Spittal

BERWICK NEWSPAPERS, 1923

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BERWICK JOURNAL, 7TH JUNE 1923

TWEEDMOUTH FEAST TO BE CELEBRATED IN CANADA-

BERWICK MAN’S LETTER

(To Editor “Berwick Journal”)

13 Reynold’s Place, Toronto, Canada.

Sir- Following up a suggestion made in “Berwick Journal” last year, I have discussed here with several Berwickers, the holding of a picnic in Toronto at Tweedmouth Feast time. The proposal and arrangements are being made to hold pic-nic at High Park, Toronto, on Saturday, (Tweedmouth Feast Eve), July 21, to which all natives of Berwick and district are cordially invited.

Tweedmouth Feast, 1965 Programme. Ref: BRO 1864/18/10

I have received promises from quite a number, (but as there may be many in this District of Canada whom I am unable to communicate with, I would be pleased to have you publish this letter in your widely read Paper, so that anyone who gets the “Berwick Journal” out here – ( and every Borderer does) – may know of the coming event, which will link us up with our Homeland at Tweedmouth Feast-time.

Those who read “Berwick Journal” at Home, and have friends out  here, might please send them out word; and anyone here wishing to be present can obtain particulars on phoning me at North 7241.

With good weather pleasant and happy day may be spent and many tales of “Ye Olde Towne” talked over by those who though thousands of miles away are with “Berwick Journal” and the Homeland in spirit in this Great Annual Re-Union of Tweedmouth Feast – yours, etc., Wm. Hogg, Sir.

This letter from our old friend Mr Hogg brings joy to us, for Berwickers and Borderes in Canada are going to do a very good thing- celebrate Tweedmouth Feast some thousands of miles from Home; and this is a thing which might be done by Natives of Borderland now in every Colony and Outpost of Empire. It is one of the best way of linking up with Home, and at opportune time, when Tweedmouth Feast brings many Exiles back again to their “Ain Folk”.

We give here a photograph of Mr Hogg and another Berwicker, Mr Alec. Barrie, sent Home to us from Canada, where it was recently taken.

Many old Berwickers and Borderers will remember well the faces above portrayed, and they will kindle many happy memories of Auld Lang Syne – Editor, “Berwick Journal”.

BELFORD

The past week has had little else to record, but election fever. Not probably in the entire history of the Berwick Constituency had a contest been fraught with more excitement than that on Thursday last. The supporters of each candidate were all for a time equally confident of the final issue. Many were the prognostications from day to day, but even the best forecast came a long way off the result. The fact of the matter was that it was not a question of politics at all, but rather of sentiment, and when the result of the polling was declared there is no doubt, that the figures for the Conservative candidate surpassed by far the most sanguine anticipations of her most enthusiastic supporters.

MABEL PHILIPSON, REF: BRO 85

A Constituency so traditionally Liberal has not turned Conservative on the question of politics. Belford which at one time actually voted 99 per cent. Liberal was on this occasion as red wellnigh as it was possible to be. The wave of sentiment caught on all over ere the polling day, and from that, and that alone, Mrs Philipson received her very handsome majority. On Friday night she was enthusiastically received at every at every village from Alnwick to Berwick. At Belford her car was met by some of the younger stalwarts, and ropes being attached, it was hauled through the village to the Market Cross, from where Mrs Philipson addressed a great crowd. Mrs Philipson very unfortunately had completely lost her voice and could only whisper to her husband the message she wished him to convey to her supporters, whom she ardently desired to thank. The car was afterwards gain taken in tow and pulled well up the North Bank. Certainly not in the memory of any Belfordian can there have been greater excitement evidenced than that seen-on Friday night. Long before the arrival of the candidate the Street was thronged with an expectant crowd, and her appearance was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm. Mrs Philipson spent some time amongst the crowd, shaking hands with those whose acquaintance she had made at the previous election.

