The following information was recorded in the town’s newspaper of 30 December 1916

 English Christmas customs year by year seem to get a firmer hold in Scotland, and this season, not withstanding the war, the vogue would appear to have been observed more widely than ever. On Saturday merchants in Beith did better business than on any other occasion, proof that there is little scarcity of money in the hands of the mass of the people and a noticeable willingness to spend it, and so to have a good time. On Christmas day the weather was wet, and those who were on holiday had the courage to spend the day out of doors. Banks and offices were closed, but shopkeepers kept open as usual. At the post office the volume of work in outgoing parcels was even greater than the average, but there was a great fall-off in Christmas cards, both going and coming in. Aided by an augmented staff, outgoing and incoming mails were cleared off most expeditiously.

The Parish Council committee appointed to administer Mr Orr’s Trust during the weekend distributed tickets for 100 pairs of boots to necessitous poor children of the town, a benefaction which would be much appreciated by many of the recipients.

A meeting in furtherance of war savings will be held in the Townshouse on Saturday, 30^th December, at seven o’clock chaired by James Anderson. A short address will be given by Mr J Arthur Findlay Esq., Woodside, on “the effect of the war on our national wealth and the importance of individual economy.” A large attendance of the public is requested.

The workers at Dockra and Birsieknow pits have subscribed £2.17s to Glasgow Royal Infirmary; £2 to Glasgow Western Infirmary and £1 to Glasgow Eye Infirmary.

By instruction of the General Assembly a service of Humble Prayer, Intercession and Thanksgiving will be held on old year Sunday – December, 31 – at 12 noon and 6.30 pm. Service for the young at 2.30 pm. Retiring collections will be taken at the morning service for the Sabbath School Soiree. Rev I Grant Sutherland MA will preach.

On Tuesday a girl, 15 years of age, Maggie Aikman, Head Street, Beith, while travelling with the six o’clock am workmen’s train from Beith to Barrmill, where she is employed, fell onto the line near Bellcraig. The trains was travelling at a speed of 45 mph. The accident was observed by some milkmen and she was brought home to Beith in a conveyance, where she was attended to by Doctor Taylor, who found the girl suffering from slight shock. Her escape from serious injury or death was miraculous.

Through the kind invitation of Mr and Mrs Ralston-Patrick, the children of Trearne Estate were entertained in the billiard room at Trearne. The main feature being a miniature post office from which each child received a gift through Miss Enid Ralston-Patrick, and the Misses Cochran-Patrick, Ladyland, who were acting as assistants. A very pleasant time was spent with gramaphone selections, songs and recitations. Votes of thanks were accorded to the host and hostess for their kindness.

It will be interesting for our musical readers to learn that Mr Hugh Davidson, Eglinton Street, has won the first prize in the “Why” competition of the journal “Youth and Music,” published in London. He was until lately a bandsman in the Royal Scots.

Private John Biggart, Wilson Street, who was home on leave a fortnight ago from France, brought with him some trophies he picked up in the Somme trenches during the hard fighting in which he played his part. These included a heavy German helmet, German trench grenade or bomb with wooden handle the better to throw the murderous missile. He also brought with him the gas mask which he wore during the engagement in which poisonous gas was used by the enemy. This mask is the newest pattern issued to British troops. Including the goggles, the mask has for breathing attached to a case containing oxygen, with a clip for closing the nostrils. The souvenirs will be shown in our window.

Following the example of Mr Robert Allan, Southridgehill, last season, a number of other farmers in the district are laying down wheat in response to the Government’s appeal to increase the grain crop, and so ensure an increased food supply at home. The growing of wheat hereabouts has not been general, but the promise of the Government to fix a minimum price for some years to come has encourage some farmers to cultivate this crop. The low prices which for so long time before the war prevailed owing to the overseas supplies and the cutting of rates made the cultivation of this grain hardly worth the farmers’ trouble, hence the abandonment of wheat raising. In former times it was common to see fields of golden wheat on nearly every farm in the parish, but that was before the advent of the foreigner.

Leather making is the oldest industry here in Beith. Established some two centuries ago it is still going strong. Aye, stronger than ever in AD 1916. Normally the two tanneries here produce the highest class leather available. Where intrinsic merit and durability of leather articles in luxury rather than low price, is demanded, the coveted material for such is Beith pig-skin. In pre-war times ordinary leather was supplied in this country at a loss by the subsisdised Hun in pursuit of his policy of “peaceful penetration”; hence sensible capital and intelligent craftsmen avoided this form of unfair competition. Therefore, on the outbreak of war there was a badly felt want of honest serviceable British leather, and many a patriot fell a victim because inadequately shod with cheap dumped leather made to sell. Realising the situation, John Muir and Son, Beith, remodelled their tannery, adopted chemical and progressive mechanical methods to cope with the exigency, and have been “dizzy bizzy” therewith ever since. Such Beith leather as could be spared for civilian use has astonished the wearers by its durability and economy, as compared  with the crude foreign product of free trade, to which they had accustomed their poor feet. An urgent demand lately arose for more durable gloves to protect the hands of munition workers in making rough castings for Bosch shells. A glove and mitt were designed to be used on the right hand until the rough wear of attrition made it expedient to transfer it to the left, so as to utilise both sides economically. An enterprising Beith young lady translated the idea from the abstract to the concrete with a Singer sewing machine and W & J Knox’s Samson thread. The Government inspectors declare that ordinary material is out of sight in the rear when compared with this Beith mitt. Further machinery is being erected and we shall soon see a procession of the fair maids of Beith in congenial and more or less artistic production of those munition gloves. In Beith the leather trade is not only alive but kicking, ready “to do its bit” in the national service in 1917.