Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
22 JANUARY 1886

ARDROSSAN GAS AND WATER COMPANY

A special meeting of the Police Commissioners was held yesterday afternoon – Provost Hogarth presiding – to consider the result of the ratepayers’ meeting held on Monday evening, at which it was resolved to purchase the Gas and Water Works.

The following motion was proposed by Mr. Kirkhope, and carried unanimously:-

“That, as recommended by the ratepayers, at the meeting held on Monday last, the Commissioners agree to purchase the Gas and Water Works by arbitration, the Commissioners’ term of entry to be Whitsunday 1887, when the price is to be paid, reserving to the Police Commissioners, if this is agreed to by the directors of the Gas and Water Company, to instruct whether the bill now before Parliament is to be proceeded with or not, the expenses of the bill to date of agreement to be entered into to be borne by the Commissioners, and a formal agreement to the above effect to be executed accordingly.

Instruct the clerk to communicate this offer to the secretary of the Gas and Water Company.

Further, request the directors of the Gas and Water Company to delay proceeding with any stage of their bill until the negotiations between them and the Commissioners are terminated, on the understanding that no unnecessary delay will occur.”

The clerk was instructed to call a meeting of the Commissioners as soon as a reply was received from the directors of the Gas and Water Company.

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 JANUARY 1906

DEATH

McQUISTAN: At Barrie Terrace, South Beach, Ardrossan, on the 22nd instant, John McQuistan, beloved husband of Bessie McTavish.

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 JANUARY 1906

MARRIAGE

ADAMS – BENNETT: At the Presbyterian Church, Fordsburg, Johannesburg, on the 28th December. By the Rev. Andrew Brown, Thomas Adams, of Ardrossan, Scotland, to Agnes, youngest daughter of the late George Bennett, Glasgow.

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 JANUARY 1903

FATAL RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT

ANDREW CALVERT, of Ardrossan, died in the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, yesterday, as a result of the accident which occurred to him at Ardrossan harbour on New Year’s Day.

He was assisting in discharging some barrels from the steamer MAGPIE, and when the barrels were being swung from the vessel by a crane one of them accidentally fell back into the hold, striking Calvert and inflicting a wound above the eye. He subsequently went to the Eye Infirmary, and from there was removed to the Western for operation. Inflammation of the brain, unfortunately, set in this week and caused his death.

He leaves a widow and family.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 JANUARY 1906

VESSEL SPOKEN

ARDNAMARCHAN, of Ardrossan, January 7, 8N, 28W.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 JANUARY 1905

DEATH

ALLISON: At 60 Princes Street, Ardrossan, on the 22nd instant, Robert Allison, (Linen Department, Mann, Byars & Company, Glasgow), aged 39 years, younger son of John Allison, draper, Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 JANUARY 1905

DEATH

GOODWIN: At 1 Arran Place, Ardrossan, on the 23rd instant, James Goodwin, aged 80.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 JANUARY 1900

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN

Yesterday Mr. John Thomson, boat builder, Ardrossan. Launched a handsome fishing boat, which had been built to the order of Mr. James Thomson, Girvan.

The vessel is named OPTIMIST.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 JANUARY 1845

Sir,

COLLISIONS AT SEA

Through the medium of your widely circulated journal, permit me to offer a few suggestions to those in charge of sailing vessels navigating our seas, for the purpose of preventing collisions with steamers at night time.

I would propose that all sailing vessels should have a signal lantern with three panes of glass, one red, a second blue or green, a third the natural colour.

The lantern to have two slides to shade the sides not intended to be seen by the steamer, so as the light exhibited may be distinct from others.

The red light to be shown when a vessel is upon the starboard tack. The blue or green light to be shown upon the larboard tack. The natural light to be shown by vessels running before the wind, fishing crafts at their nets, or vessels as it were stationary.

In boisterous weather, accompanied with snow or rain, when the lantern would show but a short distance a corresponding flue of a patent light ought to be burned to that indicated by the lantern; the patent light would at once catch the eye of the men upon the look-out on board of a steamer even in very hazy weather, in time to use proper means to give a sailing vessel a “wide berth.”

Sailing vessels in all cases, when exhibiting their light, ought to hold on their course steadily; this ought to be particularly attended to, as it often happens that they vary considerably from their original course after seeing a steamer’s lights; this causes confusion to both parties, whereas holding their course steadily on, points out to the officer in charge of the watch on board of a steamer at once the course to be taken to pass clear.

My experience tells me that if some such simple mode as I have proposed was generally adopted, collisions at night time would be of rare occurrence.

I may in a further letter advert to foggy weather, with your permission.

I subscribe myself,

AN OFFICER ON BOARD OF A STEAMER FOUR NIGHTS IN THE WEEK AT SEA BETWEEN ARDROSSAN AND FLEETWOOD.

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GLASGOW HERALD
25 JANUARY 1896

ARDROSSAN – PENNY SAVINGS BANK

The treasurer’s report shows that in all 2,159 deposits, accruing £236 12s 10d had been received – an increase of 747 deposits and value of £47 16s 4d as compared with last year.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 JANUARY 1849

SHIP NEWS

Ardrossan, January 23, 3 p.m. – The ship ATLANTIC has just now taken refuge in this harbour, with the loss of square main-sail, foretop, and jib. She is full of emigrants.

Wind N.W.N., blowing a gale.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 JANUARY 1852

THE GALE

Ardrossan:
The gale, so general throughout the Kingdom, was felt here in all its fury, and we had the severest and most protracted storm experienced for a long time.

Although there were a good many vessels in the harbour, and several arrivals took place, no damage whatsoever occurred.

The steamers to and from Ireland and Arran made their trips with only some slight deviation from their usual time.

Saltcoats harbour received no injury.