No vote needed in the north
No vote needed in the north
From the Groat of October 24, 1924
Local MP Sir Archibald Sinclair had been returned unopposed to office on the day nominations were accepted for the general election.
While voters throughout the country would turn out to make their choices on October 29, in Caithness and Sutherland Sir Archibald was the only candidate and, “there being no other nomination”, he was “declared elected and the usual official formalities were carried through”.
However, there had been suggestions earlier in the day that another candidate was to stand.
In what was described as a “nomination day hoax in Wick”, various rumours had taken hold “about the possibility of a socialist candidate appearing suddenly and dramatically” and “for a short period on Saturday morning one person at least is believed to have entertained the conviction that these rumours were to be realised”.
A Freswick man who was a member of the Northern Land Union had arrived in Wick with nomination papers. “He is understood to have had in his possession a telegram from the Socialist headquarters in Glasgow stating that a candidate with their label... was travelling north and would arrive in Wick by the mid-day train.
“Not many people were aware of this startling eleventh-hour development but when the news was conveyed to Sir Archibald Sinclair... he is said to have received it with a smile. Needless to say, no Socialist candidate stepped off the south train.”
The writer commented that “the practical joker seems to be with us always, and in this case afforded the only bit of light comedy in connection with what was otherwise a very drab and formal affair”.
Closing chapter in burgh’s history
From the Groat of October 25, 1974
Wick’s domestic rate was to remain unchanged, members of Wick Town Council were told when treasurer James Dunne submitted what was the final budget statement before the reorganisation of local government.
The town council was to stand down the following May and the last financial statement was described as a “historic budget marking a new chapter in the life of the royal burgh”.
Presenting his budget, Mr Dunne said it was “the closing chapter in the history of their royal burgh”. It was, he said, “regrettable, but the time for protest is past and the future of our burgh’s destiny has been decided”.
He paid tribute to the staff and executives in helping to maintain the budget and the ratepayers themselves “for their timeous payment of assessments”, adding that the council was in the fortunate position of collecting 99 per cent of rates.
Dean of Guild James Miller said the town council had “always prided themselves on being a go-ahead authority” and he pointed to the housing plans as proof of that, saying that the “expansion programme proves that we are alive” to the need for homes.
Police judge James Kay said: “We as a town have tried to move forward. We have worked as a go-ahead council and tried to get our priorities right.”
Weigh Inn almost complete
From the Groat of October 29, 1999
Staff at the new Weigh Inn Motel in Thurso were working flat out to prepare for its reopening nearly two years after the bar, kitchen and restaurant complex was destroyed by fire.
The finishing touches were being done on the imposing two-storey building being developed on the site at Burnside.
The renaissance of the popular function and night-spot was being marked by the naming of the new sports bar as Ashes.
However, manager Jim Youngson had doused speculation about the significance of the formal opening of the new £1.5 million complex being on Guy Fawkes Night.
Instead, he explained, the dates November 5 and 6 for the private functions to herald the completion of the scheme had been picked to tie in with the diaries of the guest entertainers – comedian Colin Campbell and the Whiskers Galore band.
Following the fire in December 1997, the business had continued with just a handful of staff operating its outside chalets, but the new development meant more jobs with recruitment taking place for a payroll of 35.
Elsewhere, moves were afoot to establish a refuge in Thurso for women and children affected by domestic violence. The Scottish Executive had announced it was making £8 million available to combat domestic violence, and in a debate Highland MSP Maureen Macmillan pointed out that Caithness was one of the areas where no provision had been made for coping with victims.
But she added there were “women who have begun to raise the possibility of a refuge in Thurso”.