LOOKBACK IN TIME

The following appeared in the town’s newspaper 16^th and 23^rd November 1895

About 1700 Beith was a nest of smugglers of various kinds and degrees and its prosperity was chiefly due to this illicit traffic. Being midway between Glasgow and the coast towns of Ayrshire, it was a handy resting place, being out of the way of “thae curst leeches o’ the Excise.” Robert Burns was once a visitor to the Saracen’s Head, where “drouthy neebors meet,” and others “cement the quarrel with the lawyer’s cheapest fee.” Tradition does not say whether he was or was not in the Excise at this time. In the middle of the 18^th century there was not a macadamised road in the whole county. The farmhouses were mere hovels – “Clay Biggins” – having an open hearth or fireplace in the middle with earth floors with a lum on the thatched roof.

The new Caledonia Cabinet Works has been in the course of erection since the disastrous fire that destroyed the former buildings on 2 February 1895. At last they are now almost completed.  The employees who had been temporarily engaged in an outside shed erected for that purpose and in some of the show rooms, have been shifted into the new quarters during the end of last week. The present works are built on the site of the  buildings destroyed with more space added. They form three sides of a square with a uniform height of two storeys and attics, the whole being topped with a huge tower 75 feet high. Mr Pollock has made every endeavour to have his new works up to date, and he is to be commended on his succeeding. The building is heated throughout with steam pipes and on each flat lavatories are provided for the convenience of the workmen. About 180 hands are at present employed, and as the work gets into full swing Mr Pollock expects to supplement his staff considerably. The wood cutting machinery, it is satisfactory to learn, were produced principally by our local engineers, Messrs Love and Fife, Beith and Messrs Kerr & Sons, Auchengree.

Lord Eglinton’s hounds met at Trearne last Wednesday, the first appearance of the pack in this locality this season.

On Friday last week a young man, farm servant with Robert Howgarth, Knowes,  while carting manure to the heap at the Tileworks was run over and seriously injured by the horse running off. The young fellow had been unyoking the horse preparatory to emptying the cart when the load being too heavy behind, the trams flew up and startled the horse. The injured lad hung on gallantly , but was ultimately knocked down, the wheel passing over the lower part of his body. He lies in a very serious condition.

The usual meeting of Beith Parish Literary Society will be held in New Street School on Monday first at 8 o’clock. The subject for discussion is: Should Fox Hunting Be Abolished.

There seems a strong likelihood that the proposed golf links for Beith becoming an actuality in the near future. At a meeting in the Saracen’s Hotel on Tuesday the chairman, Mr Williamson, presiding, gave a resume of negotiations. After a general discussion Messrs Williamson, Faulds and J Melville were appointed a committee to confer with the owners and arrange final terms. Mr John R Balfour was appointed secretary and treasurer.

On Monday night Mr William Kirkland was the recipient of a silver tea service subscribed for by the congregation of the E U Church, on the occasion of his retiring from the precentorship. The presentation was made by Mr Hugh Stevenson, the church president who referred briefly to the church’s precentors and choirs of the past. The precentor was offered no salary yet the church never failed of a supply. Love of the cause normally brought the precentor, and a successful choir he regarded as ample reward. Mr Kirkland had occupied the precentor’s desk every Sunday for nearly four years, and had done his work well. Mr and Mrs Kirkland afterwards entertained the deputation to tea.

There was an exciting go-as-you-please race to Caledonia Works last Thursday night about 11 o’clock in response to the new fire arrangements there. The competitors appeared rather crestfallen when they ascertained that they had their sprint for nought, the alarm having been a false one, caused by some foreign matter interfering with the valve.

There seems to be a lack of interest all over the country in the forthcoming County Council elections, judging by the number of uncontested seats. In Ayrshire out of 55 electoral divisions, there are only 8 contests, while in three burgh constituencies there have been no nominations whatsoever.

As we anticipated, Mr Cochran-Patrick has been left in undisputed possession of the seat for the landward part of the parish of Beith, so that the new council will have the benefit of his  experience in their deliberations. Mr William Muir of Mains and Mr Thomas Thorburn of the Limes have entered the lists and will probably go to the poll. Both of these gentlemen have considerable experience of local affairs, and frequently sought the suffrages of the people with more or less success.