Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Poetic windfall for auctioneer
From the Groat of February 15, 1924
In the Thurso district news section it was reported that at a recent sale of household effects a well-known local auctioneer had purchased "a first edition of the posthumous papers of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, dated 1824, and also a collection of poetical pieces by the same author printed in 1823".
The purchaser, having spent eightpence on the lot, forwarded the papers to the well-known London firm of Messrs Christie, Manson and Woods for cataloguing and possible sale, and was "surprised and gratified" to receive an offer of £5 10s for the posthumous papers and £19 for the poetical pieces. "Needless to say he closed with the offer."
Meanwhile, in Strath Halladale, a "remarkable incident" was reported.
It appeared that two ground watchers at Ballach became suspicious of two occupants of a motor car proceeding along the moorland road. The watchers followed the car on bicycles and were able to overtake it when it came to a standstill because of a broken axle.
"The suspicions of the watchers were fully confirmed when they discovered two young hinds dead in the vehicle."
A rifle was found in the car but the police investigation which followed showed that neither of the men found with the car possessed a licence for a car or a gun, a driver's licence or a game licence.
Tenants to blame for damp
From the Groat of February 15, 1974
Council house tenants who suffered from damp homes "have only themselves to blame", members of Wick Town Council had decided.
Burgh surveyor Mr A S Begg had reported that, following complaints from tenants, he had ordered surveys of several properties which suffered badly from condensation.
He told the meeting that there was nothing wrong with houses – the problems were caused by poor ventilation and inadequate heating.
"Some of the properties which he and his department had examined showed mould on the outside walls. Household furnishings suffered too. Bedding and carpets were damp and even leatherwear went mouldy.
"But the problem was simply condensation," the surveyor said. "It could be cured by tenants leaving a window slightly open."
He also said poor heating was another cause and many people were using paraffin heaters which gave off water vapour, causing "damage to household effects and the house itself".
Councillors agreed to send explanatory letters to tenants along with booklets that would advise them on how to deal with damp.
At the same meeting, councillors were shocked to find that their share of the cost of a feasibility study on bridging the Dornoch Firth had more than doubled. The council had initially agreed to pay seven per cent of an expected £1900, but the cost had risen to £5500.
MacKenzies take over hotel
From the Groat of February 19, 1999
The prestigious Portland Arms Hotel in Lybster had been sold to Caithness businessman Alan MacKenzie and his wife Alison.
Mr and Mrs MacKenzie, who ran MacKenzie's Furniture Village in Wick, had taken over ownership of the 25-bedroom hotel from Gerry and Helen Henderson.
The premises were to be leased as a business to Borders-based hoteliers Jim and Jo Sutherland, and the day-to-day running of it was to be undertaken by Mrs Sutherland and new resident manager Mark Stevens, who had previously worked in the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh.
Mr MacKenzie said he had known the Sutherlands as both friends and business acquaintances for many years. He had been responsible for redesigning and refurbishing their award-winning country house hotel, The Lodge at Carfraemill.
He said he had seen the success the Sutherlands had made of their hotel in the Borders and was "very confident they will build on the excellent work that Mr and Mrs Henderson have done at the Portland Arms".
Elsewhere, a proposed £1 million facelift of Thurso town centre had been endorsed by most of the 50 traders and residents who attended an information meeting in the town hall.
Objections to the new traffic management scheme appeared to have been resolved. But, while the town centre upgrade was welcomed, shopkeepers expressed frustration at what they saw as "a negative attitude to the retail sector" by Highland Council and Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise.
