1895 February 13 Orkney Herald
SNOW STORM. – Last Wednesday morning there was a renewal of the snow storm; indeed that morning the weather could only be compared to an Arctic blizzard. Snow fell heavily, and, as there was a strong wind, formed in deep drifts. Even in the streets of Kirkwall the snow lay to a depth of three or four feet, while on the country roads, which were rendered quite impassable, ten feet was no exceptional depth. Efforts, to a large extent voluntary, have since been made to open the roads, and traffic has now been resumed between Kirkwall and several districts. Since Wednesday little snow has fallen, but keen frost has prevailed and the Peerie Sea and ponds near Kirkwall, all of which have been frozen, have been much resorted to by skaters. As was to be expected after such a storm, the Highland Railway line was again blocked. The mail steamer St Ola crossed to Scrabster on Thursday afternoon, and proceeded from thence the following morning to lnvergordon, returning to Scapa and Stromness on Saturday morning with three days’ mails. On Sunday night she again left for Invergordon, returning on Monday night with the two mails then due. The line was got clear yesterday afternoon, and the steamer at once started for Scrabster. The local mails have also been irregular in consequence of the state of the roads. Those for Finstown have been sent on by boat. As will be seen from our district news, two deaths have been caused by exposure – one in Evie and one in Westray. The weather is the most severe that has been known in the memory of any now living.
1895 February 27 Orkney Herald
CROFTERS’ HOLDINGS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. – This Bill to amend the Crofters’ Holdings (Scotland) Act of 1886 has been backed by Dr Clark, Mr Weir, Dr Macgregor, Mr McLeod, Sir Donald Macfarlane, and Sir Leonard Lyell. There is but one operative clause, according to which the definition of a crofter is: – “Any person who at the passing of this Act is tenant of a holding, who resides on his holding, the annual rent of which does not exceed £30 in money, and which is situated in a crofting parish, and the successors of such person in the holding being his heirs and legatees.”
1895 March 20 Orkney Herald
CLAIM FOR POOR RATES DISMISSED. – At the Sheriff Court, Lerwick, on Wednesday, continued debate took place in the claim at the instance of Mr H. Hunter, collector of poor rates for the Parish of Unst, against Mr Hugh Inkster, formerly tenant of the farm of Beargardie, Haroldswick, Unst, and now farmer, [at Westness Farm], Rousay, Orkney, claiming the sum of 17s 9d in respect of poor rates. Sheriff Sherman upheld one of the defences put forward by Mr Robertson. defender’s agent, viz., that the defender had not received notice of assessment, and pronounced decree of absolvitor, with 14s 1d of expenses. The other point in the defence, as to whether a citation in that Court was competent as against a defender residing in Orkney, was not gone into.
1895 March 27 Orkney Herald
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
LIST OF NOMINATIONS.
The polling in the Parish Council Elections takes place next Tuesday…..The following is a list of the nominations made, some of the candidates may, however, have withdrawn:…..
ROUSAY AND EGILSHAY. – (5 seats, 10 candidates) – Fred. Burroughs Kirkness, Quoyostray; John Gibson, Langskaill; David B. Wood, Trumland; George Gibson, Avelshay; Lieut.-Gen. F. W. Traill Burroughs, C.B., of Rousay and Veira; Robert Dennison Mainland, Nearhouse; John M. Harrold, merchant; William Learmonth, Innister; John Inkster, Little Cogar; James Clouston, Maybank.