SPITTAL MAN KILLED TODAY

ON RAILWAY NEAR TWEEDMOUTH

As we were on the point of going to Press, we were informed that a Spittal man has been killed this day on the railway near Tweedmouth.

It seems that the engine driver of a south going train some time after noon saw what appeared to be a body on the line south of Tweedmouth, and he drew the attention of some workmen who had been on the line in Scremerston direction; and they found the dead man badly mangled and mutilated, having been, apparently, run over by a passing express train.

The unfortunate man is Jas. Laidlaw, aged 52, fisherman, Spittal, who used to live in Princes St. alone, but who has, for the past 6 weeks, been living with his sister Mrs Thompson, 52 Middle St., Spittal.

Laidlaw has been ill for some time, and depressed, and was, we hear, to go to Edinburgh infirmary for an operation.

The remains were conveyed to Berwick Mortuary; and an inquest will be held by the Coroner.

BERWICK WEDDING TODAY

OGG – HOLMES

A wedding of much local interest was solemnised in Wallace Green Church, Berwick, today, the contracting parties being Miss Phoebe Holmes, 3rd daughter of the late Coun. Ralph S. Holmes and Mrs Holmes, bridge Street, Berwick, and Mr James Edward Ogg, Cockburnspath. The Church was tastefully decorated with palms, plants and greenery.

Wallace Green Church, Ref: BRO 1636/9/5

As the bride leaning on the arm of her mother (who gave her away) came up the aisle the “Bridal March” from Wagner was played. The bride wore a charming dress of white satin broche (draped) and caught at the side with a brilliant and pearl buckle; the yoke and sleeves were embroidered with pearls. Her shoes were of silver, and her bouquet was of white laburnum and forget-me-nots. She was attended by 3 bridesmaids, Miss Doris S. Holmes and Misses Marjory Mc. C Willits and J. and G. Patricia Willits (nieces). Miss Holmes wore a smart dress of aluminum grey broche crepe-de-chene, trimmed with steel ornaments. She wore a black picture hat and carried a black and silver brocade bag with ivory top. The little bridesmaids looked dainty in white crepe-de-chene dresses and lace hats with pink ruching carrying ivory topped white satin bags.

The best man was Mr R. Oliver, Jedburgh.

The bride’s mother was attired in black charmeuse and wore a hat of black with Birds of Paradise tails.

The bride and bridegroom were recipients of many beautiful presents. The scholars of Cockburnspath and a number of friends presented the bride with a canteen of stainless cutlery in a beautiful framed oak case, with suitable inscription, on the occasion of her marriage. Miss Holmes has been a teacher in the school for 8 years, and has taken a great interest in her work, and has been much appreciated by the community. The Staff at Cockburnspath Post Office and late staff Oldhamstocks Post Office, presented the bridegroom with a beautiful smoker’s cabinet in polished oak, with bevelled glass panels and doors.

The staff of Messrs R. Holmes and Son, presented the bride with a beautiful entrée dish Mr R. Smith made the presentation.

BERWICKSHIRE MAN’S FIRM SENT,

1,400 of its Staff To The War

VICTORIA CROSS WON BY A WORKER

“To the glorious memory” of the 85 members of the Staff of William Whiteley, Limited, who made the supreme sacrifice in the War, a Memorial was unveiled on Friday on the firm’s premises, at Westbourne-grove, London, by Field-Marshal Lord Methuen.

Worked in bronze, the Memorial represents the figure of a recumbent warrior, wrapped In a Union Jack with Britannia at the head and Charity weeping at the foot. Behind is a marble tablet bearing the names of the fallen.

Every member of the Staff, numbering 5,000, was present at the Service, held beneath the central dome, the 4 circular galleries, being draped with the flags of the Allies. The Store was closed for half an hour.

Mr John Lawrie, Managing Director pf the Firm (noted Berwickshire Native, who lost his only son after gallant and distinguished deeds in the field), said 1,4000 of its employees went to the War, 13 won distinctions, and on was awarded Victoria Cross.

