The 1921 census online has been released today, 6th January 2022. This special edition gives the reader a snippet on what was happening in Berwick-upon-Tweed when the 1921 census information was taken.

CENSUS

The head of a household will have a busy week-end filling up the census forms which are now being issued, and as the law looks upon the male parent as being the “head,” whether he feels up to it or not, he will have the satisfaction for once of being master of his own house. Happy indeed as this time is the man whose quiver is not full of olive branches, as to the male mind the calculating of the ages, Millicent, Mary Ann, and Agustus John in years and months is a matter of some difficulty. Again there is the preparing of an abstract of your family; but this is a simple matter, as you just make a cross ( just the same kind which figure at the end of Divorce Court letters) against the age of your several offspring. By a kindly dispensation of Providence such questions as “Have you ceased beating your wife?” are not asked. If “heads” had to answer this “Yes or “No” without quibbling it would be rather a delicate matter. The great thing, however, is to have your census paper correctly filled up when the enumerator calls for it on Monday morning.

SWARM OF BEES

At mid-day on Tuesday, passers-by were interested in watching a swarm of bees hovering in the air over Mr Joures’ stationer’s shop at the top of Hide Hill. The bees, belonging to Mrs Crossman, had escaped from the hive in the garden in Ravensdowne.

Up to Thursday morning they had not been recaptured and were to be seen working in the eaves of the roof of Mr Joures’ shop. A hive of bees belonging to Mr Ironside, Hope Nurseries, on Tuesday swarmed in the top of a tree in the Plantation, where they have been allowed to remain.

SURRENDER GERMAN STEAMER

ARRIVES AT BERWICK

SHORT OF COAL AND PROVISIONS

On Friday evening the German Steamer “Alsen” (659 tons net register, Capt. Hildebrandt) from Hamburgh to Leith, where she was to be surrendered under the terms of the Treaty, arrived off Berwick and signalled that she was short of steam coal and provisions and wished to enter the port. The vessel was a large one and some difficulty was experienced in getting her up the river, but she was ultimately berthed in tweed Dock.

The vessel carried a crew of 22 and had only about half-a ton of coal left when she was docked. The provisions would not have lasted another day. The crew had no money and seemed anxious to be discharged and sent home to their own country. No coal was available to take the ship o to Leith, and it was decided to let her remain at Berwick until the Naval Authorities at Leith decided whether they would make arrangements for her to proceed there, or for the ship to be taken over at Berwick. The crew were allowed ashore from 12 to 5 on Saturday.

The crew of the steamer were allowed to leave for Grimsby on Monday night. There they will be repatriated as early as possible.

CROOKHAM

On Saturday afternoon, June 11, a meeting in connection with the Women’s Missionary Association was held in the Presbyterian Church when a large attendance listened with great interest to an address given by Miss Maclagan, who is a at present home on furlough from the mission fields of China. Her address dealt mainly with work among women and girls in Changpu and Nasiv and an interesting account was given of the education of native girls which had just commenced during the last year or two.

Miss Maclagan also spoke of the way which the mission was carried on in the outlying villages and gave many interesting experiences which had happened. After tea had been kindly provided at the manse by Mrs Forsyth there were many interesting Chinese things to be seen. A few words of thanks to Miss Maclagan brought the meeting to a close. Miss Maclagan also spoke on Sunday morning in the Church.