ROUSAY – A SOIREE CONCERT was held in the United Presbyterian Church on Friday night. There was a large attendance, and the entertainment was throughout most successful. The Rev. Mr Pirie had with him on the platform the Revs. Messrs McLeman, F.C.; Mackay, U.P.; and Mr Peart, agent of the Scottish Temperance League. Each of these gentlemen gave racy and instructive speeches. Mr Pirie exhibited a number of diagrams of the Catacombs of Rome, and described early Christianity in connection with these subterranean caverns. A large choir, under the leadership of Mr Allan C. Gibson, rendered a number of choruses, quartettes, and solos in a most efficient and skilful manner. All the pieces were sung with marked precision and spirit, and showed evidence of careful and earnest training. Appended is the programme of music: –
Chorus, “Jerusalem, my Glorious Home”; quartette, “Altogether Lovely,” Misses Leonard and Low, and Messrs A. and G. Gibson; solo and chorus, “Abiding Rest,” A. Gibson; chorus, “Fall of Babylon”; quartette, “Beautiful Home,” Misses Kirkness, Messrs W. Marwick and D. Mackay; solo, “The Holy City,” Miss Ferguson; chorus. “Immanuel”; chorus, “They that wait upon the Lord”; quartette, “Look to Jesus,” Misses Leonard and Low, Messrs A. and G. Gibson; chorus, “The Lord doth reign”; solo, “For you and for me,” Miss Leonard; chorus, “Cry out and shout”; quartette, “Shine on, Oh Star.” Misses Kirkness, Messrs Gibson and Mackay; solo and chorus, “Lily of the Valley,” Mr Marwick; chorus, “Glad Tidings”; dismission hymn, “God be with you.”
1895 April 3 Orkney Herald
We are pleased to observe that Miss Jessie Marwick, Sourin, Rousay, successfully passed in the subjects for the first year at the Christmas examination for teachers’ certificates.
[Jessie, born on November 13th 1872, was the daughter of Hugh Marwick and Lydia Gibson, Guidal.]
1895 April 10 Orkney Herald
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
RESULTS OF THE POLLING
The pollings in all contested elections of Parish Councils throughout Scotland took place on Tuesday last week. In Orkney fifteen parishes or wards were contested…..
ROUSAY – 5 Members.
Lieut.-General F. W. T. Burroughs – 33
F. B. Kirkness, Quoyostray – 31
John Gibson, Langskaill – 30
George Gibson, Avelshay – 25
W. Learmonth, Innister – 19
R. D. Mainland, Nearhouse – 18
John Inkster, Little Cogar – 17
James Clouston, Maybank – 15
D. B. Wood, Trumland – 14
J. M. Harrold, merchant – 9
53 papers, 2 rejected.
1895 April 17 Orkney Herald
A FINE specimen of the “Snowy Owl” (Strix myetea) was shot by William Logie, gamekeeper to Lieut.-General Burroughs, C.B., on the hills above Trumland House, Rousay, on the afternoon of the 10th April. It measures 4ft 6in from tip to tip of wings extended, and 2ft 2in from point of bill to tip of tail, and weighs 6lbs. These owls inhabit the arctic parts of Europe, Asia, and America, and are rarely seen so far south. This specimen was probably driven to the Orkneys by the late gale.
1895 May 22 Orkney Herald
YESTERDAY – before Sheriff Armour – Peter Sinclair, Glebe, Rousay, was, after evidence, found guilty of disorderly conduct and breach of the peace in the lobby of the Manse of Rousay on 2nd May, and was dismissed with an admonition.
1895 May 29 Orkney Herald
AGRICULTURAL NOTES. – After a most severe winter of snow and frost, lasting from Christmas to the first week of March, the weather has since, with few exceptions, been all that could be desired. Owing to the long continuation of snowstorms, farm work was far behind, and the cereals and grass seeds were sown much later than usual, but, notwithstanding this, and also in spite of the storm accompanied with hail showers on the 16th, which checked growth a good deal, the braird is looking well for the season of the year. Grass and clover are looking exceptionally well. The snow appears to have preserved them from frost. With plenty of fodder, and on most farms there was a good crop of turnips, stock has been turned out this spring in better condition than for the past year or two. There has been a good demand all spring for store cattle at a rise of quite £2 on last year’s prices, and as most cattle are in better condition than last year, a greater rise than this has in many cases been realised. The price of oats is now 15s per qr. of 40 lbs. per bushel, but remained all winter stationary at 14s per qr. Horses still command fair good prices. Farm work is now well forward, and farmers are busy sowing Swedes – the land being in capital order.
