February 1930

Another Order for City Shipyard

Motor Tanker for Sweden
Baxter Park TerraceAnother shipbuilding order has come to Dundee from Sweden.  The Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd., has received a contract from Aktiebolaget Gotauerken, Gothenburg, for the hull of a motor tanker.This is the 4th order for a tanker that the Caledon Company has secured from Sweden within the last four months. The vessel will be designed to carry over 11,000 tons.

Belated Shoppers

The January sales are just about to come to a close in Dundee, and not for a long time has there been such an orgy of shopping as that seen this week.  People who have previously omitted to purchase anything have now discovered, when the end of the sales is in view, numerous articles which they need, and they have done a considerable amount of last minute shopping.  Every night this week these belated bargain-seekers have been taking advantage of the reductions offered in the city shops.

Dundee's Film Society

The newly-formed Dundee Film Society gave the first programme of their season in the Royalty Cinema on Sunday afternoon.

The most impressive film shown was undoubtedly Jean Epstein's "Finis Terrae", which the French director produced at Cape Finisterre, and in which the actors and actresses are the fisherfolk themselves.  The photography is outstanding, while the dignified acting of the fisherfolk helps to make "Finis Terrae" an extremely fine contribution to the art of the cinema.

Remember That -

Odd pieces of linoleum are of great use as pot mats, and save much work.  They are more attractive and uniform in appearance if they are cut into circles.  Use varying-sized plates as a pattern, and cut around them with a sharp knife.

Safe Opened by a Duplicate Key

£60 Stolen
When the premises of Messrs James Grant & Co., house furnishers,  Murraygate, Dundee, were opened on Wednesday morning it was discovered that a burglary had been carried out during the night and a sum of about £60 stolen.

Entrance had apparently been gained through a fanlight at the rear of the premises.  The safe had been opened with a duplicate key, which was kept in a desk in the office.

The safe contained about £60 in cash and £30 in cheques and postal orders.  Only the cash was taken.

Are You Aware That -

Before an inhabitant of Dundee in the old days could carry on any craft as master he required to become a burgess or freeman?

A competent workman who had served a regular apprenticeship and who was of good character obtained admission either in right of descent from a burgess or on payment of a sum of money.  The heir of a burgess did not obtain free admission unless he was of direct descent.

At an early time the sum payable was small.  In 1521 a man was "made and sworn burgess for twenty shillings" but afterwards the payment was much increased.

In virtue of their burghal rights as freemen, craftsmen were associated in the government of the commonweal, and became identified with its interests.  Besides these privileges, they claimed they had a right to share along with burgesses of the guild or merchant class in any special advantage which came to the community.

For instance, they claimed a share of the profits when unfreement speculated as middlemen in importing goods, and, the transaction coming to light, the council would appropriate the goods at cost price, so that the profits should not remain with the speculators, but be for the common interest.

There is evidence that from an early time in the history of Dundee the various trades were associated into separate corporations.  Such associations unquestionably did much to promote not only the welfare of the working man, but also the growth and prosperity of the burgh.

Bagpipes

Full size great highland bagpipes, smooth combing, £5 2 s 6 d.  Full combing £6, ivory mounted, £11.

Send postcard for free illustrated catalogue of bagpipes, reeds, practice chanters and accessories.  Easy payments 5 s weekly.  J.T. Forbes, bagpipe makers, 44 King's Road, Dundee.  Est 1880.

Careless Ladies

Firemaster Weir reports that during last year 34 fires were caused by matches and cigarette ends carelessly thrown down.  It would be interesting to learn what increase of fire caused by cigarette ends has taken place since young women began to smoke.  Young ladies are said to be very careless in dealing with "cigs" and matches.

Burglar's Feast of Pastry - £90 Overlooked

Burglars who broke into the premises at 62 Provost Road, Dundee, occupied by the Dundee Eastern Co-op Society, overlooked £90 in an open safe.

It is thought that the intruders had been youths, for they had evidently partaken of a feast of lemonade and pastry.  A large quantity of cigs and some money from a  Dundee Royal Infirmary box were stolen.

Entry had been obtained by removing wire matting from a small window which had inadvertently been left open.

Ballroom Dancing Championships

Successful Competitors
"Dancing in Dundee has improved beyond all recognition since I first visited the city two years ago", said Mr Alex Warren of Glasgow, at the New Palais de Danse, Dundee, on Wednesday night, when he judged the first of the local heats for the Scottish ballroom dancing championship.

The general standard of the competitors, he said, was so good that he had great pleasure in passing the whole seven couples into the final.

Mr James Ellis and Miss Gellatly
Mr Thomas McCab and Miss Louise Stewart
Mr Bruce Wallace and Mrs T. McNaughton
Mr John D'Arcy and Miss E McLean
Mr C. Mulvey and Miss M Dick
Mr J.M. Gove and Miss Ella Clark
Mr James Gordon and Miss J. Jamieson.