January 1930 - Bygone News

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Lochee Old Folk Enjoy Themselves
Annual New Year Treat
The annual New Year treat to the old folks of Lochee took place in the Weaver's Hall on Saturday. Councillor Aimer presided over a gathering numbering 250.

Tea was served by the members of the Lochee Labour Party, who organised the treat, and a long and varied programme was afterwards carried through.

On leaving the ball each guest received half a pound of tea and a bag of cakes.

Rainfall Records for the Year
The Wettest Day, some interesting facts regarding the rainfall records taken at Dundee Harbour, Buddonness Lighthouse, and Tayport Lighthouse during the past year are contained in a report issued by the Dundee Harbour Engineer.

The figures show that there was a considerable decrease in the total rainfall for the year at all three points as compared with 1928.

At Dundee harbour 23.41 inches were recorded in 1929, against 30.56 inches in 1928.

At Dundee, the greatest rainfall was recorded in the month of November, when 3.32 inches fell.

The day on which the heaviest rainfall occurred at Dundee was 4th July - 1.34 inches.

A Big Smash
An accident of an unusual nature occurred in Royal Exchange Court on Thursday afternoon. A horse yoked to a lorry belonging to Mutter, Howey & Co., and driven by George Miller, 15, Exchange Street, slipped and fell and the animal's left foreleg went through a window in the premises of William Gibson & Co., iron merchants, breaking six panes of glass.

Do You Know That -
The origin of Dundee can be traced back with comparative certainty to the dim prehistoric period? It is unquestionable that the first Dundee, by whatever name it was known, was a little fishing village at the Stannergate, relics of which have been found within comparatively recent years.

These consisted of funeral urns of unburnt clay, stone coffins with human remains, and similar proofs of early occupancy. The most valuable archaeological find was the disclosure of a large shell bed, or "kitchen midden", which was exposed during the operation of excavating between the river and the railway to provide materials for an extension of the harbour.

These relics plainly showed that a colony of fishermen had resided at this spot. The time of its occupancy was a very remote one - probably long anterior to the Roman occupation of Scotland. Ages must have elapsed between the time when the Stannergate was inhabited by these early fishermen and the Stone period, when the interments took place.

It seems probably that this primitive settlement removed westward at an unrecorded date to a spot where the rivulet formed by the junction of the Scouring Burn and Tods Burn flowed into the Tay - that is, at the foot of the present South Commercial Street.

Meanwhile there were families and tribes of settlers at Menzieshill and at Pitalpin, now King's Cross, as is proved by interments found there. Thus these primitive inhabitants unconsciously laid out the boundaries of Dundee.

Lochee Butcher Fined
Preservative in Mince
J. Baird, butcher, Lochee, was fined £2 at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday for the sale of mince containing preservative.

He admitted having sold on 28th November last, by the hand of an assistant, a pound of mince containing 678 parts per million of sulphur dioxide.

Mr Ross, solicitor, said that accused was ill for two weeks covering the period in which the offence occurred, and his stop was perforce left in charge of his son and daughter. If he had been there himself the sulphur dioxide would never have been added.

The Fiscal pointed out that the use of the preservative was allowed only in the months of June, July, August and September.

Kitchenmaid Wanted
Wages commence at £36 per annum, with board, lodging, laundry and uniform. The whole subject to deductions for pension under the Act of 1909. Apply stating age and previous experience and enclosing copies of two testimonials.

The Workless Army
The number of persons on the registers of employment exchanges in Great Britain on January 6th was 1,058,900 wholly unemployed. 344,500 normally in casual employment, making a total of 1,477,800. This was 31,431 less than the week before, but 26,181 more than a year ago. The total on January 6th comprised 1,115,200 men, 42,200 boys, 281,800 women and 38,600 girls.

Rare Visitor to the Tay
An unusual visitor to the Tay in the form of a dolphin has just met its fate by stranding on the shore near Ninewells, Dundee. The animal was found on the beach on Saturday in perfect condition showing no sign of having been injured while in the water.

It is conjectured that it found its way into the estuary during the stormy weather of last week, and came to grief by getting stranded at low tide. It is 6 ft 9 inches in length, 3 ft 6 inches in girth, and made a conspicuous object on the beach about 200 yards to the west of Ninewells Bridge.

The carcase was removed on Sunday to Dundee Museum, where steps are being taken to have it preserved and set up.

A Good Hint
To whiten a kitchen table add a few drops of ammonia to the hot water used for scrubbing the table in the ordinary way. This will prevent it turning a yellowish colour.

Motor Rail Service
Now that the London and North-East Railway Company, is showing enterprise in many directions the season ticket holders of Tayport, Newport, and Wormit may make request for a motor rail coach service between Dundee and Tayport on Sundays. It should be possible to carry on motor rail coach services on the lines of motor buses on the roads. On the single line between Wormit and Tayport it would be practicable to work a motor rail coach service without full staffs of signalmen and station officials.

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