1895 May 30 Edinburgh Evening News
ORKNEY TELEGRAPH SERVICE. – H.M. telegraph steamer Monarch arrived at Kirkwall this morning from the south of England. The vessel is to be engaged repairing or relaying the cable between Fair lsle and Shetland, and will afterwards lay a cable from Rousay to the mainland. It was reported that North Ronaldshay would have been connected with the Shetland cable, as it is the most isolated island of the group, and where many shipwrecks take place. It is the most northern lighthouse in Orkney.
1895 June 26 Orkney Herald
CRUISE OF THE ORKNEY SAILING CLUB. – The opening cruise of the Orkney Sailing Club took place on Saturday last, five yachts of the club mustering in Kirkwall roads to take part in it on Friday evening. The s.s. Iona, Capt. Reid, had been chartered to accompany the cruise and carry the friends of members who did not sail in the yachts. She left Kirkwall pier at 11 a.m., and steamed about to allow of her passengers seeing the start. The blue peter was run up by the Commodore, Sheriff Armour, cutter Freya, but some delay took place, and the start was not made till 11.30, when the Freya dropped her moorings and stood off on the starboard tack, rounding Mr J. S. Cursiter’s boat at her moorings west of the piers, followed in close order by Kathleen, (Mr B. Swanson), Huna, (Mr Alfred Reid), Njala, (Mr T. S. Peace), and Daisy, (Capt. George Robertson, with Mr W. Cooper at the helm). Trumland Pier, Rousay, was the rendezvous, and with a brisk breeze of S.W. wind they ran down with boom well off to starboard. Freya, which had been lengthened and got a clipper bow since last season, was still a bit sluggish running free, and the other boats held in a bit not to over-run her, but on opening Veira Sound, with the wind more abeam and fresher, she began to reach very fast, and the others ran up their foresails and had enough to do to keep pace with her. Kathleen, which had fore-reached on the fleet, here met with a strong squall and lost her bowsprit, which snapped short off by the gammon-iron, and she hove to to clear away the wreck. Njala ran through the Commodore’s lee and led up towards the anchorage in Rousay Sound, west of the pier, but changed her mind, and taking in all but the jib, ran down and dropped anchor east of the pier, where there was less tide. Freya, Huna, and Daisy anchored to the westward of the pier, but finding the tide then brought them broadside to the sea, Daisy ran into the pier and got aground, and Freya, after landing her lady passengers, tripped her anchor and dropped down towards Kathleen, which had turned up with single reefed mainsail and foresail after losing her bowsprit. Meantime Njala – on board of which a number of ladies had come to dine – began to drag her anchor, and Kathleen promptly sent Tam o’ Cott in his dinghy and carried out a warp to the steamer’s buoy, to which Njala, getting her anchor hauled out made fast. In one of the squalls of the rising wind Freya, too, began to drag rapidly, and the second anchor was got out just in time, and fouling one of the mooring chains of the steamer’s buoy, brought her up with a yank. By this time the wind blew half a gale, with heavy squalls and a nasty lop of sea down the sound, and Kathleen dragged a couple of lengths and there held fast. While Njala could not land her lady passengers, the commodore could not get on board Freya. In spite of a high and rising glass, squalls followed each other, and rain fell heavily. There was no sign of the sky clearing, and about 4.30 Njala setting three-reefed mainsail, single-reefed foresail and spitfire, dropped her moorings and left for a harbour where she might land her lady passengers, and, after a proper buffeting, brought up in the landlocked little Millburn of Gairsay. Even then it was a stiff job to land with the dinghy. Mr Bews, of Skelbist, the kindly host of many storm-beaten voyagers, promptly appeared and offered his generous hospitality, and launching a larger boat, himself and one of the farm hands went out with the crew and brought the ladies ashore, and they and the gentlemen remained overnight, Mrs Bews putting herself to no end of trouble to make them comfortable, supplying the much appreciated needful to the inner and outer man – and woman. Shortly after Njala had left, Daisy floated, and Mr Cooper, reefing her down, turned up Rousay Sound, and rounding Viera Skerries, ran down Viera Sound for Kirkwall, getting a severe smothering, especially during one of the worst squalls in Evie Sound. She shipped as much water in the cockpit that pump and bucket were constantly at work during the three hours of the passage. Huna, close reefed, left sometime after her, following Njala west about Viera. Under the Hen she hauled down the balance reef in the mainsail, but in the heavy sea off Bora Holm, where the flood was boring in the teeth of the wind, she repeatedly missed stays, and Mr Reid reluctantly put the helm up and ran for the Millburn, anchoring ahead of Njala. Mr Bews was again on hand to land the crew, and brought them up with him to Skelbist, thus giving a most desirable shelter to no less than a dozen wet and weary seafarers – eight gentlemen and four ladies.
