1880
CELLARDYKE – Presents to the Scholars of the Infant School
Through the liberality of several friends interested in education, including the members of the School Board, the children attending the Cellardyke Infant School have been treated to various gifts during this festive season. On dismissing on Christmas Eve each of those present received a packet of confections, yesterday oranges were distributed, and today (“cake-day”) another packet of confections will be served out.
We understand that the pupil teachers in connection with the Infant School Cellardyke, waited on their former teacher on Christmas day, and presented her with a nicer salver and jug bearing the simple but gratifying inscription :—” Presented to Miss England by her scholars. Cellardyke, 1880.’ The presentation was made in the name of the scholars by Miss Mary Ann Brown, who discharged the duty entrusted to her by her sister pupil teachers in the most graceful manner. The recipient who was highly delighted at this expression of esteem, made a suitable reply. Both the salver and jug were of chaste design and exhibited fine workmanship, and were supplied by Mr D. Lumsden”, Anstruther.
1881
The Police Board of Cellardyke have just resolved to accept the offer of Mr Clark, the factor on the Kilrenny lands, for the street manure of the burgh, at the rate of 2s 63 the cubic yard. —
SCHOOL PROSECUTION. At a meeting this week of the Kilrenny School Board, instructions were given to the Clerk to take the usual steps in order to prosecute a Cellardyke parent before the Anstruther Justices for neglect of duty in regard to education.
THR HERRING FISHING. – Nightly trials are now being made at the mouth of the Firth at the net fishing. Some twenty boats are occasionally afloat front one or other of the harbours of the coast, but as yet, the highest take does not exceed a few hundreds.
28th Dec Wick
Already about score of boats are fitted out in Pulteney Harbour, and Cellardyke boat has arrived to fish on this coast. (This was Skipper James Brunton and the “Jessies” to prosecute the cod and ling fishery)
KID SKIN REEFING JACKETS, Scarlet Wool Lined, at JOHN MARTIN & CO.’S, CELLARDYKE.
WANTED, as an APPRENTICE, a Smart Youth about 14. Apply to SHARP & MURRAY, merchants, Cellardyke.
……….One of the prize men ( Fishing boat builders, Prize winners at the 1880 Norwich Fishing Exhibition, ) – Mr Alexander Cunningham – sailed the other week for the Scottish Settlement of Otago, in New Zealand. A sea fishery, of much promise, is carried out in Port Chalmers, chiefly under the superintendence of an old son of Maggie Lauder, Mr William Innes, Fish Merchant. There are several Cellardyke and other trained fishermen in his employment. Fishing gear of all kinds is obtained to order from Scotland, but, notwithstanding every effort, it has been found impossible to provide suitable vessels, but this interesting task could not be entrusted to better hands than our ingenious townsman, Mr Cunningham, who will grapple with it on the spot. The Seas of New Zealand, we may observe, teem with fish, but there, as elsewhere, the harvest is not to be gathered unless with a thorough equipment – the chief of which would seem to be a class of hardy smacks of a somewhat larger and stronger build than the boats of the East of Fife.
Article about Alexander Cunningham’s Grandson’s achievements as a 50knt yacht designer, Lindsay Cunningham, famous catamaran designer – here
A Bailie Court was held in Cellardyke on Saturday, which, owing to the demolition of the Town House, took place in the Free Church Hall. —William Blyth, one of the four coopers charged with assaulting a fisherman on a Saturday night in October last, but who escaped trial with his fellows by being at Yarmouth, now appeared to answer to the complaint, for which he was convicted of evidence and fined 7s 6d. – Mrs Barbara Robertson or Montidare was charged with assault in what seems to have been a kind of family quarrel, but failing to appear, a warrant was issued for her apprehension.
1882
The youngest of our local associations—the Anstruther and Cellardyke Glee Club —made its debut in a grand concert in the Town Hall on Friday night., when a most flattering welcome was accorded by a large and appreciative audience.
FOR SALE, a BLACK RETRIEVER DOG, aged 20 months. Apply to Robert Ritchie 2 Rodger Street, Cellardyke.
1883
An Interesting Union – The half yearly meeting of the Cellardyke Fishermen’s Unions was held in the Town Hall on Saturday night. Skipper John Carstairs took his post at the tiller. Treasurer Meldrum and Secretary Pratt submitted report of the doings of the last six months. It showed that over five hundred men in the town have their names on the roll. The state of the funds was equally eloquent. The “tuppence a week” has grown to a capital of over £1200. It was agreed that the salary of the Treasurer should be £12, and that of the Secretary £5. In view of the Shetland summer fishing, it was agreed to shift the date of the annual meeting from June to December.
No little indignation has been excited by the wholesome destruction of herring nets by steam trawlers on Monday night. The boats were watching their drift, when trawlers came sweeping down. Mesh and headrope were shorn away. The “Dayspring,” the “Taeping,” the “Useful,” and the “W. E. Gladstone,” are the chief sufferers among the Cellardyke boats. The trawlers hid or cancelled their numbers, in order to escape the consequences of the outrage, which in some cases has entailed the loss of twenty nets.
1884
We understand that the dashing North Sea clipper, “Rob the Ranter,” KY 154 of Cellardyke, launched so lately as the spring, has just sold in the interest of her owners to Skipper James Jack for about 270 guineas.
A public meeting of fishermen was held in the Town Hall, Cellardyke, on Friday evening last week—Skipper R Montador presiding—for the purpose of considering the teind fund. There was a large attendance. The yearly rental, it seems, was now £50, but it being understood that Colonel Bethune, the superior, is now willing to sell his rights for the slump sum of £1100, the meeting was called to consider what action should be taken by the fishermen regarding the proposal. A long discussion ensued regarding the matter, but ultimately skippers Martin Gardiner, James Brunton, Michael Doig, Alex. Watson, and Wm. Thomson, and the Chairman were appointed to wait upon the factor to the superior and ask him to continue the tack for another three years or otherwise in the interests of the community.
A movement being on foot to replace the pulpit and reading desk in the Free Church, with a platform (as being more in accordance with the taste of the times), the choir gave a recital (in aid of the funds) of Longbottoms “David” in the Forth Street Hall on Saturday evening. The Rev. Mr McAlpine presided. The attendance was disappointing.
Remembering the Poor. —In these weary days it is pleasant to note the thoughtful kindness, which in doing so, help to brighten many a lonely hearth. As for so many years past Mr Williamson, M.P., is continuing his distribution of coals among his old neighbours in the Anstruthers and Cellardyke. We also hear tea and sugar, and such seasonable gifts being sent in Christmas cheer to our aged householders by friends both at home and in faraway lands.