LOOKING BACK IN TIME

The following was contained in the Town’s newspaper of 19th March 1898 

We are informed that a mass meeting of cabinetmakers of Beith on Thursday week, it was resolved to approach 

the masters for the adoption of a minimum wage of 30s per week for all journeymen cabinetmakers, carvers, 

chairmakers, polishers, turners, liners and upholsterers; and 32s per week when they had wrought twelve month 

as a journeyman. The minimum wage for machinemen they also asked to be increased to 28s per week. An 

advance of 2s per week is also demanded for all journeymen in the trade. The masters are given to 25 March 

to reply.

On Monday evening in the Free Church a most enjoyable evening was given under the auspices of the Guild 

by Mr James Kennedy assisted by a group of excellent talent. Rev D Baillie presided and there was a large 

attendance of members. The programme was one of good quality, and great justice was done to it by the 

various contributors. Messrs Higgins, Wylie and Hugh Stevenson, Misses Love and Cuthbertson sang their 

songs in a masterly fashion. The instrumentalists, Misses Gibson, H Stevenson, M Barclay, and J B Stevenson, 

and Messrs R Kennedy, R Darroch, J Richardson, James Kennedy, G Fulton,  A Kennedy and R K Stevenson 

rendered their several selections in a very pleasing manner. The programme was very well received by the 

audience and manifestations of approval were hearty and sustained. Miss Gibson presided at the piano 

whilst Mr James Kennedy officiated at the organ. A vote of thanks to all who took part brought proceedings 

to a close.

The contracts for the erection of the Parish Church Hall have been allocated amongst the Beith tradesmen as 

follows: Builder, Mr William Muir, £569-18s-9d; Joiner, Mr James Jack, £450-7s-4d; 

Slater, James Reid, £110-9s-9d; Plumber, Archibald Dale, £61-12s-4d; Plaster, Mr J Peat, £37-9s-10d. 

Mr J Snodgrass is the architect. 

At a meeting of the County Council (District Committee) held at Kilwinning on Thursday, Mr R W Knox, 

Kilbirnie, presiding, Mr T Thornburn, Beith, moved that a sum of £60 be granted towards paving Beith 

Main Street. The chairman moved that the sum be not granted, on the grounds that it was clearly inadequate 

and that it was in the power of the community of Beith to manage its own streets if it cared to adopt the 

Burgh Act; and that the county rate was not levied for the upkeep of the streets but of the roads.  Mr 

Thornburns motion was carried by a majority. 

Mr Lehman, Modern Languages Master at Inverness Royal Academy, has been appointed successor to Mr 

Petzing at Spiers School.

At Beith Parish Church on Sunday evening Rev I Grant Sutherland will deliver an address on ”Gambling, 

Immoral in Principle and Mean In Practice.” The service begins at 6.30 pm and will last for one hour. 

All cordially invited.

On Saturday morning, during some blasting operations at Messrs King’s Whinstone Quarry near 

Giffen Farm, a quarryman, William Logan, a middle aged man residing at Burnhouse, had his left 

hand blown off by an unexploded charge. Dr Clark was soon as possible on the spot and dressed the injured 

hand, thereafter dispatching Logan to the Western Infirmary. The surgeons there had to amputate the hand 

at the wrist. 

On Friday night last week, on the occasion of the return of Major and Mrs H Crawford, Mainshamilton, 

from their wedding tour on the continent, they entertained the Beith Company of Volunteers, of which the 

Major is commanding officer, and a large company of friends, to a ball in the Anderson Hotel. There was 

a good turnout of the volunteers with their wives and sweethearts, about 70 couples in all taking the floor. 

1st Beith Company, Boys Brigade, will hold a Grant Concert in Templars Hall, Beith, on Tuesday next 

with Mr W F Frame, comedian, Miss Robb, elecutionist and Miss Hamilton and Miss Barbour, 

singers taking part.