About 8.30 the sky cleared somewhat, and the wind drew to the north of west, and Kathleen got up anchor and ran to Sanday, making a smart and somewhat rough passage of two hours. About 9.30, with slack water and an easier wind, Freya made preparations for getting under weigh. Finding one of her anchors foul, she buoyed it, and with three reefs down, made a fine passage to Kirkwall, giving the commodore great satisfaction. She has evidently been very greatly improved both as to speed and sea-going qualities by the new bow.
The Iona called at Trumland pier about six o’clock for her passengers, who, on account of the abominable weather, had mostly been compelled to keep in shelter at the pier from the time of their arrival until they left. They were no better off than the battered yachtsmen, for the little steamer got her full share of what was going, and a very bedraggled lot landed from her at Kirkwall pier. Njala and Huna arrived under double reefs on Sunday morning, having made a fine run before a brisk N.W. breeze.
The former cruises of this club took place in very calm weather, when wind was the great desideratum, and every masthead had a knife in it; but the third will be memorable for more than a sufficiency. It is to be hoped that when the local regatta takes place in the end of July, the clerk of the weather may not have faced about altogether, and provided an anti-cyclone.
ROUSAY – GOLF MATCH. – The first match in connection with the Rousay Golf Club was played on Saturday the 15th inst., in the district of Sourin, in a park belonging to Mr Seatter, Banks. Sixteen holes were played by 14 competitors. The best scores were made by Alex. Munro, with 87 strokes; John Shearer, 90; D. Gibson and W. Scott, 94.
1895 July 3 Orkney Herald
ROUSAY – In consequence of an outbreak of diphtheria the school at Sourin has been closed since Monday week. The inspection, which was to have been made on Wednesday, did not take place.
1895 July 24 Orkney Herald
ROUSAY – The usual half-yearly commemoration of the Lord’s Supper was celebrated on Sabbath last in connection with the Free Church congregation here. On Thursday the Rev. James Mackay, M.A., Egilshay, preached. On Sabbath the Rev. Adam Maxwell, Coatbridge, assisted, and at the close of the service baptised the pastor’s baby. This was rather a unique service, as it is not often both sacraments fall to be dispensed on the same day.
1895 August 2 Glasgow Herald
ORKNEY AND SHETLAND ELECTION. – Yesterday afternoon Mr MacLeod Fullarton, Unionist candidate for Orkney and Shetland, addressed a meeting of electors on the beach at Rousay Island. He said he wished Glasgow had chucked out Sir George Trevelyan too, as he was the worst Secretary for Scotland that Scotland ever had. His views on the land question were the views which the Unionist Government were committed to, which they had put in force in Ireland, and which was the very best thing that could happen to Orkney and Shetland, whether General Burroughs, the proprietor of Rousay, objected to his views or not, and he (General Burroughs) had sent him a letter objecting to his views. When land came into the market, or if the landlord and the tenant could agree, they could go to Government and say they had agreed upon a fair price. Let the Government then pay the landlord that fair price, and the tenant would pay the Government 4 per cent. on the amount for 49 years. The crofter immediately became the landlord and could do what he liked. He advocated foreign cattle being killed and inspected at the port of entry. They should have an Act to forbid beef and mutton being sold for what it was not…..
