Notes from Newport Town Council Minutes
These are not full transcripts of the Minutes. They are my own notes.
1913-14 (November 1913 - November 1914) Source: Newport-on-Tay Council Minutes, B79-1-13
| Election of Parish Council: Ward 1: William Gilchrist Fairweather, St Phillans Place; Simon Forrest, Craig-Ard; James Husband, Lyndhurst. Ward 2: James Mackay Latto, Tayport Road; David H Robertson, 17 Kilnburn Place; James Young, High Street. Ward 3: James G Belford, Tayside; Alexander Johnston, Rowan Bank; James Sturrock, Baymount. |
| Election of Town Councillors: Ward 1: James Young, Tay Street. Ward 2: Charles W Buik, Braeknowe. Ward 3: James Coutts, Clifton. All elected without contest. |
| Town Council: Ward 1: Simon Forrest, elected 1911, Senior Bailie; George Rollo, elected 1912; James Young, elected 1913. |
| Ward 2: Robert Thomson Leitch, elected 1909, Provost; David Thomson, elected 1912; Charles William Buik, elected 1913. |
| Ward 3: James Barry Robb, elected 1911, Junior Bailie; James G Gilchrist, elected 1912; James Coutts, elected 1913. |
| Wages of burgh workmen: Foreman - 32/6 per week; road roller driver - 27/6 per week; other workmen - 24/6 per week. |
| 2 December 1913. Wormit electric lighting - 'desirable to have the opinion of an expert as regards condition of the plant and any other particulars ... ' Gas committee to employ such an expert. |
| Blyth Hall to be handed over from Trustees to Town Council. |
| Wormit electric lighting: Gas committee resolved that no expert be appointed [only 2 people could do it, one charging 50 guineas, one 10 guineas; after a vote on the 10 guineas decided not to appoint.] |
| Blyth Hall transfer - requires application to parliament by way of a provisional order under Private Legislation Procedure Act 1899 - joint approach to be made. |
| 27 January 1914. Wormit electric lighting: deputation wanted to speak to Town Council meeting of 3 February 1914 - refused. |
| Wormit electric lighting: Town Council overturned the gas committee's recommendation and appointed Mr J W Napier, engineer & manager, gas & electric depts., Alloa, to furnish a report at a fee of 10 guineas. Napier visited Newport on Thursday 19th February 1914 and has still to test the dynamos, etc. |
| Purchase of horse mower for grass at park - £14 10/- |
| Wormit electric lighting: Napier's detailed report (7 pages) considered - existing plant could supply Wormit but a new generating station would be required for Newport and would initially run at a loss. Needn't worry about an outside company providing electric light in Newport - the sales of gas won't fall. Voted on (a) take no action on acquiring the Wormit company, or (b) hold a poll of residents to see if electric light was wanted. (a) 6 votes; (b) 3 votes; (voting 6 Newport councillors : 3 Wormit ones). |
| Wormit electric lighting: Letter from J G Gilchrist, solicitor, Dundee, asking for a deputation to be heard on 5th May - agreed. |
| Water trough at West Newport broken - to be repaired by Town Council. Letter from Thomas Gray Duncan, West Newport objecting to Town Council interfering with this watering place - no action. |
| Wormit electric lighting: Mr J G Belford was heard re: acquiring the Wormit electric light installation. |
| Water: one of Wormit's mains is connected at Wormit station to one from Dundee, resulting in greater pressure in Wormit. |
| Sewage smells from manholes at higher levels - a low tide causes the sewers to be flushed out with air - vent shafts have been erected for this purpose [one is at Bay Road]. |
| 5 May 1914. Wormit electric lighting: Town Council take the same vote - same result - no action. |
| Complaint from Mrs Rowan, Temperance Hotel, Pierhead, Newport about Sunday closing and the effect on trade. Bye-laws to be changed. |
| Who, Town Council or Mars, pays for Mars boys at St Michael's hospital? (At the 'Empress' training ship at Rhu the Council pays.) Newport Town Council won't pay for the boys. |
| Complaint from Mr David Pearson about rones on Thomas Duncan's house being faulty. M.O.H. and Sanitary Inspector to inspect house. |
| Crowds and carts blocking Causewayhead Road at the park on Saturdays. |
| Wall on north of Thomas Duncan's property dividing it from Miss Just's property was dangerous and was shored up by Town Council. |
| Thomas Duncan's rones: notice to put up necessary rones and install proper drains connected to the public sewer. |
| Town Council to try to get 40 Special Constables due to the War crisis. 30 were appointed on 25 August 1915 - |
| Special constables: George McLaren, 35, butcher, Gas Lane; Alexander Anderson, 35, butcher, James Square; John Lennox, 34, ironmonger, King St; David Bell, 24, grocer, Union St; Aikman McInroy, 35, engine driver, Union Tce; Alexander Davidson, 22, gardener, Den Cottages; John Duncan, 35, coal merchant, Thornbank; Frederick Duncan, 26, coal merchant, Thornbank; John Barlow, 47, plumber, Woodville, Robert St; James M Mathers, 41, clerk, 2 Norwood Tce; Joseph Carscadden, 29, joiner, c/o Caird, King St; William Ames, 35, carter, The Terrace; David Brown, 40, gardener, Gowrie Bank; Peter D Wighton, 45, grocer, West Newport; George Morrison, 35, flesher, Robert St; William Johnston, 34, blacksmith, William St; James Scott, 25, carter, Union Tce; James S Keay, 27, butcher, Union Place; John Storrier, 40, slater, Seacraig Cott., King St; Norman Duncan, 30, clerk, Kilnburn Tce; Robert Scott, 37, glazier, Kilnburn Tce; Herbert Storrier, 23, slater, Tayport Rd; John M Paterson, 40, tailor, Fife House, Wormit; George Collie, 41, horse hirer, Wormit; James Gilmour, 41, wagon examiner, Railway Cotts., Wormit; William Mitchell, 25, farm servant, Wormit Farm; William Todd, 36, dairyman, Scroggieside; Robert Noakes, 33, butcher, Woodend; David S Mitchell, 43, bank teller, Linden Ave; Thomas Lawson, 28, rope spinner, Wormit. |
| August 1914. Fire at John Ross & Son's store (Mr Berry, proprietor). ? State of the walls? ? barricade the whole building? Inefficiencies of the fire brigade. Deputation about fire brigade. |
| Blyth Hall - Royal Assent 28 August 1914. |
| Reduction of street lighting in east coast towns in wartime - the street lamps are already extinguished about 11 p.m. - no further action. |
| Retiring councillors: Forrest, Provost Leitch, Robb. |
| Public hall in Wormit is occupied by the military. |
| Burgh Surveyor's report on fire brigade - detailed report of water, mains, manning, hydrants, etc. A costly exercise to put in proper order. Left out detailed consideration, but bought more hose. |
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