25 YEARS AGO
January 23rd, 1987
The Northern Times, which for the past 19 years has occupied a site at the centre of Main Street, Golspie, is to move quarter of a mile to the north to empty premises opposite the county offices.
Approval of an application by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, the owners, to integrate units on the ground and first floors of the former Alexander Sutherland & Co headquarters, Main Street, was given by Sutherland divisional planning committee at their meeting in Dornoch on Monday.
The newspaper will become tenants of the HIDB with advertising, composing and editorial sections on the first floor; printing presses, folders and despatch on the ground floor.
The original office of the Northern Times, from 1899 to 1968, was in Station Road – a site now occupied by Golspie Footwear Company.
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Two young Sutherland people have so far taken advantage of the Livewire opportunities scheme set up by Shell UK Ltd to encourage 16-25 year olds to become self-employed.
A Rogart girl has applied for help with a business involving pies and pizzas, while a Brora man is hoping to set up a removal business.
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Despite the rigours of last week's wintry weather, Shinness minibus driver Mrs May Sinclair got her charges to school on time every day.
Mrs Valerie Paine, of the Overscaig Hotel, 16 miles up Loch Shin from Lairg, has expressed her gratitude to Mrs Sinclair for the safe transport of her son, six-year-old David, to and from Lairg Primary School.
"The weather was terrible up here for a couple of days and, to be honest, I did not expect to see the school bus at all," said Mrs Paine, two years at Overscaig this week.
"But there was May, bang on time, as bright as you would like, all ready for the run. I would like people to know how much we appreciate her efforts when she could easily have cried off because of the conditions of the road."
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Safety barriers were erected at the Big Burn, Golspie, after a tree crashed down and smashed one of the series of criss-cross wooden bridges under the waterfall just before New Year.
All that was left below was the metal beam which held up the planked bridge.
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Flood limitation work has been undertaken in Halladale recently after a prolonged spell of rain last year turned the Mill Burn, a tributory of the River Halladale, into a raging torrent, removing in its wake a man-made barrier of oil drums with stones, large areas of croft land and part of the road leading to the croft of Donnie MacAskill.
50 YEARS AGO
January 26th, 1962
The now disused railway lines between Dornoch and the Mound are to be lifted. At a meeting of the District Council at Dornoch last Monday night, Mr R J Mackay, chairman, suggested that the section from Skelbo gates to Cambusavie crossing could be used as a road since the proper road alongside was often in a very bad state in winter and on occasion it was flooded.
A school bus used this route as well as other traffic, said Mr Mackay, and it would be in the best interests of all concerned if this part of the railway could be taken over. It was agreed to ask the county council to look into the matter.
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A heifer, the property of Mr William Ross, Skerricha, was raised by rope from a dangerous cliff, near Skerricha roadside, late last Sunday afternoon, by a squad of men from Achlyness and Rhiconich.
How the heifer got on to the cliff, where it could neither move forward nor backward, remains a mystery.
In any case, there were many anxious moments as Donald H. Ross, Skerricha, "negotiated" the restricted ledge and set about the difficult task of roping the animal, using sacking for around the midriff.
This was indeed a job that demanded patience, nerve and understanding, for if the animal had at any time attempted to move or turn, it would inevitably have taken the steep plunge to its death below.
After half-an-hour's skilful rope work, however, Donald Hugh had the heifer quiet and pacified and securely harnessed. The animal was soon hauled up uninjured to a foothold above and subsequently to safety.
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In the course of the National Trust's islands cruise this year use will be made of the county council piers at Kinlochbervie and Portnacon.
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The new bridge at Evelix, on the trunk road, is nearing completion. In a BBC broadcast from Rosemarkie last Tuesday night, Alistair Gardner discussed progress with the works foreman, Mr Bert Boyle.
75 YEARS AGO
January 28th, 1937
The Medical Officer of Health, through the County Council, forwarded the result of a recent census taken on the question of immunisation against diphtheria.
