Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
7 APRIL 1875

MUNICIPAL MEETING - ARDROSSAN

The monthly meeting was held on Monday evening, under the presidency of Provost Barr.

A correspondence between the Chairman and the Hon. Mr. Vernon (Lord Eglinton’s commissioner) was read, from which it appeared that his Lordship was willing to grant a site for the proposed parish hospital on a field near the cemetery – the understanding being that plans of the building should be first submitted to his Lordship.

This was considered satisfactory, and the matter was remitted back to the committee with a view to the arrangement of details with the Saltcoats committee.

A communication from the Treasury Office was read, announcing that, as the Coastguard premises were occupied by the Crown, they were not liable for rates. The Lord Commissioner, however, would be prepared to contribute, by way of bounty, out of the Parliamentary grant in aid of local assessment, £6 17s, and a form would be supplied each year for this purpose.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 APRIL 1902

DEATH

GOODWIN: At 8 Arran Place, Ardrossan, on the 7th instant, Elizabeth Boyd, widow of David Goodwin, Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 APRIL 1909

COMMISSIONERS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Commissioners to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland include: -

Mr. Robert Barbour, Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 APRIL 1902

IBROX PARK DISASTER – FURTHER CASUALTIES

Ardrossan:
JAMES BRACKENRIDGE, 29 years of age, 16 Hill Street, Ardrossan, was badly bruised all over the body. His brother, who was beside him when the accident occurred, escaped by clinging to one of the iron railings. Brackenridge was buried beneath a crowd of people, but he was eventually extricated by his brother, who assisted him home.

His wounds are being attended to by Ardrossan doctors.

[The 1902 Ibrox Disaster was the collapse of a stand at Ibrox Park (now Ibrox Stadium) in Glasgow, which led to the deaths of 25 and injuries to more than 500 supporters during an international association football match between Scotland and England on 5 April, 1902.]

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1886

THE ARDROSSAN GAS AND WATER COMPANY – OPPOSITION WITHDRAWN

The consideration of this bill was commenced today (8 April) by a Select Committee of the House of Lords, consisting of Viscount Sidmouth (Chairman), Lord Ranfurly, Lord Kensington, Earl Wantage, and Lord Clifford and Chudleigh.

The promoters were represented by Mr. Pember, Q.C., Mr. James, and Mr. McClymont, while the Police Commissioners of Ardrossan, who are opposing the bill, were represented by Mr. Little, Q.C., and Mr. Cripps.

Mr. Pember said the main object of the bill was to dissolve the Ardrossan Gas and Water Company Limited and reincorporate them with a view to enabling them to make and maintain additional water works in the parishes of Stevenston and Ardrossan.

The existing company had hitherto supplied Ardrossan with gas and water under the General Act of 1862, and it was now proposed to give it satisfactory powers and put it under statutory obligation.

It was undoubtedly a benefit to all parties concerned that companies supplying such necessaries as gas and water should be under the uniform Parliamentary restrictions applying to such companies, and it was not usual to find such applications meet with much opposition unless the companies making them applied for some undue privilege or exemption.

This measure had been carefully investigated by Lord Redesdale, and the promoters had made a good many concessions to their opponents. The only matter in dispute had reference to the proposed capital.

The promoter estimated the existing works to represent a capital of £14,623, and they proposed to pay a dividend on that of 8 per cent, which would amount to £930 a year, or £263 more than their present annual income. This £263 they proposed to use in an indirect way for the benefit of their customers. They considered that in the future they would have to spend considerable sums of money for the extension and improvement of their works, and with that in view they wished to obtain power to increase their capital to £36,000. This included the present capital of £14,263, £11,000 for the construction of a new reservoir, and £7,130 for gas-works purposes.

Their proposals had been approved by Lord Redesdale, and they would call amongst the witnesses the Provost of Ardrossan, who, while interested in the company to the extent of £1,000 or £1,500 a year, held property in the towns to the value of £1,000 a year, and therefore was not likely to sacrifice the interests of the town for the sake of the company.

The head and front of the opposition was Mr. Kirkhope, but for whom the bill would have been allowed to pass as an unopposed measure.

Mr. Kirkhope was a discarded servant of the company, having been dismissed in 1882 for high-handed conduct, and since then he had been an enemy of the company.

The allegation is the petitions against the bill were violent and untrue, and were such as could only proceed from one who had been in the service of the company, advantage being taken of some small and temporary defects which could only be known to one who was well acquainted with the works.

