From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
The title of Provost of the Royal Burgh of Dornoch has been resurrected after a lapse of 20 years and bestowed on the town's local councillor, Duncan Allan. He was officially confirmed into office at last Thursday's first meeting in the town chamber of the new Highland council's Sutherland area committee.
Mr Allan, the one time proprietor of the town's Eagle Hotel and now retired, said he was delighted to see the Provostship restored and it was a milestone in the bid to regain for Dornoch a number of traditions lost due to structural changes to local government over the years.
The grand finale of the Sutherland National Mod signalled the end of a week of triumph for organisers, and for many local competitors. The gathering in Golspie's Fountain Road car park on Saturday – in warm sunshine – of around 700 choristers representing 22 Gaelic choirs, watched by more than 1000 people, was the climax of an overwhelming week, enjoyed by non-Gaels as well as those involved.
50 YEARS AGO
Mrs C. P. Rutherford, vice-chairman, told Sutherland Education Committee last week that recently a deputation had explained to parents of pupils why it was being proposed to close Halladale school. “We found the parents very reasonable to deal with,” said Mrs Rutherford. The parents did not object to the closing of the old school and perhaps next spring would be the best time to put this decision into effect.
The Rev J. M. Macarthur, chairman, said it was never pleasant for a deputaiton to go on such a mission, but they were getting almost towards the end of closing such small schools.
The Countess of Sutherland, at the request of the county council, has made available immediately, for a holiday caravan park at Golspie, 13 acres of land adjacent to the golf links and accessible from the present road to the old rifle range. A condition of the agreement is that Sutherland Estate will not make other land nearby available for a similar development.
100 YEARS AGO
At a large meeting of subscribers held in the council chamber on Monday evening, it was agreed to erect the memorial to the fallen in Dornoch on the site at the top of the Receiving House Brae in front of ‘Torvanroy’. The memorial is still in the hands of the sculptor and will probably be ready for erection next summer. It was also agreed to put the names of the fallen on bronze panels instead of stone.
Collections were appointed at the meeting to make a second collection for funds. Many subscribers have offered to contribute at the rate of 50 per cent of their first contribution and if this is carried out with the same generous spirit by all, then there is every hope that the balance of £415 will easily be collected without having to hold a bazaar.
The examiner regrets that he cannot report favourably on Armadale school. the senior class professed only the elementary portions of Scripture on which infants and the first standard are usually examined, and with the exception of three children, they answered very indifferently.