1895 August 6 Gloucester Citizen
THE ORKNEY CONTEST. ELECTIONEERING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. – There can be doubt, says the “Pall Mall Gazette,” that Mr. Macleod Fullarton, the Unionist candidate for the Orkneys and Shetlands, is doing the square thing by the Union. It is a very difficult thing for a Q.C. to turn Viking past middle age. Mr. Fullarton is a tall, heavy, elderly gentleman, of picturesque and imposing presence. The Picts, who have left rude stone memorials about these rocky islands, the Norse sea rovers whose ghosts inhabit them, the weird squealings of the sea fowl flapping heavily against the wind, must all regard his appearance as doing credit to the traditions they have left behind. But excellent Viking as Mr. Fullarton would have made if he had been brought up to it, the fact remains that circumstances have made him portly and a Q.C. So he finds taking to the Viking business at his time of life a rather serious matter. He has sciatica very badly. He opened his campaign in the Shetland Islands, and invigorated by the Arctic air, the sunsets, and the wild coast scenery, and inspired by a fierce enthusiasm for the Union, he began with great energy. He bore down on out of the way islands in his yacht the Carlotta, he landed in a small boat among damp rocks; he drove in the rain by rocky paths over moorland hills to remote villages, where he got himself into a state of perspiration by addressing suspicious crofters a preliminary to sleeping in damp beds. Consequently he contracted an attack of sciatica. Notwithstanding his sciatica, and the pitching and tossing in cross currents and rushing tideways, Mr. Fullarton keeps up the role of political Viking with great conscientiousness. One of his buccaneering expeditions was against the hereditary Liberals of the Island of Rousay, a crofting and fishing island a couple hours’ steam northward from Kirkwall. His yacht cast anchor in the bay, and Mr. Fullarton, with great anguish, came off in the boat, and was lifted out on to the little causeway. The meeting was ready assembled. When all were comfortable Mr. Fullarton raised his voice and chanted earnestly the Saga of the Union. A shaggy-maned little Shetland pony, on which a crofter had ridden over the moor, looked curiously over the edge of the bank, the seagulls circled and swooped and sailed, and a green plover raised her despairing, incredulous cry. Mr. Fullarton, bareheaded, and with his picturesque locks streaming in the breeze, talked earnestly on. A little fish gave a leap where the tide came swinging and splashing among the stones of the jetty, and all the faces rising behind one another on the steps turned to the spot and looked intently at the circles in the water. “A fesh !” one of them whispered in explanation, and every face assumed a look of intense interest. They were a rugged, bronzed, and bearded crowd, some them with the fair beards and blue eyes of their Norse extraction, and they wore rough, homely garments. They set themselves to listen with the serious, intent earnestness with which group of inhabitants of some newly-discovered land would set themselves for parley with an explorer on the beach. Mr. Fullarton was eloquent, indignant, scornful, pathetic, patriotic, didactic, pleading; he exhausted all the arts of the advocate and orator. But they did not seem much moved. They listened with open-eyed attention, but they did not show much sign of feeling. After a time Mr. Fullarton changed his theme, and sang of the purchase of crofter holdings, the iniquities of trawling, and the importation of foreign cattle. Then they woke up. At the end of the speech the Established clergyman asked a question or two on the great subjects of trawling and live cattle, and Mr. Fullarton expressed himself as being in favour of maintaining an indefinite number of gunboats to stop the depredations of the trawlers, of confiscating offending trawlers’ boats and gear, and of putting heavy penalties upon the fraudulent sale of foreign-bred meat as English. When the meeting was over, the Viking Q.C. hobbled painfully back to his boat, climbed painfully aboard his yacht once more, and steamed off to address another meeting on a neighbouring island. His late auditors hung about the steps till the yacht started. When Mr. Fullarton got back to Kirkwall it was eleven o’clock at night, and cold and damp. After he had gone through the ordeal of getting in and out of the landing-boat, and had clambered up the steps to the grateful warmth of Dunnet’s Hotel, he was cheerful with the consciousness of a good day’s campaigning. But the sciatica was, if anything, a trifle worse.