After unveiling the Memorial, Lord Methuen said we had had to face relentless enemy with patience, courage, and chivalry, and we had now among us an insidious foe that would do its upmost, not only in England, but in Europe, to destroy what had been handed down to us. The future was full of anxious thought. We had hitherto trusted to our great Navy, but that would be in the air. He was not one of those soldiers who wished to see this country a military nation, but he did feel what we had to do today was to see that our country had always a perfect assurance it was in a proper state of defence. We had no greater duty than to bring up our young as we should wish our forefathers to have brought us up. We should inculcate in them love of Country and love for God.

At the conclusion of the ceremony upwards of 100 beautiful wreaths were placed at the foot of the Memorial.

BERWICK NEWSPAPERS, 1923

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BERWICK JOURNAL, 15TH MARCH 1923

BURNMOUTH TO GET HALL

In order to secure a Public Hall for Burnmouth, a bazaar is to be held at Berwick. Mr John Anderson, Nulla Ghar, is Chairman of Burnmouth Hall Committee; Mr John Kinross, Schoolmaster, is Secretary; and Mr Thos. Barnfather, Stationmaster, is Treasurer. There are few spots on East Coast that can boast of such natural beauty as Burnmouth Village, mecca of Artists. Facing the sea yet shrinking from it into the shadow of the imposing Berwickshire Cliffs that rise to a height of 200 or 300 feet, stand the red-tiled cottages of the fishing community of this rock-bound coast- rich at every turn with picturesque scenery which Nature has bestowed with lavish hand. In Burnmouth Village there are some 400 inhabitants, and it is proposed the Hall be erected of the benefit of the whole community. By the efforts of the people themselves, about £150 have been raised since last March, and it is hoped the Bazaar in Berwick will make up the amount necessary. The young people, amongst whom are 60 ex-service men, have no place of meeting for recreation and social intercourse, and they have a special claim on public support, if village life is to be quickened, and the evenings made bright after a heavy day’s toil upon the sea. Truly indeed has it been said that the hardy fisherman’s calling in the vasty deep is “Lives o’ men.”

IN AND ABOUT SPITTAL SPECIAL AND EXCLUSIVE

TO THE BERWICK JOURNAL

Interest on Sunday afternoon last was largely centred on that part of the foreshore to which the Manure and Gas Works are immediately adjacent; groups of people watched the incoming tide, which being “Spring tide,” and one of the highest of its kind, forced itself with great power against the massive concrete cubes, which Messers McCreath had provided as a barrage against the tide in their efforts to protect their works. So great was the force of the waves that it undermined the foundation of sand and brought the cubes toppling down as if they had been mere paving setts. Men laboured the whole day (Sunday) filling the sand bags and placing them in position, in an endeavour to prevent a further inroad of the unrelenting tide. Messrs Dixon’s works, now discarded, serves only as a breakwater, and while it holds will afford some protection to the works lying behind; but the tide is already running underneath the foundations in places, and a collapse of part of the superstructure at any moment would not be surprising. The angry sea running last week produced a marked effect not only on Dixon’s premises, and the approach to McCreath’s but also to the foreshore of the gas works.

1852 Map, Section showing Spittal

Here the foreshore has been used as a “tip” by the company for years, for the refuse from their works, consequently tons upon tons of rubbish have been banked up to a height of 10 or 15 feet, and this embankment has acted as a breakwater to the works. Gradually this debris, however, is being swept away, hundreds of tons at a time come crashing down under the impetus of the incoming tide, and should the erosion continue, the gas works, which are practically at sea-level will become inundated; indeed, that portion of Spittal lying north of St. Helen’s Terrace would appear to be none too safe from flooding, as the level it occupies is extremely low. The reclaiming of the foreshore now becomes a pressing question. What is needed is a strong concrete wall to form an efficient breakwater, and as a foundation would be difficult owing to the sandy nature of the bottom, such a project would be costly. How is such cost to be borne? Would it pay the proprietors of the several works involved to be at the cost of such a wall and so save their works, or would it pay such proprietors better to remove their works elsewhere?

