Looking back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Fall in drunkenness offences
From the Groat of October 13, 1922
The Wick branch of the British Women's Temperance Association heard that offending related to drunkenness had fallen drastically since the burgh had gone "dry".
In the October issue of the Temperance News, an article had been written by Mr W K Cormack, Chief Constable, in which he examined the effect of the licence restrictions on the town.
He stated: "From May 28, 1922, when the licences ceased, to August 29, one person only was reported for drunkenness in Wick burgh, and no persons have been dealt with for other offences which involved drunkenness during that period.
"For a similar period in the previous year, 20 cases of drunkenness were dealt with and 30 for other offences attributable to drunkenness."
The meeting also learned that nine dozen temperance magazines were being distributed in the area each month.
Meanwhile, in Thurso a member of the town council had claimed that the prices charged by the local gas company amounted to extortion.
Councillor Wilson made the comment about the charge of £3 per street light. He had made enquiries, he said, and a neighbouring town was paying just 12s 6d to 14s per jet.
He said that as a result of Thurso Town Council entering into the agreement with the company, a "considerable loss resulted to the ratepayers".
University mooted for Wick
From the Groat of October 13, 1972
The SNP spokesman for Scottish oil had suggested that a technological university be established in the far north, with Wick being the ideal location.
Such a centre, envisaged Gordon Wilson, "would turn Scotland into the leading country in the world on the subject of mid-ocean oil technology".
He said that geographically Caithness was ideally suited for substantial involvement in oil exploitation, and that such a centre in the east of the county would complement the existing research facilities at Dounreay.
The people of Caithness, he explained "have already shown how well they can adapt to this kind of sophisticated project", adding that it "makes more sense to have Aberdeen as the oil centre, with a university of petroleum technology in Wick, than it does to have the whole thing centred in London as the government are proposing".
Elsewhere, a walker had set off from John O'Groats to protest against Britain's entry to the Common Market. Slim Bradford (58), of Surrey, who was born in Fort William, Ontario, Canada, had sold his house and all his possessions.
He had taken no food since the previous Tuesday but had been drinking water and tea, and intended to walk as far south as he could until he became exhausted.
CASE chief's letter backlash
From the Groat of October 17, 1997
Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise had been accused of meddling in the affairs of Highland Council after its chairman wrote to all eight Caithness councillors recommending changes to the structure of one of their committees.
Jack Watson had supported a call by Councillor John Mowat, Castletown, to double the number of councillors on the Caithness economic strategy group and invite more CASE directors.
But his tactics had annoyed the provost of Caithness, Councillor John Young, who said the enterprise company should "get its own house in order before trying to interfere in the structure of the Highland Council".
The strategy group included four Caithness councillors and four CASE representatives, but Mr Mowat wanted all eight councillors to be members.
Reacting to Mr Mowat's call, Mr Watson wrote that CASE "would welcome the opportunity to meet with all Caithness councillors on a regular basis as they currently do in Sutherland".
He said the partnership approach would be enhanced by widening the existing group to include all Caithness councillors and CASE directors and on occasion to invite representatives from other relevant organisations to attend.
Mr Young responded that the chairman would be better employed "answering the questions that I and others have put to him regarding the £9 million given to Caithness. That is what is troubling the public."
