100 Years Ago
(December 7th 1911)
Creich Parish Council is having considerable trouble over a number of children belonging to a Macallister family who were left stranded in Glasgow parish recently. Macallister's wife was sent to a temperance hydropathic on the recommendation of one of His Majesty's judges, and her children had to be taken charge of by an inspector of the poor.
She stated that her husband, who was a native of the parish of Creich, had died in Newcastle 16 months ago. A search of the register for Bonar district failed to reveal that Macallister was a native of the district. Another visit to Macallister's wife elicited the information that Macallister was a native of Rosehall and an examination of the register for that area proved this was the case.
The man Macallister is, however, not dead. He was present at the Kincardine market last week. Meanwhile, his children are in a poor house in the west of Scotland and are charged at the rate of 7s 7d each per week.
In view of the false statements made in connection with the case, Creich Parish Council has decided to repudiate liability and, if this plea is not entertained, the children are to be brought to Bonar Bridge, when an effort will be made to get those of them who are of school age sent to an industrial school.
Mr Alexander MacIntosh of Wellington, New Zealand, who was recently on a visit to his native parish of Rogart, placed in the hands of the Rev C Macdonald, parish minister, the sum of £5 for distribution among the deserving poor people in Rogart.
The Lighting Committee of the Clyne Parish Council have been successful in obtaining the services of first-class artistes for their concert on Friday evening. Master George McGregor, Inverness, double Mod medallist, and Messrs Doull and Cowper, Wick, are among the entertainers from a distance who have promised to assist.
On 7th July this year, a boy of ten years was playing around one of the new fish-curing stations in Wick, when he fell into the harbour and was in danger of losing his life. About 60 yards away, Thomas Macdonald, fisherman, Golspie, was on board his father's boat and heard the cries of the fisher girls for help. He noticed the difficulty of the rescue were increased by the lad's close proximity to the boats and the perils of grappling with a drowning person among chains and other appliances under the vessels. He plunged into the water and, after a prolonged and exhaustive effort, managed to bring the boy in safety to the pier.
He was this week given a silver watch in recognition of his action by the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust.
75 Years Ago
(December 10th 1936)
The scene in and around Lochinver Public Hall on Tuesday afternoon was one of bustle and pleasant anticipation. Tenants and crofters were arriving from the outlying parts of the Assynt Estate, lately purchased by Mr R A Vestey. Mr and Mrs Vestey were paying a visit to Lochinver and were to meet those of their people whom they had not already met, and the people were ready to give them a real Highland welcome.
As the appointed hour for the arrival of Mr and Mrs Vestey approached, the hall was getting well filled and the parish was well represented. Their arrival was the signal for a loud burst of cheering. The presentation of tenants and crofters etc then took place.
They walked up the right side of the hall, were introduced by Dr W W Turner, convener of a committee of local gentlemen, got a hearty handshake from the new laird and his lady, and retired to the left of the hall. The presentation was followed by a cup of tea which was handed round by members of the local WRI.
In his thanks, Mr Vestey said he intended giving the children a treat at Christmas and a dance for the young people.
On the occasion of his forthcoming marriage, Mr Donald Sutherland, gardener, Gordonbush, was met by his employees and friends and made the recipient of a marriage present. Mr Angus Maclean presided and called upon Mr Burns to hand over a well filled wallet of treasury notes.
Brora, like other places on the East coast, experienced a severe snowstorn over the weekend. Frost having set in, the roads were in a dangerous condition. A number of the younger generation indulged in winter pastimes, especially on the brae beside the Brora Golf club-house. An unfortunate accident to a young lad, who had his nose severely injured while negotiating a fence surrounding the last green, put a stop to tobogganing on that favourite incline.
On Monday 30 November, at the home of Miss Mina Vass, Spinningdale, Mr Wm Ross, Migdale, for many years postman to Spinningdale and district, was made the recipient of a presentation from the Spinningdale people and his colleagues in the post offices at Bonar Bridge and Ardgay.
Mr Alexander Ross, Brae House, Spinningdale, occupied the chair and Mr D C Downie had the pleasure of handing over the gifts in the shape of an Aladdin lamp, a handsome canteen of cutlery, and treasury notes.
