1861] "MY NEIGHBOURS OF ABERDEEN" 421 lost now, of Mr. James Wood was, I remember, an outstanding delight. What an amount of thoroughly good work this worthy and talented townsman has performed amongst us since then! Well on to half a century has passed, and yet it was only the other July night that I, with a thousand others standing by our beautiful sea beach, listened to him conducting his carefully trained Artillery Band with all the tuneful zeal and precision that distinguished him when little more than a boy. Bon-Accord is, indeed, in debt to James Wood. An increased supply of water was now urgently needed for the town, and early in June Provost Anderson laid in detail before the Town Council and the Police Commissioners the scheme he had outlined in December, 1859. It recommended under a report prepared by Mr. Simpson, C.E., that a daily supply of 5,000,000 gallons of water should be obtained by gravitation from the Dee at Cairnton, some twenty-two miles from Aberdeen. The cost was, in round numbers, put down at £100,000, and from official calculations made there was no reason to apprehend that any increase in the existing water rates would be necessary. The scheme was adopted unanimously by Council and Commissioners, and possibly the present page may come under the observation of say a score or two of braif men and fair women who loyally assisted at the opening of the Cairnton intake by Queen Victoria, on 16th October, 1866, and heard Her Majesty graciously refer to "my neighbours of Aberdeen". How time runs on, carrying remembrances along in its progress! From a Waif of Rhyme penned in the dying decade of the past (the nineteenth) century, it fell to me to read to an important public assemblage of citizens (Her Majesty's Tradesmen) met in the Grand Hotel to celebrate the placing of the Queen's Statue at the corner of St. Nicholas Street, as follows :— Yes! once again a gala day in braif old Bon-Accord, "My Neighbours of Aberdeen". 'Tis three times ten years well-nigh told since these leal words were spoken, And woke a chord of sympathy that never may be broken; 'Twas when our town went bravely forth in seemly pomp and glee, The Provost, Baillies, Councillors, and folk of less degree; 'Twas a merry morn at Cairnton, a festive day, I trow, When there our Queen, in graceful speech, bade Dee's bright water flow; The cheers rang through the woods around, as 'mid that autumn scene Sir Alexander* bowed his best for And so even now that kithship claim, that homely, simple phrase, A loyal tribute fitly set to mark a monarch's reign Who "wrought her people lasting good," whose Court was free from stain ; "My Neighbours of Aberdeen". In June (1861) Mr. William Walker resigned the office of Clerk and Treasurer of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the Royal Lunatic Asylum. In due time fourteen applications were lodged for the desirable post, the list including the writer hereof. While my book-keeping and minutewriting experience as Inspector of Poor and Collector of Assessment for Banchory-Devenick during the period from 1847 to 1852, with my later practice in shorthand * Lord Provost, Sir Alexander Anderson. + Lord Provost, Sir David Stewart. "MY NEIGHBOURS OF ABERDEEN" 423 1861] and drawing reports, afforded me some ground for aspiring to the vacant situation, it so happened that through various duties I had been brought into contact with many prominent men of the city and county, and as moreover (and in influential degree important) Lord Provost Anderson had been pleased to signify his approval of my candidature, it was my destiny through these united causes to obtain the support of fifty-nine of the eighty-two managers present when the sought-for appointment was made. Such being the case it will possibly be discreet at this stage to call a halt in these Reminiscences. Hitherto they may fairly enough be accepted as pencillings of a free-lance press order, but now things need, through change of vocation, be approached from the standpoint of a fortunate public official. There were thoughts of bringing the jottings down to a very recent date, but the writer's growing years (now bordering on the fourscore) make him doubtful as to the fulfilment of such a pleasant undertaking. But time will tell meanwhile, courteous reader, GOOD-BYE. INDEX ABERDEEN, City visited by Queen | Allan, George, advocate, 364, 383. 1 1 1 1 1 - Victoria and the Royal Family, Choral Society, 199. Union, 315, 346, 356, 375, 392, Golf Club, leading members, 34. festival, 340, 346. New Music Hall, 135. Police Board, 4, 66, 72, 101, 196, 203, 226, 245, 312. Royal tradesmen, 64, 421. Town Council, 1, 2, 71-3, 150-3, 77. Aberdeen, Earl of, 94, 98, 218, 390. Aboyne, Marquis and Marchioness - Lord, 218. Adam & Anderson, 149, 150, 234, Adam, James, precentor, 27. - James, editor, 6, 52, 54, 78, Adams, Dr. Francis, 94, 315, 407. John A., banker, 272. 295. Airlie, Earl of, 317, 318. Airth, Police Commissioner, 66. 46 Amang the Stooks," lines, 306, 307. Anderson, Sir Alexander, 233, 327, chief constable, 263. J. H., "wizard," 31, 74, 299, William, bard, 211, 243. John, town clerk, 130, 232, 233, BAIN, Dr. Alexander, 372, 384. Thomas, printer, 385. Balmoral, 3, 5, 22, 116, 214, 218, Banchory-Devenick, 41, 42, 50. Sir Alexander, of Crimonmo- David, town's drummer, 284. Alexander, William, journalist, 56, Begg, John, Lochnagar, 250. 93, 96, 97, 138, 151, 233. Bell and Petty Customs, 255. |