BERWICK ADVERTISER, 7TH APRIL 1921

09/04/2021 by Northumberland Archives

JUBILEE OF THE BORDER UNION LODGE OF GOOD TEMPLARS

Although drastic changes in licensing are more likely today than have been at any time during the last fifty years, the Good Templars are not nearly so enthusiastic as they were in the eighties and nineties. Partly this is due to the fact that the Temperance movement has made good, and the general public is much more abstentions than in the early Blue ribbon days. The old stalwarts, it is complained, are dying out, and the young ones are not coming on. Still it was only a small gathering that met to celebrate the jubilee of the Border Union Lodge in the Good Templars’ Hall Berwick, on Thursday night. The Mayor was in the chair, and supporting him were the Mayoress, Mr R Taylor (District Chief Templar), Alderman Boston (Spittal), Mr G Piercy, and the Rev. Moffat Gillon, Edinburgh, Grand Chaplain of the Order.

The remains of the entrance to the former Good Templar Hall (1874), in Coxons Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed. © Billy Wilson – Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. Creative Commons – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

The company sat down to tea at 6.30, and after had been disposed of, “Rescue the Perishing” was sung, and then the Mayor rose to speak. He congratulated the Lodge on attaining its jubilee, on the good work it had during its existence in spite of ups and downs. They were ment that night to carry on the good work which had begun in the town fifty years ago. He was glad to know that the Board of Education was helping them by making provision for temperance education. The Board was making known the act that drinking of beer, wine, and spirits tended to weaken the muscles of the heart, and had a weakening effect on the body generally. It was a step in the right direction to show that alcohol was not normally necessary for the upbringing and health of human beings. Last year they spent £479,000,000 on strong drink- over a million pounds a day. Could any country be expected to prosper while it did that? The number of days’ work in the year that was lost through drink, said Sir G. B. Hunter, was appalling, and it tended to cripple all trades. Drink was answerable for three-quarters of the crime of the country. It was answerable for one half of the pauperism of the country, and drink was answerable for one-fourth part of lunacy in the country. This sum of £479,000,000 was spent to produce crime, pauperism, and lunacy. The profits of the drink trade were not sufficient to pay for the upkeep of the prisons, the workhouses, and the asylums, which the trade made necessary.

The entrance to the Berwick Workhouse just off Castlegate, where some of those suffering from the effects of too much alcohol ended up. Ref: BRO 1541-01.

It was their duty to do their utmost to bring about prohibition. It was 51 years since the Order was introduced into England, and they were glad to have with them that night one jubilee member- Alderman Boston, of Spittal-the oldest member of the Good Templar Order in Berwick today. They hoped he would be long spared to carry on the good work, with which he had been so long associated.

FIRE AT LAMBERTON THRESHING BIG QUANTITY OF GRAIN DESTROYED

On Wednesday afternoon a rather serious fire took place during threshing operations at Pit Houses, Lamberton, on a portion of the estate recently split up by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for small holdings for ex Service men. The crops on the whole of the Lamberton estate were harvested and stacked by the Board of agriculture, and it was a portion of this harvest which was destroyed.

The fire was discovered at the dinner hour, one of the men employed at the threshing, observing a cloud of smoke rising from behind a stack of straw. He gave the alarm and the conflagration was at once tackled, but the straw being dry and a stiff breeze fanning the flames, the blaze had too good a hold to be put out. Hampered by the scarcity of water, practically nothing could be done to save the threshing. The mill caught fire and was practically reduced to scrap, but happily it was possible to save the engine, which was backed away from the blaze. On the field there was stacked the produce of 124 acres, and as far as can be gathered 101 bags of newly threshed grain were entirely destroyed. Several other bags were severely scorched, and about 59 bags of barley were saved.

How the fire originated has not been definitely established, but it is believed that a spark from the engine may have set up smouldering in the stack, which ultimately burst into flame. The damage, which has not yet been fully assessed, it considerable, but is covered by insurance.

