Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Boys admit statue damage
From the Groat of October 19, 1923
Nine young boys, aged between 10 and 15 years, appeared at Wick Burgh Court charged with "maliciously throwing stones at and damaging the James T Calder monument at the Riverside".
Burgh prosecutor Mr GPJ Wares told the court that the charges were very serious and that boys had been climbing onto the monument as well as throwing stones at it.
He added that the court was "probably aware the present condition of the statue was a disgrace to the town" and he considered the "only remedy was a whipping".
The case against one boy was found not proven and three were withdrawn, leaving five boys who pleaded guilty and were "ordered to receive three stripes of the birch rod each".
Provost McEwen, addressing the boys in the presence of some of their parents said that "a very light sentence had been pronounced" but he warned that if the youngsters reoffended they would be sent to a reformatory.
Elsewhere, Excise officials, accompanied by police, had raided a house at Armadale, Tongue, and captured a "complete plant for the manufacture of spirits, including a still, worm and brewing plant".
The officers found a quantity of malt in the process of manufacture and a "quantity of the finished article".
The householder lived in a two-roomed dwelling in a "lonely part of the mountainous district of Sutherland", with the "ben" section of the property given over to the production of spirits.
Go-ahead for Dunnet project
From the Groat of October 19, 1973
The plan to use Dunnet Bay as a fabrication yard for the oil industry had been approved by the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Mr Gordon Campbell was to allow CBI Constructors Ltd (formerly Chigaco Bridge) to build production platforms at the site.
It was reported that when Caithness County Council met "there was a general feeling of elation at the good news".
A number of conditions were attached to the planning permission but it was thought that none of these would be difficult to overcome.
The council was now preparing for its role in this new development in the county.
County Convener Alex Rugg said that the decision "gives us great satisfaction – the majority of the members anyway – and the majority of the people in the county.
"I think the decision depended very much on the case the council put up, especially by our officials at the inquiry."
It was noted that nothing would be done at the site until the fabrication company had won an order. If no order was won within three years, then the planning consent would fall.
Meanwhile, Wick Town Council had voted to end its association with the town's traditional Hogmanay bonfire.
The event had its origins in Pulteneytown and predated the amalgamation of the burghs.
The council made it clear there was no objection to anyone else organising the bonfire.
Reay fightback begins
From the Groat of October 23, 1998
A campaign group was in the process of being formed in Reay to fight the proposal to transfer the village to Sutherland.
The Reay Caithness Society was in its early stages but already had plans to orchestrate a letter-writing campaign aimed at persuading the Secretary of State for Scotland to rule against the Boundary Commission's recommendation.
The commission's plan had sparked outrage amongst the residents of Reay and it was hoped the formation of a campaign group would add another voice to the already strong objections to the proposal.
One of those leading the opposition was retired veterinary officer Robert Paterson, who lived in the village with his wife June who was born and brought up there.
He had already written a strongly worded letter to the commission when the plan was first mooted and had since sent a copy to Donald Dewar.
Another copy of the letter was on display in the village shop where it was hoped it would encourage others to put pen to paper.
Elsewhere, the official opening of the Wick College was to take place the following week.
The building at the Camps was to have an electronic link-up with Thurso College and be part of the ambitious University of the Highlands and Islands project.
Guests at the event were to be given a tour of the building, including the video-conferencing and seminar rooms.
