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Nosshead, 4th February 1901
Sir, I beg to inform you that Mr Donald Dickson, Roadman, called on me at the station this forenoon and complained that “The fishcurers or a number of the fishcurers of Wick or Pulteney Town, were carting spring water for curing purposes from the old quarry of Inkerman, and driving for a mile on the Lighthouse road and with the heavy loads they put on, cutting up the road badly”. Dickson desired me to go over the portion of road in question and see it for myself and report to you. I accordingly went over it and saw for myself that it is in some places rather badly cut up and broken on the surface and at places tracked to a depth of three or four inches; it is no worse than I would have expected to find any road of the kind when a strong thaw is set in and the frost lifting out of the ground. Dickson says “That the road is not made or bottomed for loads such as the carters are putting on, and that if they are allowed to go on, it will be necessary that he get more road metal to be able to keep it in any sort of repair at all”. His allowance of road metal is almost used up.
Dickson complains “That his contract for the road was never meant or intended to include extra traffic from outside sources, but only traffic to or from the Lighthouse and the Farms situated on the road.”
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
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Sir,
I duly received your letter of the 18th inst regarding the Lighthouse road; since then I have made every endeavour to find out by whose authority or permission the fishcurers of Wick take the water from Inkerman quarry.
I first tried to see Mr Dunnet, Land Steward, on the Estate, to see if he had granted permission, but he was from home. I next went to Mr Simpson, Fishcurer, who admitted getting water but said he did not know where from; he in turn, directed me to his carter, Mr Farquar, who said that he along with others had taken water from Inkerman quarry for the last number of years but had no permission from anyone, nor were they ever challenged for it.
Dickson the Roadman misled me in his statement for I understood the thing had just commenced this winter; he now admits that one or two Curers have got water from the quarry every year (generally in the months of February and March only is it required) but this year a far greater number are taking water.
The road is no worse than when I reported the complaint to you and Dickson says “if the weather keeps moderate now he will be fit to make good any damage done as yet”.
The water is being used by the Fishcurers only, not by any tenants on the Estate.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
John Clyne
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Nosshead, 4th March 1901
Sir,
On receipt of your letter of the 1st inst. asking for the names and addresses of the Curers who had used the Lighthouse road for carting water, I went to Mr Dickson, Roadmaker, to try and get information from him. He says “That he now regrets making complaint, but he was afraid for the road in the state that the weather then was”. I believe he knows pretty well the Curers who got the water, but says “he cannot give the names unless the Carters say they were sent by them. He (Dickson) promised to try and get the information from the Carters.
Farquar the Carter I referred to in my last letter was the only man who admitted to me to have taken water from the quarry for several of the Curers, but refused to say who the Curers or the other Carters were. Farquar said “he would stop it” and Dickson says “every one has stopped since I was making enquiries as to who gave permission to take the water”.
Sir, in my quest then, I got little information and less civility but if you desire, I will go to every Fishcurer in Wick and Pulteney Town and ask them personally. If Mr Dickson give me any further information, I will forward it to you at once.
In another enclosure I have posted you Dickson’s statement of work for the past year.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
John Clyne
(The following letter is included to show that there were still problems with the road some twenty years later – although the surname here is “Clyne”, George Clyne the writer was no relation).
Noss Road
Letter from George Clyne to NLB re condition of Noss Road after his complaint
NOSS, WICK
2nd March 1921
Sir
……….. since my complaint was lodged by you, Mr Swanson and his sons are daily on the road doing their best.
Activity of this kind if continued will doubtless renovate the ditches.
The metalling of the road which was done in a careless fashion, should be taken in hand next season, and I would suggest that the steam road roller might be hired from the town council for a few days.
Regarding snow cutting, Mr Swanson should be engaged to do his bit in this work, and when the farm hands are sent out to assist in snow cutting it is only fair to expect that the roadman should be present to direct operations. It amuses me to read about snow being “level with the hedges”, no hedges ever existed on the road between Noss Head and Wick.
Mr Swanson is now doing his utmost, and I feel he is endeavouring to make a job, so I thank the Lighthouse Board for having given your letter their attention.
Yours Faithfully
GEORGE CLYNE
Outrage on Dogger Bank on 21st Oct 1904 - Letter from Admiralty asking if there is any record at East Coast lighthouses of the passing torpedo boats which could in any way be connected with the above.
The Lighthouse board asked their keepers if they sighted any torpedo boats. Letter sent on 7th January asked for replies by return of post. These are some replies:
Nosshead 9th January 1905
Sir
Your letter of the 7th inst regarding passing of Torpedo boats, to hand this morning.
I beg to state that neither any of the assistants not I saw any boats of that nature on or between the dates given, or on any other date in the month of October.
John Clyne
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Rattray Head
9th January 1905
Sir
Referring to your letter of the 7th inst regarding torpedo boats, I beg to say I was ashore from 10th to 25th October so that I have no notes of the incident and what I have to say is from memory but from certain incidents which occurred at the shore station at that time I am quite sure that on the 15th or 16th October at about 3 o' clock in the afternoon, I observed a fleet of eight torpedo boats off the lighthouse steaming very rapidly south. When passing here they were communicating to each other by a private code of signals, but I could not observe any National ensign. The assistants also seen them from the rock and they also state that they could see no national flag. They passed about four mile off the rock.
Wm Irvine
PLK
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St Abbs
8th January 1905
……. I recall distinctly seeing two torpedo boats passing south flying the British Ensign several days prior to the passing of the British Squadron (6 Ships) on the 28th October last. The two torpedo boats passed here probably on or about 20th October and they were code signalling to each other when passing and the time was between 10 and 11 AM when they were seen from here.
James Comlie PLK
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