The threshing mill belonged to Messrs Howey, of Reston, and it is fortunate for the owners that one of the men helping with the threshing was able to save the engine. Mr Howey’s men were at dinner at Lamberton farm when the fire broke out, but the engine had been backed clear of the fire before they reached the scene. The blaze fortunately did not reach the stack of roofing timber lying near or else this would have gone too. The timber was alone worth over £600. The fire was still smouldering on Saturday, but the burning heaps were isolated.

GOLDEN WEDDING

On Friday last Mr & Mrs Robert Ogilvie, Tower Road, Tweedmouth, celebrated their golden wedding. Both natives of the Fenham district, Mr Ogilvie was born at Greenside Mill, and his wife, Miss Elizabeth Ann Patrick, was born at Fenwick Granary. Married in 1871, they first lived at Mount Hooley, coming to Tweedmouth two years later. They have resided in Tweedmouth for 33 years in their present house. Mr Ogilvie, though having reached the advanced age of 76 years, still possess excellent health, and his wife, 71 years old, is also hale and hearty. The worthy couple have one son and four daughters. Mr Ogilvie is at present employed as a drainer with Mr Pearson, at West Sunnyside, and formerly worked on the N.E.R., finishing last year owing to having reached the age limit. He has been an active, energetic man all his life, and in his early years used to walk as far as five and six miles to his job, and later a heavy day’s work tramped home again. He has always been a keen football enthusiast, attending matches regularly in latter years as a spectator.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 18TH MARCH 1921

19/03/2021 by Northumberland Archives

BELFORD RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

Housing Scheme Held up for Want of Money

At a meeting of Belford Rural District Council last Wednesday.

Colonel Leather enquired how the Council were going to get the money to carry out the housing scheme.

The Clerk explained that endeavour had been made to obtain the money locally, but so far he had had no replies from an advertisement asking for loans. If they failed to raise the money they could apply to the Ministry of Health, who would supply the money.

Colonel Leather – The Ministry will probably not give us the money. I propose we postpone the whole scheme for three months till we see whether we can get the money. Everything is cut and dried, but we are not committed to anything and the time has come for us to mark time. No businessman would go on with the scheme, why should the Council do so?

Mr Davidson seconded Colonel Leather’s proposal.

Dr Macaskie explained that all that was necessary if they could not raise the money locally was to apply to the Ministry of Health who would lend the money.

The Clerk – There is no fear of not getting the money.

Colonel Leather – Look how the Government tried to wriggle out of the agreement with the farmers about the price of corn. I move we delay matters till, we get a definite and satisfactory answer about the money.

On being put to the meeting the motion was caried unanimously.

Mr Hunter – Will the plans be laid before the Council to be passed?

The Clerk – The plans have been been passed.

Mr Hunter – The original plans have, been cut down to get cheaper houses. Things have been taken out of our hands. The Surveyor ought to see these new plans before approved.

Mr Clark – We are not providing the money and can’t grumble.

Mr Hunter – We will ultimately have to provide the money from the rates. It is not right for the houses to be built and the Surveyor not to see the plans.

Mr Davidson moved and Colonel Leather seconded that copies of specifications be submitted to the Council before any tenders were accepted. Agreed.

Sir E. C. Haggerston – If the tenders were accepted the firm could carry on, but Colonel Leather’s motion stops this.

Colonel Leather – It does not stop us going on with the details

WORKERS’ UNION MEETING AT NORHAM

How Changes in The Minimum rate will affect the Worker

At the branch meeting of Friday night, Mr. Borrell attended at the last moment, in the place of Councillor Buchan, who was unable to keep his appointment.

Asked as to the position of the wages in case of a change in the wages Board rates during the year, Mr. Borrell explained that if a man hired for say 51s or 52s per week, he would receive that wage throughout the year, even if the Agricultural wages Board rate fell.