50 Years Ago
(December 8th 1961)
Not for a very long time has Sutherland suffered such a severe snowstorm so early in the winter. The storm started last Friday, gradually grew in intensity and on Tuesday in the morning, all roads were blocked. A gale force wind made the going very difficult for the county snow plough teams who were trying to cut away through huge drifts for the mail buses returning to their bases in the north and west.
A snowplough had to be out early on the Lairg-Lochinver road on the Sunday morning. On the previous evening, a 21-year-old fisherman, Peter Dondalson from Lossiemouth, was found dead in his bunk aboard the seine net boat Arcadia. The doctor and police were called in and later death was stated to be due to natural causes. The snowplough crew cleared the road for the body to be taken to Inverness.
The Christie family have been tenants of the Altnaharra Hotel since 1908. Now the link is going to be broken, for the present tenant, William Christie, is leaving next May to go into farming. Mr Christie told a reporter this week that his father, George J Christie, took over Altnaharra in 1908 and died in 1937. Mr William Christie carried on and married in 1940. Mrs and Mrs Christie have always taken an active part in the community and will be greatly missed when they leave. Mr Christie is secretary of the Tongue and Altnaharra Gun Club.
He hopes to go into farming in Perth, where his wife was born.
The Ministry of Works are concerned about the fate of the ruined castle at Helmsdale, which is being threatened by coastal erosion. It was built in 1460 and reconstructed in 1616 and stands high on the coastline near the Couper Park.
The castle is, of course, famous, perhaps notorious, for being the scene of a poisoning tragedy - it has been said that Shakespeare based his poisoning incident in Hamlet on this Helmsdale legend.
It was at the castle that Isobel Sinclair, wife of Gilbert Gordon of Garty, the Earl of Sutherland's uncle, poisoned the Earl and his wife so that her son, the Earl of Caithness, might succeed to the Earldom of Sutherland.
The Earl of Caithness, however, also accidentally drank the poison and perished with the Sutherlands. This happened in the 16th century.
25 Years Ago
(December 5th 1986)
Young piper Kenneth Mackay of Altnaharra has a most important date in 18 months' time when he will be just 15 years old.
As "Piper in the North" for the Clan Mackay Society, he will take centre stage at a Scots concert in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, on Friday, 22 July, 1988, to celebrate the centenary of the formation of the Society.
Kenneth, from Schoolhouse, Altnaharra, was appointed the Clan Mackay's North Piper earlier this year at a ceremony attended by his tutor, Pipe Major Charles O'Brien of Strathnaver.
Senior roads department officials at the Scottish Office, Edinburgh, are this week studying a strongly worded petition from the people of Navidale about the state of the A9 trunk road outside their homes.
Helmsdale Community Council secretary, Moira Mackenzie, who herself lives at Braeside, Navidale, has written: "It is entirely unacceptable that an already dangerous section of the trunk road has been rendered more dangerous at considerable public expense."
She was referring to the roadside verge which has become a quagmire in the recent heavy rains, forcing pedestrians out onto the busy road.
It does not make financial sense to buy houses in which there are secure sitting tenants, finance director William Sutherland has warned district councillors.
They were discussing the costs involved in acquiring and bringing up to standard three of the four former ferrymen's houses at Kylesku, presently owned by Highland Regional Council.
Twelve young Sutherland curlers found the going tough in their friendly match against Inverness schools last week, but nevertheless enjoyed their day out and learned from the experience.
The Golspie High teams were skipped by Angus Stewart and Ian Powell, and consisted of Lynn Calder, Fiona Stronach, and Edward Henderson, and Lynn Sutherland, Elaine Matheson and Michael Simpson. The younger Brora High School team was skipped by Elaine Miller and she had Stuart Campbell at lead, Wendy Sutherland at second and Denis Sutherland at three.
A bronze age armlet which Inverness Museum is keen to acquire because it was found at Achvrail, Rogart, was sold by its owners, the Sutherland Trust, to pay for repairs and restoration of Dunrobin Castle's museum. Christies valued the armlet at between £30,000 and £80,000.
