at Ballarat yesterday evening from Ararat, and a deputation consisting of the Mayor of the Western Borough and Messrs Croker, Baird and J. R. Ross (secretary of the Railway League, waited upon him).

The Herald Wednesday Evening July 6th 1870
Reduction of Railway Rates:- Messrs Fisken, Baird, Vaughan, Morton and Dalgleish were introduced today by Mr Longmore MLA to the Hon Minister of Railways, The Hon P. Russell MLC and Mr Berry MLA were present. The object of the deputation was to procure a further reduction in the rates for grain to Melbourne and Geelong, they stated that the grain could be sent down from Ballarat in the trucks which had brought up coal, and that district would thus be relieved of it's surplus produce. They complained of pressed chaff being charged at 18s per ton, while loose chaff was only 15s. The Minister said he would equalize the rates for chaff, and consider other issues when the trucks are ready.

The Herald Tuesday Evening Jan 24th 1871
National Agricultural Society:- The adjourned meeting of the National Agricultural Society took place yesterday at Hokin's Hotel, The constitution was adopted at a previous meeting and nominations for the following year were called. James Baird elected to the council.

The Herald Saturday Evening February 12th 1876
The James Baird mentioned in our police report of Tuesday is not Mr James Baird manufacturer, Emerald Hill, late inspector of weights and measures in Fitzroy

The Herald Saturday Evening March 18th 1876
At the Emerald Hill Court this morning one James Baird carter to Mrs Caoddy ginger beer manufacturer of Calton, was prosecuted by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for ill treating a horse. It appeared that Messrs J. Tribe, J. Eville and C. J Durham observed the defendant get off the van he was driving, and with a lemonade bottle violently strike the horse several times over the head. The man refused to give his name and a constable was sent for, and the fellow was soon brought to book. Mr Tribe one of the witnesses graphically described the thud produced by such blow. A person named Langley, belonging to the factory tried to explain that the man used no more violence to the horse than was necessary which elicited the fact that the wheels of the van were locked, and the horse could not pull until the chain or strap could be unloosed. The bench fined defendant 20s with 30s costs and complimented the witnesses for the pains they had taken to bring the offender to justice.

The Herald Thursday Evening August 30th 1877
Bigamy:-At the City Police Court, this morning Henry Griffin alias Charles H Baker was charged, on remand, with marrying one Miss Emily Elizabeth Cockrill, his wife Alta Heath still being alive. The prisoner was defended by Mr A Read, inspector Beaver prosecuting for the police.
Alexander Baird upon being sworn, stated that he lived in Sandhurst and was a miner. He knew the prisoner as Henry Griffin in Ballarat in 1868. Griffin married my Step daughter Alta Heath at my house in Ripon Street, Ballarat on the 3rd November 1868. The ceremony was performed by the Rev B.T. Bird Independent minister. The young lady was only 15 years old at the time. The marriage ceremony was legally witnessed and attested. Mrs Caroline Baird deposed on oath, My daughter was married to the prisoner at my husband's house in Ripon Street on the date mentioned above, I gave my consent to the marriage as her father is dead, her stepfather Mr Baird is my husband, and was present at the marriage. The couple lived together at Ballarat for about seventeen months, when Alta left her husband owing to his cruelty towards her. The prisoner was suppose to allow my daughter £2 per week towards her maintenance. She lived with us and received in all about £28. Griffin did not keep up his payments and went to New Zealand without informing his wife of his intention to depart. My daughter has a little boy eight years of age by the prisoner. From certain information I came to town one day last month and saw the prisoner in his shop, the sign of which stated that it belonged to Charles H Baker, the shop was that of a butcher and was in Little Collins Street.

Lawrence Kinane produced the certificate of marriage between the prisoner and Alta Heath, the certificate of marriage between the prisoner and Emily Elizabeth Cockrill was also produced by the witness, the ceremony was celebrated by the Rev Matthew Green on 6th May 1874 at Abbotsford Street Hotham. Griffin signed the register as Charles Henry Baker, bachelor. James Thomas Cockrill attested, I am a merchant clerk and reside in Abbotsford Street Hotham, I know the prisoner who is a butcher, I knew him some months prior to his marriage with my daughter, the prisoner's marriage with my daughter took place at my house, I witnessed the marriage. Patrick Hayes deposed: I am a detective officer stationed in Melbourne and arrested the prisoner last Wednesday, I asked him if he ever went by the name of Griffin, he said he went by that name which was the maiden name of his mother. He admitted his marriage with Miss Heath. The prisoner was committed for trial.

The Herald, Tuesday Evening, March 19th 1878
Insolvency Court:- General meetings were held and closed in the Estates of:- John Allan Smith and James Baird of Melbourne Wholesale Grocers, trading as Smith, Ferguson and Co, Mr H. W Danby was appointed trustee

The Herald, Friday Evening, January 31st 1879
The theft of books from Hobson's Bay Railway stalls are of very frequent occurrence and it is with difficulty that Mr Baird the lessee, is able to trace an offender. Yesterday, however, one delinquent was caught in the nick of time by a gentleman proceeding to Sandridge. He saw a man named Henry J. Peters reading at the stall, and also noticed him slip a book under his coat and make for Flinders Street. He informed Mr Baird who followed, captured and gave prisoner into custody. He was sent to gaol for a month.

