50 YEARS AGO Woodworm in the attic leads to rebate

A Dunning woman was awarded a £6 reduction in her rates following an appeal.

Miss Jane Brownlie, Ashgrove, Newton of Pitcairn, said the ground on which her house stood was feued in 1797. The combination of small windows and two foot thick walls meant the interior had to use more electricity than that of a modern home. Also the floorboards and rafters were riddled with woodworm and despite pest killing measures the worms kept returning. Appearing in front of the Valuation Appeal Committee, Miss Brownlie added, amid laughter, “I’ve to keep the attic door shut to keep them from coming down.” The committee reduced her gross annual rates to £50.

Two unsuccessful attempts to break into shops in Crieff had been made at the weekend. Someone tried to gain entry to Messrs T. Palmer Valentine’s draper’s shop in West High Street through a window at the rear of the premises. “The window snib was forced and an attempt made to jemmy the sash open, but it did not move.”

“On Sunday evening, a skylight at the rear of Messrs D and J MacEwens grocer’s shop in James Square was broken but entry was not affected.”

A difference of opinion on the relative merits of Celtic and Rangers led to the fining of two local men at Crieff Burgh Court. The men admitted that they had caused a breach of the peace in King Street when they had ended up cursing and fighting following a row about football.