BRO 426/879 St Helens Terrace, showing Industrial Spittal.

Evidently Messrs Dixon after spending something approaching £1000 in a vain attempt to save their works have thrown up the sponge. Should the remaining proprietors follow Messers Dixon’s lead, then the prospect for Spittal is none too good from the working man’s point of view, as many earn their daily bread in the various works. Is the question of the erection of a wall not one of wider interest than affects the effected property owners merely? Does it touch the Borough? Or wider still the Nation? On whoever the onus does rest, prompt action is necessary. The efforts which Messers McCreath are putting forth the sea is treating as puny, and it looks as if they, like their neighbour Dixon and co, are only spending time and money fruitlessly. Something solid on a substantial foundation is the correct remedy.

LOCAL NEWS

The first German trawler in Tweed Dock since the beginning of October arrived on Sunday last, having come direct from Bremerhaven, which port she left on the previous Friday. The “Dr. Asnas,” of Rostock, she took aboard 120 tons of bunker coal from Scremerston, motor lorries being engaged the whole of Monday conveying the coal from the pit. She left again for the fishing grounds on Tuesday afternoon.

Scremerston Colliery

The Glasgow steamer “Cretan” arrived in the Dock on Monday light, from the north, and sailed again on Wednesday with a cargo of barley, from Messrs H.G. McCreath and Sons. On Tuesday afternoon the schooner “John Sims,” Gloucester, arrived in the Dock in charge of 2 Spittal cobbles up the river. She is from Fewey with a cargo of China clay for Chirnside Paper Mills.

BERWICK’S NEW RAILWAY COY. HAS 7500 ENGINES

There is a stir in railway circles over the colour schemes to be adopted for locomotives and carriages now that uniformity is the order of the day as the result of all great railways of England and Scotland being combined into only 4 groups. Our own Coy., London and North Eastern, has come to a decision in regard to the change, and as its locomotives go through the “shops” for painting or repairing the passenger engines are being turned out in a green livery and goods engines in sober black. In both instances the new “trade mark, “L. & N.E.R.” appears in bold letters on the tender or other suitable position.

London, Midland, and Scottish Railway Coy. alone owns well over 10,000 locomotives and 25,000 passenger vehicles, which is world’s record, while London and North-Eastern possesses more than 7,500 engines and 20,000 “coaching vehicles.”

BERWIC NATIVE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Mr Robt. Kerr, Christchurch, New Zealand, (Native of Berwick-upon-Tweed), writes us from the Colony – Out here we have a large number of men and women out of work, partly owing to so many coming from Overseas, which we workers rightly or wrongly resent. The difficult thing is to find work. Sometimes it means displacing local men, and then comes friction. I think, however, we are in a position to help, as we grow much what we use. But Protection is the workers’ watchword although we have a large Free Trade population. We all love cheapness! The seamen’s dispute has had bad effect on business; they object to a reduction of wages, but most trades have been reduced, no doubt the “bonus” cut of our Civil Servants has cost the Hon. W. F. Massey many seats in the General Election. Labour gained 8 seats, now holding 17 places; Liberals hold 25; and Reform 38 – a great surprise to all Mr Massey lost his majority through the wages cut, but he is an honest man and struggled manfully during the war period to keep our finances in a buoyant state. Had he been a juggler in finance we might have been worse off than we are now. Outlook is good for a bountiful harvest as most crops are looking well. We have an Industrial Exhibition of local industries, showing how much we can make, which is really good. Only many workers today, don’t think they ought to try to excel to make our products worthy of a place in the world’s markets. Instead of indifferent work through carelessness and inefficiency, we now have the opportunity. Our temperance friends left no stone unturned in their endeavour to get National Prohibition, even to bringing “Pussyfoot” Johnson and Dr Mary Armour from America, but all to no purpose – they lost by 16,000 odd votes.

