Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Thurso water supply concerns
From the Groat of August 18, 1922
The water supply for the town of Thurso continued to occupy the minds of the town council.
At its latest meeting, Bailie Anderson suggested that an unlimited supply was available from springs at Brawlbin "were these conserved and brought to the main".
In the meantime, the water shortage continued to cause concern and the water inspector was instructed to "visit all motor garages in town and impress upon the occupiers the necessity that exists for the economical use of water, failing which the council may be under the necessity of withdrawing the supply".
Elsewhere, the Buckie motor boat Broxyburn had been destroyed by fire 12 miles off Wick. Its nets had been half out when the fire was discovered about 9pm.
The motor boats Good Hope and Rescue were quickly on the scene and took aboard the crew members.
"Several other fishing boats gathered round but although an attempt was made by water hose to extinguish the fire all efforts were in vain, and the boat was completely destroyed."
Meanwhile, Wick Golf Club had been presented with a new trophy by John Campbell of Buenos Aires, the brother of Major Campbell, Stanstill.
The solid silver rose bowl was for competitions involving the lady golfers at the club and it was hoped the prize would increase the interest in the game among the women.
Pulteney workshop 'situation'
From the Groat of August 18, 1972
The erection of a small wooden workshop within a stone wall-protected yard containing a large boat-building shed had created "a situation" involving the harbour trust, the Dean of Guild Court, the town council's planning committee and the lessee of the yard, James McCaughey.
Mr McCaughey, with the assistance of the Highlands and Islands Development Board, had developed a promising business in the building of fishing vessels for a number of Scottish ports.
"Sharing with some members of local public boards the mistaken belief that no specific authority was required, Mr McCaughey erected the workshop behind the boat-shed (the front of which faces onto the Harbour Quay). It was intended to be used for the production of wood-turned parts for luxury export articles not connected with boat-building."
However, it transpired that the workshop had required the approval of the planning committee and the Dean of Guild Court.
Members of the harbour trust heard that the Dean of Guild Court had instructed Mr McCaughey to remove the shed and learned that he could have been fined for the infraction.
However, there was some confusion as to whether the planning authority had any jurisdiction on land owned by the harbour trust and it was noted that there had been no objection to the boat-building shed itself.
HIE claims challenged
From the Groat of August 22, 1997
Highlands and Islands Enterprise's claim that Caithness had been one of its most successful areas the previous year had been challenged by a leading business figure and the county's provost.
HIE maintained its local enterprise company had created or retained 667 jobs as result of £3 million in grants but it was argued that any economic success had been in spite of HIE, not because of it.
Caithness provost John Young said he could see no evidence of the economic regeneration HIE claimed was taking place in Caithness, and he called on Scotland's industry minister to take the agency by the "scruff of the neck" and give its £75m annual budget to the cash-starved councils in the area.
The quango's glowing report card also opened old wounds about what it did with £9m of taxpayers' money earmarked to counter the rundown at Dounreay.
Caithness and Sutherland Chamber of Commerce chairman Harry Kennedy said Thurso, the area most affected by the rundown, had been denied the full benefit. "There are almost 100 companies in the chamber and I cannot see the optimism that HIE does," he stated.
There was also a backlash from Western Isles Council, with its vice-convener Angus Graham saying that HIE's comments were at best an attempt to put the best possible gloss on its performance and at worst "an attempt to distort the truth".
