Last updated 21:54, Wednesday, 25 June 2008

Mr Archibald Scott, joiner, New-Castleton, died on the 4th inst., at the advanced age of 86 years. Messrs Henderson and Conn, agents of the Scottish Temperance League, gave stirring addresses in the Market Place on Tuesday evening, to a large crowd.Mr. T. A. Masheter, Raeburnfoot, at present holidaying with his wife and family in Argyllshire, was one of three men in a fishing dinghy which was attacked by a 30 foot shark on Friday evening. The Eskdale Brownies cleverly organised summer to arrive in time for their Revels on Canonbie Playing Field on Sunday, 19th June.

Mr. T. A. Masheter, Raeburnfoot, holidaying with his wife and family in Argyllshire 50 years ago, was one of three men in a fishing dinghy which was attacked by a 30ft shark

LIDDESDALE – DEATH OF A CHARACTER

Deceased was one of the oldest residenters in Liddesdale and was a most intelligent worthy man.

He possessed a great store of local traditional information, part of which, it is to be feared, will have perished with him.

He possessed also a peculiarly rich fund of native humour which so seasoned his conversation that some of his sayings have become almost proverbial.

He was a respected member and keen supporter of the U.P.Church in New-Castleton, and drew up, we believe, at one time a historical narrative of the origin of the congregation at that place, which arose from a forced settlement in the Established Church about one hundred years ago.

With Archie passed away a link, perhaps the last remaining one in Liddesdale, that connected the living with the past for a period even reaching beyond the Rebellion of ‘45.

He not only could relate characteristic anecdotes of the march of Prince Charlie through Liddesdale which he had gathered from the lips of those who witnessed these stirring times, but having a quick apprehension and singularly minute and retentive memory, he had picked up many oral stories which had relation to the last of the freebooting days, or at least to that half-civilised, rude and rough age of the lairds and hill farmers who succeeded them.

It is much to be regretted that, save in a few instances of which the writer is cognisant, much of this valuable information on the state and manners of Liddesdale and its people more than a century ago, have gone with him to the dark bourne from which no traveller returns.

OPEN AIR ORATORY

Mr Henderson said people took drink because they liked it.

A temperance lecturer once gave many reasons why men should not drink.

At the close an Irishman said to him, “if you can convince me that I don’t like drink, I will sign the pledge at once”. (Laughter) Some eighty years ago, when the temperance movement began, the Church was thirled to the liquor traffic, and ministers were the most drunken class.

This was not to be wondered at, because then it was the fashion for the inmates of every house the minister visited to offer him a dram, and before he had finished his round he was seeing double. (Laughter).

Now things were changed for the better, and ministers were mostly on the side of temperance.

Mr Conn referred at the outset to the small amount, only £7 per £100, of the money spent on drink, which went to pay for labour; whereas in the case of mines, £55 out of every £100 was paid in the form of labour.

Every brewer admitted that drunkards were a black spot on the social life of a nation; and he noticed that in a neighbouring town the municipal authorities debarred dirty intoxicated men from entering the Public Library.

Drink and dirt were twin children.

Liquor, he maintained, was a destructive force, while on the other hand total abstinence was constructive.

ESKDALEMUIR MAN IN BOAT ATTACKED BY SHARK

Mr. Masheter and companions, two local fishermen from Carradale, were fishing from their dinghy a mile off shore when they were attacked by a 30-feet-long basking shark.

The men battered the water with the oars to frighten the shark away as it raced close to the boat, and as it plunged under the boats the bows suddenly dipped dangerously.

The fishing lines had to be slashed away as the shark hooked them.

At first the auxiliary motor on the boat refused to start, as usual, but after a 15 minute battle with the shark the motor started and the men got clear of the scene as quickly as possible.

As Mr. Masheter said: “It certainly was an evil looking brute. We were on the point of going back ashore after having made a good catch. The shark certainly made up our minds for us”.

ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON FOR BROWNIES

Both Langholm and Canonbie packs were well represented and Division Commissioner, Mrs Jane Murray Flutter had great difficulty in choosing winners from the big variety of fancy dresses.

Games, tea and races followed.

As they grew steadily hotter and redder, and despite eating vast quantities of tea, the Brownies ran faster as the day wore on, finishing with an exciting relay race around the tennis courts, 12 runners in each team.

Langholm won and took home the Brownie shield for a year, but Canonbie are already planning where they will display it next year.

Weary, but happy, everyone agreed the afternoon had been a huge success thanks to the organisation of all the Guilders.