An early 20th century photograph of a Haywain. © Richard Mark Johnson. Creative Commons License (CC-BY-SA 2.0).

If the Agricultural wages Board rate went up, the total difference between the rate he hired for and what was due to him under the Wages Board increases would have to be paid to him in a lump sum on May 12^th, 1922, if it had not been paid previously. If, however, a man hired at the wages Board rate without specifying any figure his wage would naturally go up and down with that rate. He did not think there was any likelihood of a reduction in the wages Board rates. They had to find a subsistence basis, and they still stood much below other industries. There was only a slight reduction in the cost of living. The railways were 21 millions to the bad, and they would have higher transport charges. Coal was going up, and it was an important item in the farm workers’ budget. His house required a deal of warming, and his cooking arrangements were wasteful and extravagant of fuel. There was often a quantity of wet clothing to dry, which entailed the fire being kept up after the household had retired. He could see little prospect of any material lowering of their household expenses, and he urged them to put aside all thoughts of a reduction of wages as impractical at present.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

THURSDAY

EXTENSION OF HOURS FOR DANCING OVERDONE.

Mr W. B. Dickinson applied for an extension of hours to 2.30 for the Good Templar Hall, on the occasion of a whist drive and dance on Thursday 17^th, to be held by Berwick Cycling Club.

Sup. Halliday considered that the extension of hours for dances was overdone. If they got to 1a.m. that was quite long enough. Most of the people who went to the dances had to be up early in the morning for work. These applications were too frequent. In other districts the Magistrates were not granting extension after 12 p.m.

The Mayor — The dancing season is nearly over now. Mr Dickinson pointed out that formerly dancing used to be allowed to 3 and 4 a.m., without need for applying for extensions of licence. The Mayor — The Bench grant the licence on this occasion but will consider future applications.

SHOWMAN’S OFFENCE

James Ratcliffe, showman, was charged with failing to employ a third person to give assistance to drivers of horses if required while in Berwick on 2^nd March, and with not having the weight of his wagon affixed.

Serg. Middlemass gave evidence, proving the charges. Superintendent Halliday said it was very important these regulations under the Locomotive and Highways Act should be carried out. He did not look upon the offence as serious but wished to bring to the notice of users of the road the fact that these regulations could not be broken with impunity. He would not press for a heavy penalty, only wishing to draw the attention of users of the road to the regulations. The defendant was a showman and had called at the Office stating he had to go to Kelso to secure his stance and could not appear. Fined 10s for each charge.

DRUNK IN CHARGE OF A MOTOR CYCLE

Robert G. Waugh, commercial traveller, 20 Fenkle Street, Alnwick, was charged with being drunk in charge of a motor cycle on the Old Bridge, Tweedmouth, on 4^th March. Defendant did not appear, but wrote expressing regret, and stating he had had trouble with his clutch and had not had time for lunch.

The Berwick Bridge, Berwick-upon-Tweed, locally known as the Old Bridge.© Kenneth Blackett, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The Mayor said the bench considered this a very serious case. A motor cycle was dangerous at any time, more so when in charge of a drunkman. In addition, the Old Bridge was a dangerous place. Fined the maximum penalty of £2 or 18 days.

Berwick Advertiser, 4 March 1921

05/03/2021 by Northumberland Archives

SALMON PLENTIFUL

With a continuance of the remarkably fine weather conditions, the good catches of salmon on Tweed fishings have been well maintained during the ten days that have elapsed since the operations were commenced for the season, making the 1921 opening the most favourable in recent years. Whether this luck continues throughout the season is yet to be determined, but it is certain that the fish are in the river in a greater abundance than they have been for years. The catches have been pretty equally distributed over the fisheries, an equally good return coming from the higher reaches as from the fisheries at the river-mouth. Even Crab Water, where fishing is as a rule poor at this time of year, has had good catches, landing over thirty salmon in one day. The fish are all young salmon, not large in size, but of excellent quality and appearance. Trout are not quite so plentiful. The price quoted for salmon this week is 2s 5d per lb, having fallen during the week from 3s on the opening days. No prices are quoted for trout.