One by one my old Berwick acquaintances out here are dying. I miss my old friend Tom Smail, as he always had some news of the old place. There is a Stoddart family out here who are much interested in Borderland news. They tell me their late father was a great man for fishing.

All good wishes to “Berwick Journal” and North Northumberland News,” and also to “Berwickshire News,” for 1923.

NEW ROAD AT TWEEDMOUTH LIKELY TO BE ABANDONED

The proposal to make a new road at Tweedmouth from the 5 arches through Union Park, is now likely, we understand, to be abandoned. It will be remembered that some months ago the Council decided to purchase for that purpose, from Lady Francis Osborne, Ord House, the field adjoining Union Park, on the north side, extending to 10 acres. The purchase price was about £2,000, the Council agreeing to bear the cost of conveyance. An impasse has risen over the payment of the negotiating fees, claimed by Mr W. J. Bolam, agent for Lady Osborne.

BA-U10-04-02 Tweedmouth Section of the 1852 OS Map for Berwick showing West End, Union Park area.

The sanitary Authority last week agreed to the following report of the Works’ Committee: The Committee further considered the question of the negotiating fees amounting to £42 11s charged by Mr W. J. Bolam in connection with the proposed acquisition of land at Tweedmouth from Lady F. Osborne. The Town Clerk reported that the vendors’ solicitors refused to complete the purchase unless the negotiating fees in question be paid, and it was agreed to recommend the Council to refuse payment of the fees.

Following this decision, Mr Andrew Martin, Tweedmouth Town farm, of whose holding the field in question formed part, began to plough up the land on Tuesday, so that it would seem the negotiating are now definitely broken off.

VIOLENT PRISONER AT SPITTAL

Jas. Allan, engineman, Fowberry Moor, was charged with having been drunk and incapable in Billendean Road at 4 pm on March 3; and also, with doing wilful damage to 15 panes of glass and the frame of the door in the Police cells, to the amount of £2 10s.- Sergt. Barclay said he was motor cycling down Billendean Road when he found Allan lying in a helpless state. He put him into the side car and conveyed him to the Police Station at Spittal. About an hour after Allan had been locked up witness heard a disturbance and on going to the cell, found that Allan had broken 15 panes of glass in the cell window. Later there was another disturbance, and witness found him using the cell bed as a battering ram against the cell door, which was badly damaged.

Supt. Halliday- He was quiet enough on his way to the Police Station. I think the surroundings must not have suited him.

Fined 10s on the first charge, £1 on the second, and ordered to pay the damage, a total of £4.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 27TH OCTOBER 1922

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THE GENERAL ELECTION

The break-up of the Coalition makes election prospects in Berwick very complicated. Sir Francis Blake, who supported the Coalition, is retiring, and Mr Hilton Philipson, who has consistently spoken of himself as a Liberal, has until now had the support of the Unionists in the constituency. Will he continue to get it? A meeting of the Unionist Association has been called for Saturday, by which time Mr Bonar Law will have announced his programme at Leeds and Mr Lloyd George will be speaking the same day. It was announced on Wednesday morning that the Conservative headquarters had decided not to bring out further candidates against any Coalition Liberals who are willing to give general support to Mr Bonar Law’s Government. By Saturday both Mr Hilton Philipson and the Unionist Association should know where they stand. There is no such doubt as to Mr Runciman’s position. He will have the support of the Independent Liberals, and there will be no Labour candidate to detach votes from him. Either there will be a straight fight between Mr Runciman and Mr Philipson or a triangular contest between Mr Runciman, Mr Philipson and a Conservative. Until we know more as to what is to happen it is, useless to go into possibilities.