The Herald, Thursday Evening, June 12th 1879
Samuel Baird was charged at Hotham Police Court today under sec 33 of the Births, Deaths and Marriage statute with making a false declaration with regard to the birth of his child. Mr Barrett, Deputy Registrar stated, that on the 24th of April last the defendant called at his office to register the birth of his child and said that he was married in 1878, at Richmond to Sarah Molloy. On the 12th of May the mother of the child called upon him and stated that she wished a correction made as the father had made an erroneous statement as his being married to her, the correction was accordingly made on the form provided for that purpose. Thomas Villiers an officer of the Registrar Generals department, deposed that he had searched the list of marriages for 1878, without finding either the name of Baird or Molloy. Mr Daly submitted on the behalf of Baird that the 33rd section of the Act provided that errors might be corrected within six months. This had been done by the defendant and he urged that the case be dismissed. The Bench took Mr Daly's view and dismissed the case.

The Herald, Friday Evening, August 8th 1879
The Agricultural and Pastoral Society are prohibited by their rules from entering on political subjects, but nevertheless many a Ballarat farmer champed the bit and foamed with ire on the bag question at their last meeting, Mr Gunn, Mr Baird and several other farmers denounced the new tariff, most of the items in which they declared would be as injurious to their interests as the bag tax. In fact they emphatically denied that they would derive any benefits from those protected imports, but on the contrary that the 20 and 25 per cent at the Custom House would represent 40 or 45 percent, when the taxed goods reached the Ballarat farmers

The Herald, Monday Evening, September 1st 1879
The Lounger:- Messers Baird and McCausland, late officers of the Provincial and Surburban Bank, maybe considered wide-awake sort of people. Mr Baird, it appears was manager of the bank at Geelong. Mr McCausland looked after the interests of the institution in Bacchus Marsh. I take my information from the report of an application, made under section 149 of the Companies Statute, to Judge Molesworth for an order to compel Messrs Baird and McCausland to "part" with certain monies which they had got hold of previous to the burst-up. I therefore speak by the card; without malice or mischief. On the 12th May, shortly before the bank stopped payment, Mr Baird allowed himself an overdraft of £230 as a preferential claim, under section 140, for compensation, on account of being dismissed, as he claimed to be a yearly servant.
Mr McCausland equally alive to the exigencies of the hour and position, increased an overdraft of £141 to £250. This, he contented was an ordinary debt, due by the late manager, as a customer and not an officer of the bank. Now it is hard that such smart fellows should have had their trouble for nothing, is it not? Observant of the gathering storm, they brought their crafts into a snug offing and prepared for the worst. Well sir, it now turns out that not withstanding their seamanship and prudence, they fare no better than those who suffered the worst when the storm broke upon the whole fleet. Mr Justice Molesworth declare that they must pay up the sums which they so carefully applied to the credit of their own interests, within the short space of one month. Alas! what a matter this law is. What is the use of being smarter than most men, when a turn of the wheel of justice may upset our most profound calculations, and our most cunning speculations. I confess that I sympathize, from my heart with Messrs Baird and McCausland. This is too slow a community for such clever gentlemen, who should live among a people by whom smartness is esteemed the first of virtues, and that humdrum principle we call integrity as an effete and played out superstition. Yes, I think that Messrs Baird and McClausland deserve our warmest sympathies.

The Herald Monday Evening September 1st 1879
Police Courts City:- "Foolish" James Baird promenaded the platform of the Hobson's Bay Railway on Saturday, and stated, for the benefit of the public at generally, that if anyone insulted James Baird, James Baird would knock their nasal appendages off. When constable Flannery bade him go home, he said that it was a matter of the most perfect indifference to him what course the officer pursued, as he was friendly with Captain Standish, and could make matters exceedingly warm for him. This morning he pleaded hard to be let off; and as he had never been before the court previously he was fined 5s.

The Herald Friday Evening April 8th 1880
Insolvency Court:- Before his honor Judge Noel. Cerificates were granted in the following estates, Frederick Friedman of Elsternwick, brewer Patrick O'Hara of St Kilda, teacher John McGregor of Melbourne, agent William Paterson of Melbourne photographer.
In re Charles Baird, of St Kilda, gentleman. In this case the insolvent appeared in person to apply for an unconditional certificate. He stated he had got into financial difficulties through the failure of the Provincial and Suburban Bank, he being the manager of the Geelong branch. His affidavit in reference to this matter stated that when he took the situation of manager of the Geelong branch of the Provincial and Suburban Bank, his affairs were somewhat involved through medical expenses and losses sustained by sales of furniture, through being obliged to shift his household goods many times whilst in the service of the Colonial Bank. He joined the Provincial and Suburban Bank in 1876 as manager of the Geelong branch and he was led to believe at that time the bank was in a prosperous condition, and as the branch at Geelong was just then struggling into existence his salary in a measure depended on the success of that branch. It was therefore in his interest to push the affairs of the bank forward much as possible, in order that his salary might be a certainty, and the desires to bring this end led him to spend more money than his position allowed. In consequence he became insolvent and when the bank stopped payment he was in an insolvent position. He has been unable to get employment ever since and, had only earned £30 in six months, his credit and good name being damaged by the bank stopping payment. He had a wife and four children to support without means to keep them.
Mr Jacomb the assignee, confirmed this statement, and said that the insolvent when in position as manager of the Geelong branch of the Provincial and Suburban Bank, had managed that branch better than any of the others had been managed, and had always conducted his affairs with honesty and integrity. His Honor taking into consideration the good character given insolvent by the liquidators, granted the certificate.