1895 August 7 Orkney Herald
ROUSAY – GOLF MATCH. – The Golf Club played their second match at the Brings in Wasbister district on Saturday, 27th ult. The course was an exceedingly good one, and gave the players every satisfaction. Sixteen holes were played by eleven competitors. The best scores were made by J. G. Craigie with 91; R. G. Gordon, 95; John Sinclair, 102; S. Marwick and John Shearer, 104.
1895 August 28 Orkney Herald
ROUSAY – GOLF. – The Rousay Golf Club played their third and last match on Thursday, on a field granted by Mr [Hugh] Inkster, Westness. The course contained a great many hazards, and consequently the scores were higher than those of former matches. Ten competitors came forward and played 18 holes. The best scores were made by A. Munro, 110; J. G. Craigie, 119; J. Clouston, 120. Mr Shearer, from Leith, kindly handed over to the Club a golf club and some balls to be given as prizes to the successful competitors.
1895 September 25 Orkney Herald
ROUSAY – MR JOHN MACKAY, of the Scottish Temperance League, gave an address in the Sourin Public School, on Tuesday last. He riveted the attention of all to the very close, and it is evident that good only can result from counsel so kind and wise.
1895 October 2 Orkney Herald
KELP BURNING. – At the meeting of the Highland Land League at Inverness, Mr John Paul, Scottish Land Restoration Union, moved that the conference heartily condemns the exclusive system imposed upon kelp burners in the islands of the county of Orkney and elsewhere in the North which forces them to sell the manufactured kelp to land-owners at a fixed price, and calls upon Parliament when dealing with the Crofters Amendment Act to take this industry into their consideration, that the crofters and cotters engaged in such industry may have this, among other grievances, redressed. Mr Forbes seconded, and the resolution was adopted. [Orkney Herald]
1895 October 9 Orkney Herald
WANTED immediately, a Journeyman Blacksmith.
Apply to M. Kirkness, Blacksmith, Rousay.
[Magnus Kirkness, Quoygray, was the Wasbister blacksmith. The 1901 census mentions Archibald Leonard being his apprentice and living at Tou No 2.]
1895 October 16 Orkney Herald
SALE OF CROP
There will be Sold, by Public Roup, at the GLEBE, SOURIN, ROUSAY,
on Tuesday, the 22nd Oct. 1895, about 320 Thraves of Superior Oats
and Bere, and 5 acres, or thereby, of Swedish and Yellow Turnips.
Four Months’ Credit on Approved Bills for Purchases at and above
£2 stg. Sale to Commence on arrival of the s.s. “Fawn” at
Rousay on the morning of the day of the sale.
MALCOLOM GREEN, Auctioneer.
1895 October 30 Orkney Herald
ORKNEY SCHOOL REPORTS
Appended are H.M. Inspector’s reports on the undernoted schools:…..
SOURIN PUBLIC SCHOOL. – Grants paid under article 10 (inclusive of £10 under article 19 D), £68 6s 4d. Average attendance, 48. M. A. Harrold has passed a good examination.
WASBISTER PUBLIC SCHOOL. – Mr [John] Peace is doing markedly careful, intelligent, and successful work in this school. The results throughout are very creditable alike in standard and class subjects. The grammar of the highest class was well advanced and accurate. Excellent discipline. A merit certificate is enclosed for Mary Kirkness. Grants earned (inclusive of £15 under article 19 D), £93 9s 6d. Average attendance, 34.