The “Alnwick Gazette,” in which many people understand that Mr Charles Percy has an interest, last week stated that there was a considerable expression of opinion in the constituency – “now that the Conservatives have adopted an independent course- that a Conservative should stand for the Berwick Division. The name of a sitting Member of Parliament, resident in our own district (Alnwick), has frequently been mentioned as the right man to do successful battle on behalf of the Conservative party.” Some people have assumed that the sitting member of Parliament resident in Alnwick might possibly be Mr Charles Percy himself. He heads the list of five candidates at the poll at Tynemouth in 1918 with a majority of about 450 votes over the next candidate, and he announced some time ago that he would not recontest the seat. This would not prevent his standing as an Independent Conservative candidate for North Northumberland with or without official support.

HOLY ISLAND

The new hostess at No. 10 Downing Street will probably be Lady Sykes (ness Miss Isobel Law), Mr Bonar Law’s eldest daughter. She was married to major Sir Frederick Sykes in May, 1920, and the couple, it will be remembered, came by aeroplane to Holy Island for their honeymoon.


On Friday evening the harvest thanksgiving festival was held in St. Mary’s Parish Church. The church was most elaborately decorated with beautiful fresh flowers, abundance of fruit, vegetable, corn- perfect in taste and beauty. Certainly the churchy has never looked prettier; the font was laden with flowers, green sprays and vegetables making a pretty border round the bottom. The pulpit had handsome sheaves of corn as a background, with apples in rows round the front and bunches of black grapes hanging to each lamp, and different coloured flowers and green covering the body of the pulpit. The altar, too, was magnificent with lovely white flowers and brass brightly polished, and apples in rows in front of the altar rails and two huge sheaves of corn with white loaves round them.

St. Mary’s Parish Church. REF: BRO 426/1108

The fisherman’s aisle was decorated with the harvest of the sea, the “lines” with fish attached hung prettily from each pillar. The oars and small boat and seaweed made it exquisite. The next most touching site was a pretty cross of flowers and greens placed by loving hands below each memorial tablet of departed friends. The Rev. H. Haslam, Vicar of Beadnell, preached a very inspiring and striking sermon to large congregations, while the choir rendered a pretty anthem- “Oh, Lord, how good and manifold are Thy works”- in perfect style. The hearty singing of harvest hymns and Psalms brought the service to a close, the organist (Miss Bell) doing her part exceeding well. The services on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. were conducted by the Vicar.

FALL IN BIRTH AND DEATH RATES

The Medical Officer’s quarterly report for period ending 30th September, having been printed and circulated, was taken as read. The report, adopted without comment, was as follows: – There has been a marked fall in the Birth Rate as compared with the preceding quarter and “a most remarkable fall in the Death Rate. This latter is in keeping with similar fall noted all over the country. The small number of deaths in infants (4), including only two from infantile diarrhoea, is due to the cold damp summer. Infectious disease in the borough remained slight in amount. Six cases of scarlet fever occurred and all were removed to hospital, as was the one case of diphtheria. The new Hospital Wards have been in use during the period and have proved to be very convenient and comfortable. The Child Welfare Centre continues to be well attended.

The births in Berwick were 13 boys, 17 girls, a total of 30; in Tweedmouth, 8 boys, 9 girls, a total of 17; in Spittal, 2 boys, 4 girls, a total of 6; making a total for the whole borough of 23 boys, 30 girls- 53.

The deaths in Berwick were 4 males, 10 females, a total of 14; in Tweedmouth, 5 males, 7 females, a total of 12; in Spittal, no males, 3 females, a total of 3; making a total for the Borough of 9 males, 20 females-29. The ages at death were:- Under 1 year, 4; 1 to 5, 3; 5 to 15, 1; 15 to 45, 5; 45 to 60, 7; 60 to 70, 1; 70 to 80, 4; 80 to 90, 3; 90 upwards, 1.

Causes of death were:- Whooping cough, 1; phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis), 3; cancer, malignant disease, 4; organic heart disease, 5; pneumonia (all forms), 1; other diseases of respiratory organs, 2; diarrhoea and enteritis (under 2 years), 1; appendicitis and typhlitis, 1; congenital debility, etc., 3; violent deaths excluding suicide, 1; other defined diseases, 7; total, 29.

