CROSSGAR — A Crossgar woman who escaped from her burning home with only a pair of wellington boots and a coat over her night-dress could not speak highly enough of Downpatrick and Ballynahinch firemen’s success in confining the blaze to the top of the house. She is Mrs. Annie Morrison, a widower of Magheracranmoney. She said afterwards she couldn’t believe that firemen could turn out so quickly.
Shortly after 11 o’clock on Saturday night she smelled smoke and found her bedroom ablaze. She cannot say whether the outbreak was caused by an electric blanket or by a gas heater.
Mrs. Morrison was accompanied by her sister-in-law, Mrs. Sarah McConnell. Her son, Sidney, who works at Dundonald, and daughters Anne, a teacher at Newcastle Technical College, and Joan, a nurse in the Royal Victoria Hospital, were out at the time. All of their clothing was burned.
The family are presently living in a caravan in the yard and are still able to use the working kitchen of the home.
NEWCASTLE — An elderly cripple in a wheelchair, five children and a woman who finds great difficulty in walking were among the 30 residents hustled out of the Slieve Donard Hotel into the frosty air for more than two hours during Tuesday night’s bomb scare.
About 11.45 a phone call from Downpatrick telephone exchange to Newcastle police stated that a 11 lb. bomb had been planted at the hotel. The hotel was cleared immediately of 130 people attending a dance, plus the residents and staff. Two fire engines from Newcastle and one from Downpatrick stood by.
At 1.30am police and soldiers began a thorough search of the building and shortly after two o’clock declared it safe.
CASTLEWELLAN — A number of Castlewellan farmers who have been withholding payment of water accounts because of a dispute over meter readings are to meet East Down Rural Council to discuss the matter. Water that has been turned off for some days will flow again on the farms pending the meeting.
This was agreed on Monday night when the council chairman, Mr. Edward McVeigh, drew attention to the request from the farmers that a delegation should be allowed to discuss the position in the council boardroom. Messrs Seamus Fitzpatrick and Edward Nelson proposed that the meeting should take place, with three of the farmers concerned, and this was carried by eleven votes to two.
Mr. Nelson said: “If we meet the deputation it will assure these people that the council is prepared to listen to their point of view and they are entitled to that as ratepayers. We have received other deputations without any hesitation.”
DOWNPATRICK — Two new-born animals were the latest target for Downpatrick’s hooligans this week. They were responsible for the killing of a calf and a lamb in a field at the Dam Hill, Ballyvange, on Tuesday evening.
Says irate farmer Sean Mullan: “These people don’t care what they do, but I’ll do all I can to deal with them. They’ve cost me at least £80.”
Two boys with two dogs, a black labrador type and a terrier, were seen in field he says. The lamb was battered to death and the calf, only days old, appeared to have been chased by the dogs until it broke a hind leg. Then it was stoned in one eye.
Mr. Mullan, who farms 15 acres at the Dam Hill, is as much saddened as he is intensely angered by the incident.
BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch Recreation Committee have accepted the preliminary draft report of East Down Rural Council’s consulting engineer about the need for sporting facilities in the town. They have worked out the dispositioning of pitches and other facilities.
For soccer, two senior and two intermediate pitches are required and for hockey it was agreed that two all-weather pitches would be needed. One rugby pitch was required in addition to the club’s own development.
The committee discussed the question of an opening ceremony for the new playing fields and pavilion at Langley Road on September 1.
KILLYLEAGH — Local men were injured in a road accident at Ballytrim, Killyleagh, on Wednesday of last week. Noel Carter, Kerry Hill, Killyleagh, was driving a mini-van towards Crossgar and it was in collision with a Hillman being driven by William J. Cousins, who was travelling in the opposite direction. A passenger in the van, Samuel Rea, Shrigley, was also injured.
NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Gateway Club is expected to raise £700 from Saturday’s charity walk. Of the 66 walkers who took part, only one failed to negotiate the course, which took in Newcastle, Castlewellan, Clough, Dundrum and back to Newcastle, the starting point.
Mr. Danny Cunningham, club leader, said the organisers were delighted at the amount raised which will go towards building new club premises and providing extra recreational facilities for members.
ANNSBOROUGH — At the April meeting of Annsborough Women’s Institute, the president, Miss M. Blackwood, extended a special welcome to Mrs. McCartan and her daughter from Aughlisnafin. Mrs. McCartan gave a display and talk on perfumery and later Miss McCartan familiarised members with the various items of Tupperware currently marketed. Mrs. F. Murphy presented both ladies with small gifts.
This month’s birthday gift was presented to Mrs. F. Ross and the prize for the most attracted plate was won by Mrs. English. Mrs. R. G. Wilson won the raffle.
ARDGLASS — Dogs and foxes are suspected of killing several new-born lambs on a farm at Ross, Ardglass. Dog owners are reminded to be especially careful about controlling their animals’ movements.
BISHOPSCOURT — A variety of interest is lined up for the Bishopscourt motor racing calendar. It starts with the Gallagher sponsored meeting on May 5, which will feature cars which have competed in the 1973 International Circuit of Ireland. The spectacle of the Circuit of Ireland stars displaying their rallying techniques around Ireland’s best racing circuit should indeed be interesting to watch and already such notables of the rallying world as Sean Campbell and Adrian Boyd have shown great interest in the event.