FROTOFT PUBLIC SCHOOL. – The school is taught with energy and skill, and is in a thoroughly efficient condition. Writing and figuring are throughout markedly neat and careful. In the lower classes more oral drill in adding and subtracting would result in greater speed and readiness. The tests given in arithmetic in the third and higher standards have been well satisfied, and very good exercises have been worked in dictation and composition. In the class subjects a very good appearance was made in the highest class. In the lower classes the passages chosen for repetition might have been better. General intelligence at this stage needs to be more sharply drawn out. Good singing by note. Ear tests were very well taken. Industrial work has been well attended to. Order is excellent. A copy of each of the class books should be supplied for the use of the teacher. A new map of Scotland is required. Grants earned (inclusive of £15 under article 19 D), £39 11s. Average attendance, 20…..
1895 November 13 Orkney Herald
ROUSAY. – WEDNESDAY was observed in the parish as Thanksgiving Day for the harvest. There were services in all the churches. In the evening the Rev. A. Irvine Pirie gave a lecture in the U.P. Church on “The Rise and Growth of Psalm and Hymn Singing in the Church,” illustrated by a service of song by the church choir. The Rev. A. Spark, E.C., and the Rev. J. McLeman, F.C., were with Mr Pirie on the platform. The lecturer traced the introduction of the metrical psalms and hymns into the song service of the Church, and the choir, under the leadership of Mr A. Gibson, precentor, with Miss Pirie as organist, rendered a number of the hymns with excellent taste and skill. Mrs Pirie gave a beautiful rendering of one hymn as a solo. There was a large attendance of the public.
1895 November 27 Orkney Herald
FIRE-RAISING IN ROUSAY. – Yesterday – before Sheriff Armour – James lnkster, farm servant, Westness, Rousay, was charged with having set fire to a quantity of shavings at Westness. He pled guilty, stating that he set the shavings on fire carelessly and without any intention of doing damage. After Mr Howman had addressed the Court, Sheriff Armour said that the offence was one which the law looked on as a somewhat serious one, because it was perfectly clear that if persons played with fire in a careless manner they might endanger valuable property. Accused probably now recognised that had the fire not been put out, it might have been a serious matter for his master. There was no motive disclosed why accused should have set fire to the shavings, but his lordship supposed he did not intend to set the place on fire. He was not satisfied that accused recognised the seriousness of his act, and taking that into account, and the fact that he bore a good character, his lordship would deal with him under the First Offenders Act. He would give an undertaking to come up for sentence any time within six months if called on.
1895 December 4 Orkney Herald
RENEWAL OF APPLICATIONS TO CROFTERS COMMISSION. – The period of seven years for which fair rents were fixed by the Crofters Commission in the first Orkney cases dealt with having expired at Martinmas, a considerable number of applications for revaluations are being lodged.
1895 December 11 Orkney Herald
THE STORM. – A succession of gales considerably interfered with all communication between the Orkney Islands and the mainland as well as between the different islands last week. Instead of a daily mail, the St Ola did not cross on Wednesday or Friday, but crossed on Thursday to Wick, returning on Friday; and again to Wick on Saturday, returning on Sunday. The steamer St Ninian, from Aberdeen to Kirkwall, took refuge at Peterhead on Saturday morning, and only reached Kirkwall on Sunday evening; and the steamer Orcadia arrived at Kirkwall from the North Isles on Friday instead of on Thursday. The St Ninian was also delayed on the passage south yesterday, only arriving at Kirkwall in the afternoon. A good deal of snow fell on Friday and Saturday, but has since disappeared. There were thunderstorms on the nights of Tuesday and Thursday. Notwithstanding the severity of the storm little damage is reported locally, with the exception of the wreck of a Swedish vessel on the Holm of Scockness, Rousay.
