From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of November 27, 1998
Lairg residents and exiles have been invited to submit design ideas or sketches for a sculptured cairn in the village to commemorate the millennium. The call comes from Lairg Gala Week Committee, who want to erect the cairn on a strategic site, with a time capsule buried inside. It will be sculpted in local stone, to a height of about five feet.
There was fresh hope this week that a community buy-out of a North Sutherland sporting estate could still be achieved. Residents in Strathy and Armadale have been able to make a conditional offer on neighbouring 2200-acre Bowside Estate.
The huge potential economic benefits to Sutherland of a computer recycling scheme were pointed out this week to sceptical local councillors. Area manager Graeme McLaughlin said the scheme, known as the Mobius Project, could be the beginning of an exciting new business venture for the area. Councillors agreed to support the project subject to an expert opinion being sought.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of November 23, 1973
Macduff-born Mr Archie McCallum (52) made history last Tuesday when his seine-net boat, the 55ft Sheigra had a record one-day landing for Kinlochbervie – almost 200 boxes of haddock and dogfish valued at £2,150. Mr McCallum went to live at Kinlochbervie two years ago. He has a local crew – John George Whyte, Robert Heggie, brothers Derek and John Robert Morrison and John Chatten.
Sutherland Roads Committee were told at Dornoch last week that the Scottish Development Department would not consider the council's plan for a vehicular bridge to replace the ferry at Kylesku. But they would agree to a new ferryboat being purchased – there would be a 75 per cent grant.
The plan at Golspie was to build a concrete pavement flush with the seawall right across for a width of 15ft to form a sort of promenade, a roads official has said. There would be a 6ft high wall at the foot of the properties concerned.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of November 22, 1923.
Mr Jas. Wilson drew Clyne Parish Council's attention to the light on Clyne Memorial clock. He thought, judging from the remarks he had heard, that the council had made a mistake in reducing the power of the lights. Mr D. Mackay also stated that he had received a number of complaints. Mr D. W. Murray explained that the memorial committee, as instructed at the last meeting, had reduced the lighting power from a 16th to an 8th, and that it looked all right, On Mr Mackay pointing out that the lighting of the clock only cost about1/4d in the £1 to the ratepayers, and as it came out of the Special Parish Fund, which enabled them to levy the rate on every ratepayer, they should at once get back to the old system of lighting. This was unanimously agreed to.
When are we to get our road at Embo sorted? It is a shame and a disgrace that people should have to wade through such pools of water getting their feet soaking wet and still be expected to have to pay the road rate.