Pictured above is the former Crabwater fishery at the corner of Berwick Pier. On the opening of the salmon net fishing season in 1921, Crabwater had an exceptionally good start with catches up on previous years. REF: BRO 1944-1-5-1

During the past quarter of a century there have been few such auspicious openings. In 1895 the weather conditions were not favourable, as the Tweed between Chain Bridge and Carham for about 16 miles was frozen over, making fishing impossible in the upper reaches, though the fishermen endeavoured to break up the ice with hammers. When, however, the ice broke up and the river-mouth was cleared, the catches were good, and the price was 1s 6d per pound – as low a figure as had been reached for many years. For the next ten years the openings were generally poor, and although the weather conditions were open, the catches were scanty. In 1905, in a spell of fine open weather, there was a very good opening, and with a good load of fish in the river, as many as 100 salmon were landed in one area at the opening tide. Although prices had averaged from 2s to 2s 2d per lb for the previous ten years, this run of luck reduced the prices to 1s 11d.

With an improving foreign market, the demand for fish is keen, though supplies asked for from the Continent are not so great as in pre-war days, when a large export trade was done from Tweed with Paris and Boulogne.

HINTS FOR THE HOME

Piano keys which have turned yellow can be whitened by the following method. Rub the keys with lemon juice, and while still damp polish with a cloth dipped in whiting or prepared chalk. Don’t let this get between the keys.

If a fire is needed in the bedroom, the time taken in lighting if often sufficient to do away with the good it gives. Gas fumes are bad for a sleeping person, but an electric radiator can be switched on in a second and turned off directly the need for it has disappeared.

Brass lids of fruit bottles often get stuck. Drop a little salad oil between the bottle and the lid with the aid of a feather, and then place the bottle about 18 inches from the fire. After the heat has caused the oil to run round the edge of the lid, a slight tap will release the lid.

Custard will curdle if you cook it too long or at too high temperature. A boiled custard should be cooked until it coats at the back of the spoon, and the water should not boil but be kept hot. A baked custard is tried with a knife, and if the knife comes out clean the custard is cooked, even if it is not brown.

MARCH HIRING

Belford

There was quite a good attendance at the annual hiring market for farm servants at Belford on Wednesday, and with good weather prevailing, those present spent a more pleasant day than has been the rule in recent years, when rough weather often made the day a miserable one. Few engagements were made, most of those present either having already engaged at present rates or hanging off until later markets. In spite of the difference of opinion of farmers as to whether women workers should be paid by hour or the week, the latter arrangement not being considered satisfactory, the demand for women workers was in excess of the supply. Only a few engagements were made, however, at the present weekly rate.

Wooler

There was a much larger gathering at Wooler Hiring Market on Thursday than for some years past, so large indeed that the supply seemed greater than the demand. Business was very slow, and in general nothing more than the minimum wage for men and women was asked for or offered. The majority of the agreements entered into with women were for 30s a week, the old custom of the daily wage being adhered to. There was a large attendance of farmers from Glendale and district. The difficulty of fixing up was not so much a question of wages as of adequate housing accommodation, many large families of workers not getting a chance. Representatives of the Workers’ Union were busy among the crowd in High Street in front of the Black Bull, and a meeting of workers was held in the Archbold Hall in the afternoon.

The weather was dull and cold, with a blustery wind that made standing about disagreeable. The larger part of the workers from the district arrived in Wooler with the early train, but many in the immediate neighbourhood cycled into the town during the forenoon. By midday the crowd had thinned considerably. No shows or roundabouts this year, only a few stalls near the Market Cross, and one or two “cheapjacks” endeavouring to dispose of their wares to the attentive but irresponsive crowd.

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