WRECK AT ROUSAY – LOSS OF LIFE. The schooner Jölle, of Christiania, 345 tons register, from Stegesund, Sweden, bound for the Brazils with a cargo of wood, went ashore on the Holm of Scockness, Rousay, on Thursday. The master (Eliasen) reports having encountered terrific weather from the previous Monday, when the second mate was washed overboard and lost. Much damage was sustained, the rigging destroyed, and all the boats swept away. During the night of the 5th rockets were sent up from the schooner, and notwithstanding the continuance of a strong gale from the west, a rescue party from Egilshay consisting of James Cooper, James Alexander, Hugh Robertson, William McKinlay, and William Robertson pulled off to the holm, and with much difficulty succeeded in bringing the crew of eight hands to land by about five o’clock on the following morning. In view of the increased force of the gale later on it was well that the crew were brought off without delay, and great credit is due to the skill and courage of the rescue party, who were obliged to work by rope and block and land the hands one by one. It is feared the schooner will become a total wreck.
1895 December 18 Orkney Herald
ROUSAY – SERVICE OF SONG AND PRESENTATION. – A service of song, entitled “The Way to Heaven,” was given in Frotoft Public School on Friday in connection with the Bible Class of the U.P. Church. Mr John Harrold occupied the chair, and the Rev. A. I. Pirie gave the readings. A select choir under the leadership of Mr D. Mackay, accompanied on the harmonium by Miss Pirie, rendered the various pieces with precision and spirit, reflecting great credit on Mr Mackay’s teaching. A quartette, by Misses Gibson and Low and Messrs Mackay and H. Gibson was sung with excellent taste and skill. Solos by Miss Ferguson and Miss Low are deserving of special praise, and were greatly appreciated by the audience. At the close of the service, the chairman, in the name of the Bible class, presented Mr Pirie with a very handsome present, consisting of sixteen volumes of theological works. The chairman, in making the presentation, said – “I have been asked by the members of the Frotoft Bible Class to convey to you their most sincere thanks for the work you have done in starting and carrying on this class, and to let you know how much we feel our indebtedness to you for the vast amount of information and instruction you have imparted to us these last two winters. That this class has been a success and enjoyed by all needs no further proof than that the membership and attendance has been since the beginning, and still is, about fifty, and this success is entirely due to the interesting and instructive way in which you have expounded the lessons to us. In addition to the lessons given in the syllabus you have taken up a second subject. Last winter it consisted of missionary work in Africa, and in the full and able explanations you gave us of it, we received a vast amount of information on missionary life in those parts which we would not otherwise have got. The class have been so much benefited by your teaching that they would not be satisfied until they had given you some tangible token of their appreciation of your interest in them. They have asked me to present you with these sixteen volumes as a mark of their esteem and regard for you as their teacher.” Mr Pirie then suitably and feelingly replied, thanking the class for their very valuable gift, and expressed the pleasure it gave him to meet them there on the Sunday evenings, and hoped that he might long have the privilege of meeting them there. After the usual votes of thanks, a most enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the choir singing an anthem.
1895 December 25 Orkney Herald
ROUSAY – OPENING OF CHAPEL AT WESTNESS. – The chapel which has been fitted up at Westness House by Mr Middlemore was opened for divine service on Saturday last, being St Thomas’ Day, under the authority of Bishop Douglas, by the Rev. J. B. Craven, of St Olaf’s, Kirkwall. At an early hour, special prayers were offered and the new altar blessed, after which the rector of St Olaf’s celebrated the Holy Communion. At the forenoon service, alter preaching a special sermon from S. John x. 22 and 23, Mr Craven read the formal license granted by the Bishop in favour of Mr Middlemore, authorising him as lay reader to officiate in the new chapel when the services of a clergyman could not be obtained, and having delivered the deed, offered special prayers for direction and guidance, adding a special blessing. In the course of his sermon, Mr Craven referred to the old church, now in ruins, close by Westness, and to the services of the Rev. John Graham, the last Episcopal incumbent of Rousay, who died in 1697, the first Presbyterian minister of the island under the present established communion having been settled there in 1700. Although the chapel is intended for the use of the family, visitors, and servants at Westness, all will be welcomed to the services which may be held in it.