Of Infectious Diseases there were the following cases:- Scarlet fever, 6; pneumonia, 3; tuberculosis, 2; erysipelas, 2; diphtheria, 1; total, 14. Removal to hospital, 6 cases.

LOCAL NEWS

With a strong sea running and a stiffish south-easterly gale combining to make conditions bad enough for a wreck, Berwick lifeboat crew were summoned for a practice on Thursday afternoon. After a smart launch, the boat proceeded down the river under oars. When the end of the Pier was reached sails were hoisted, and the boat ran for a considerable distance out to sea, bearing towards the Farnes.

Light House and Berwick Pier REF: BRO 1636/7/13

She then turned round and made for home, after having been out for about an hour. The bar was somewhat difficult to negotiate. A crowd at the River View Works at Spittal Point were interested in the practice, as well in watching the inroads of the sea, the waves are high tide breaking on to the roofs of the works. Groups of people on the Walls and Pier watched with admiration the lifeboat crew undertake their unpleasant task in answer to the rocket’s summons.

A very successful dance, organised by the dressmakers of Messrs Paxton and Purves, Ltd., was held in the King’s Arms Assembly Rooms on Wednesday night. About 38 couples were present. Everything was conducted in a very business-like way, and a great deal of the success depended upon the non-dancing friends of the organisers who assisted in the preparation and serving of supper.

Paxton & Purves, 1960’s REF: BRO 1944/1/3443/2

There was no “sitting out,” the enticements of the orchestra under the direction of Sergt. Parker were much too strong, for the very latest and best music was played in perfect time. At one o’clock everyone made for home tired but happy.

On Tuesday and Wednesday last week a meeting for retriever trials in connection with the Scottish Field Trials Association was held on the Mellerstain estate near Gordon by permission of the Earl of Haddington. In the trials on Tuesday, Capt. H. Liddell Grainger’s dog, “Troop of Faskally” (Labrador) was placed 4th in the open stakes for all ages. The non-winners’ stakes were decided on the Wednesday at the farm of Darlingfield, Gordon. Colonel Trotter, Charterhall, acted as one of the guns. The hole of the “work” took place over ideal ground for the purpose, principally among roots, and, notwithstanding the bad season, it provided a fine variety of game, especially partridges.

A COMPLAINT AS TO DIRTY WAGGONS

The Committee of the Berwick Branch of the National Farmers’ Union agreed at their meeting on Saturday to send a resolution to their Executive expressing the hope that railway companies would exercise proper care in the cleansing of waggons and that a supply of sawdust be available at all stations for those who use it. The discussion arose out of a complaint made by Mr J. Rand Gainslaw, that sheep he had purchased at Wooler were put into a filthy waggon and he had been charged for sawdust that had never been put in the waggons. If thousands of sheep were coming to the sales the railway company ought to be prepared for the traffic. Mr W. Davidson, East Learmouth, moved the resolution, which was carried, an amendment by Mr J. B. Barr, Moneylaws, to take no notice of the dirty waggons, as this was a rare occasion, being lost by 7 votes to 2.

Mr Davidson urged the importance of sawdust being put into the waggons as perhaps more cruelty was done to animals by not putting in sawdust than in any other way. If sent in waggons to England without sawdust, sheep could not walk when they got out.

Mr J. R. Wood supported Mr Barr. Were owners of stock inclined to pay for sawdust? There were two sides to consider. He knew that on trucks of sheep arriving at Wooler sales the railway company had put men on there and then to get the waggons cleaned to get the sheep away from the sale. On one occasion he had had the choice of getting his stock home the night of the sale if he used a dirty waggon or of waiting till the next day to get a clean waggon. It was often to the benefit of purchasers of sheep to get them away the same night. Had Mr Rand taken any steps to bring his case before the railway company?

Mr Rand- I thought it was a suitable case for the National Farmers’ Union to take up.

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