From the pages of the Down Recorder, April 10, 1973

10 April 2013

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Urban Council is gravely concerned that unpaid rates in the town amount to £16,000 and involve almost 50 people. Mr. Wm. Moorehead, rates collector, told Monday’s council meeting that every means had been used to reduce the amount and, in fact, 16 summonses had been issued to persons to appear at court in connection with the arrears.

He felt that several genuine people were involved, who would try to pay off their debts, but some of the individual amounts were quite large. He stated that between £6,000 and £7,000 of the amount was irrecoverable.

The council chairman, Mr. A. P. Cairns, regretted that some people, who were probably in financial difficulties, should be brought before a court, but he recognised the council’s obligations in the matter. He said it was essential that the books were put in good order as soon as possible.

CROSSGAR — Police found almost 12 cwt of explosive substance on a farm between Crossgar and Downpatrick on Tuesday afternoon. It is believed the substance was a form of fertiliser which had been on the farm for some time and had been surplus to requirements last year. Since last autumn it is illegal to possess certain forms of fertiliser which can be used for bomb-making.

CLOUGH — Two calves have vanished from fields in the Clough area and farmers are becoming suspicious of a thief in their midst. Last week a five week-old calf, owned by Mr. Robert McKibben, Clough, disappeared and on Monday a two week-old animal vanished from the Aughlisnafin farm of Mr. Samuel Calderwood.

KILLINCHY — Mr. Sam Carse, Killinchy, was detained in Downe Hospital with leg and shoulder injuries received in an accident at the weekend. His van went out of control, demolished a telegraph pole and fell 25 feet into a field on the Crossgar-Derryboye Road. His girlfriend, Eileen Johnston, also of Killinchy, was treated for minor injuries.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick will not have a police headquarters, it was learned this week, and a site purchased for the purpose almost ten years ago will probably go on the market.

A police authority spokesman yesterday told the Recorder that the divisional headquarters in Downpatrick would be moved to Newtownards. “We are not going ahead with a new building on the Irish Street/John Street site,” he said. “A new subdivisional headquarters will be built in Downpatrick, but on a new site.

“The question exercising our minds for some time is whether or not Downpatrick in the best place for a divisional headquarters. We now plan to move to Newtownards, but Downpatrick will have a new station.”

The John Street site was cleared almost ten years ago and although there was certain scepticism for a time as to whether or not the new headquarters would ever be built, fears were somewhat allayed when a sign designating the site was erected. That sign still stands.

SHRIGLEY — Mr. Erik E. Utitz, Shrigley Lodge, Shrigley, Killyleagh, has been appointed president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Utitz is chairman of United Chrometanners Ltd., of Shrigley, and is in his early fifties. He was born in Prague and came to Northern Ireland shortly before the war.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ambulance attendants had to cut a man free from a tractor cab after he had taken ill on Tuesday afternoon. He is Matthew Gibbons, of Ballykine, Ballynahinch, who is in his late fifties.

He was driving a County Council-owned tractor mounted hedge-cutter on the Seaforde-Drumgooland Road when the attack occurred. The vehicle ploughed through a ditch and became entangled in wire. Fortunately, it did not overturn, but the driver was trapped in the cab. He was attended by a local doctor before being brought to hospital.

KILLYLEAGH — Eight boys from Killyleagh Parish Scout troop successfully completed the ambulance badge courses which finished on Wednesday. The boys were James Heron, David Moore, David Osborne, Maurice Bridges, Hugh McAllister, Alan Marshall, Ronald Dunwoody and Derek Houston. One of the cubs, Steven Logan, was also successful. Their teacher, Mrs. Watt, was presented with a box of chocolates by the boys as a token of their appreciation.

There was also a marked success on Friday evening when the boys entered for the librarian and collector badge courses. Four boys, Alan Marshall, David Moore, Tom Raybould and William Bennett, passed the librarian badge, and five boys, Alan Marshall, Rodney Cromie, Alan Patterson, Derek Houston and Timothy Stevenson, passed the collector badge. On the same evening James Heron, Rodney Cromie and Timothy Stevenson were presented with their swimmer badges.

SAINTFIELD — At the annual inspection of the Second Saintfield Parish Church company of the Boys’ Brigade on Friday, the Rev. W. D. McBride acted as chairman and the inspecting officer was Mr. J. Smyth, president of the Belfast battalion. The opening devotions were conducted by the vicar, the Rev. N. W. Woodrow. During the evening Queen’s Badges were presented to Messrs Noel McCargo and Samuel Simpson. Messrs Jack Johnston and Brian Graham received their President’s Badges.

SPA — Spa Young Farmers’ Club now has a membership of 51 and during the past year has notched up a total of 49 proficiency awards. Thirty members attended the area cattle judging competition and two, James Morrow and Robert Patterson, reached the NI finals.

CROSSGAR — The Rev. S. A. Matthews, assistant minister of First Larne Presbyterian Church, on Tuesday accepted the call to become minister of Lissara Church, Crossgar. The installation will take place on May 10. A deputation from Lissara Church attended a special meeting of Carrickfergus Presbytery where the call was tabled and approved. Mr. Matthew is 29 and is married.

ARDGLASS — Ulster Television’s ‘Spectrum’ programme next Friday will feature a film story on Francis Henry Bigger, the famous Ulsterman and intellectual, who spent much of his time restoring ancient monuments and collecting books. He was the last occupant of Jordan’s Castle, Ardglass.

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