The petitions, the promoters thought, had been misled, but there was still plenty of time for conciliation, the company being prepared to enter into an agreement with the Commissioners, the terms of which had been very nearly decided upon.

Mr. Little said the Commissioners were willing to take over the company’s works, but they wanted the question of prices referred to arbitration.

The Chairman asked if the opposition was confined to that.

Mr. Little said that was not so. If the offer of the Commissioners was not accepted, then they would contend that the bill ought to be rejected, because the scheme of the company was a bad one.

The Chairman said it would be better to go on with the evidence.

Mr. Reid, of the firm Leslie & Reid, Engineers, Edinburgh, was then called and said he had examined the works. He thought there was an ample supply of water to meet the requirements of Ardrossan. The supply was equal to 1,000.000 gallons per day, and at present the consumption of Ardrossan did not exceed 330,000 gallons per day. The present pressure in some parts of the town was far from satisfactory.

A consultation here took place between counsel, and Mr. Little suggested that if the Committee allowed the parties to adjourn for half an hour there was every chance of an agreement being arrived at.

The Chairman gave his ready consent to this being done, and expressed a hope that the efforts to come to terms would be successful.

On the return of the parties to the room, Mr. Cripps said they were very anxious to settle the matter, and had very nearly arrived at an understanding.

The only point left to settle was the question of works until the undertaking had been transferred.

After further consultation, it was announced that the matter had been virtually settled, and the further consideration of the bill was adjourned until tomorrow (9 April) to enable the terms of the agreement to be fixed.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1901

COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING – ARDROSSAN

The usual monthly meeting of Ardrossan Commissioners was held last night – Provost Young in the chair.

There was a discussion regarding the green opposite South Crescent, Ardrossan. It was explained that the green belonged to the Earl of Eglinton. It was of absolutely no use to his Lordship, and brought him no revenue. A committee had been appointed to inquire into the matter, and Bailie Harvey explained that the present sea wall on the South Beach was useless, and the committee were in favour of doing something at once if they could come to terms with his Lordship.

Provost Young was strongly of the opinion that no money should be spent in buying the green, and that nothing should be done unless Lord Eglinton was willing to hand over the green free of charge.

Bailie Smith said that the bay opposite South Crescent was a beautiful one, but the beach was more fit to adorn a howling wilderness than to be in close proximity to a town which congratulated itself on the excellence of its principal affairs. The House of Eglinton had always met the Ardrossan Commissioners in a fair spirit.

The clerk was instructed to write to the Earl of Eglinton asking him to fix a date when the commissioners could meet and confer with him on the subject.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1901

WIFE ASSAULT

At Ardrossan Police Court yesterday – before Provost Young and Bailie Smith – JOHN CAMPBELL, (37), carter, residing at 10 Barr Lane, Ardrossan, was charged with assaulting his wife.

From the evidence it appeared that on Sunday afternoon he was intoxicated, and when he came in for dinner he threw a bowl at his wife because she had not cooked an egg for him in addition to a quantity of steak which they had for that meal. The bowl struck Mrs. Campbell on the forehead, inflicting a severe wound.

Campbell was sentenced to one months’ imprisonment, with the option of a £2 fine. He went to prison.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1902

SHIPPING CASUALTY

The CLERMONT of Belfast (light) was picked up and towed into Ardrossan with tail end shaft broken.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1902

DEATH

BROWNE: At 83 Eglinton Street, Ardrossan, on the 8th instant, Agnese Orr Jamieson, widow of George Browne, of Pollokshields, Glasgow.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 APRIL 1907

MUNICIPAL MEETING – ARDROSSAN

At Ardrossan Town Council last night Councillor Goodwin pointed out that the motor omnibuses belonging to the Glasgow & South-Western Company were doing a great deal of damage to the roads, and complained because the Council was not in a position to get any redress.

A lengthy discussion took place with regard to regulation of the foreshore by the Council, and it was ultimately agreed that the Magistrates confer with Lord Eglinton’s representative on the matter.

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 APRIL 1889

DEATH

GALLOWAY: At Mentone, on the 8th instant, John Galloway, coalmaster, Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 APRIL 1902

HIS EMPTY COAT SLEEVE

At Ardrossan Police Court JAMES McCULLOCH was charged with begging in Harbour Street. His coat sleeve was empty, and one of his arms was carefully concealed, and he sought to gain the sympathy of the public by representing that he had met with an accident in which he lost his arm, and was thus unable to work.

He was sent to prison for 14 days without the option of a fine.