Out of 2,400 children on the school rolls, slightly less than 50 per cent, through their parents, accepted the scheme proposed. Only 48 were prepared to pay for the cost of tests and inoculation. The scheme, it was stated, would cost slightly over £700 annually.
After a lengthy discuss, in which it was pointed out that even in the wealthiest county of Aberdeen, where the scheme was applied, there was no guarantee that inoculation had proved beneficial, members of Sutherland Education Committee resolved to continue the matter until such time as the Public Health Committee and Council had reviewed it.
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Sutherland Education Committee resolved to economise by cutting down the teaching staff at Embo School from four to three in view of the fact attendance had been reduced to an average of 64 pupils.
Rev. Wm. Macleod, Dornoch, made a strong plea to retain the staff as at present, and said that the number of classes, not the number of pupils, counted.
He would be sorry to see the day when Embo School would have to face a reduction in staff. There were other schools, he maintained, which could stand a reduction better than Embo.
Mr J Murray, Dornoch, contended that it was a pure waste of public money to maintain four teachers at Embo School, where each teacher would have less than 20 pupils.
"Why not," he said, "send the older pupils to Dornoch Academy?" It was his contention that there would be a saving in adopting this course. Ultimately it was agreed to reduce the staff at Embo School to three, the fourth teacher to be relieved when a vacancy elsewhere arises.
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Mr John Mackenzie, Tongue, put forward a strong plea to Sutherland Education Committee for the institution of a soup kitchen at Tongue school. What, he asked, was the use of giving children who had to leave home before 9am a cup of cocoa? A plate of soup would be much better and the head teacher was willing to give this, providing facilities were given.
Mr A. M. Mackay, Evelix, Dornoch, said a plate of hot soup would be much better than a cup of cocoa.
The Director of Education said he would make enquiry with a view to providing facilities for conducting a soup kitchen.
100 YEARS AGO
February 1st, 1912
A Melness correspondent states that the crofters and cottars in that district have received another disappointment through the action of the Congested Districts Board in refusing to assist them to take over Melness Farm which the Duke of Sutherland offered to have divided in the interests of the people of the district.
What the small holders chiefly wanted from the Congested Districts Board was assistance to take over the farm stock at market value.
Over 100 crofters and cottars signed a petition in which the position of affairs was clearly set forth. To this document the Secretary of the Congested Districts Board has replied, pointing out that the Board cannot grant or lend money to enable applicants for land to purchase stock.
The Land Bill, adds our correspondent, is now passed, and, according to the story of politicians, we were to have our choice of the best ground in the country-side, fully stocked and with free implements, long before this time. We are now told that the Government have no power to assist us. Quite so; well, they might have told us so before recent elections.
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While Donald Sutherland, "King", was returning from Stoer-head with a big catch of cod on Friday, 26th ult, at the entrance to Loch Roe, the engine of his boat accidentally caught fire. All attempts to extinguish the flame proved futile and the high cliffs and heavy surf on the north side of Rue Roe made landing impossible.
With wonderful presence of mind, and coolness, "King" attempted to get to the south side of the Point, the boat by this time being a huge blaze, visible in the darkening for miles around. King, who had been badly singed while trying to fan off the flames with a piece of canvas, landed on a partly submerged rock, from which he and his companion were rescued by fishermen. The boat, which was of the medium size fishing class, was recently fitted out with a powerful motor.
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In response to a request by a number of people interested in agricultural affairs, a meeting will be held in the West End Hall, Golspie, on Saturday evening, to discuss the advisableness of holding a ploughing match in Sutherland. Many farm servants are anxious that a contest should be arranged while individual members of the Sutherland Farmers' Club have promised support if the proposal is carried through. If the contest is to take place this season, the arrangements will require to be taken in hand without delay, and it is probable that the good services of the Secretary and Committee of the Sutherland Farmers' Club might be enlisted to help on the movement.
