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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1971-07-13, Page 4SHORE Is OW GrETTIN4 Away FROM -11.15 CITY AND TUS- Po LLuTioN!" Very ttrieeoeirant reeepie lumbering business which was skimming the cream from the stands of wonderful pine in the area, The purpose of the slides was to allow the cribs and rafts of square timber to bypass rapids. The timber was floated down the river, eventually to reach Quebec. Some of the great rafts were half a mile long. In 184/, great-grandfather Thomson was appointed Slide Master of Grand Calumet Island in the Ottawa River. He held the position for more than 30 years, to be succeeded by his son William, my grandfather, who was to reign oitii the last raft of square timber ame down the river iri 1910. That's- the background. My mother's family attended a one-room school, boarded the teacher for $45 a year. My uncle Ivan had a good job. He went to the school early in fall and winter, and lit the fire. He got $3.00 a year. My grandather got $1.00 a day for his government position as Slide Master. Pay ceased when the navigation season ended, so the Master had to farm as well. There were ten in the family, and from what I've heard, they had a happy life on the island. As a child, I saw the old homestead high on a hill overlooking the mighty Ottawa, and was thrilled. But as I said, while the facts in the book ate interesting, it's the little asides that inflame the curiosity, The original family of Walter Thomson was eight children. They produced, among them, exactly 60 more Thomsons. Today, eight might produce 18. Anna married James Paul. They had four children. "She also raised Johnnie Robertson," Now there's a story in itself, Who was Johnnie? Why did she raise him? What became of him? John (Mountain Jack) was a timber cruiser and a teal bruiser in 'the lumberjack clashes of the tines. "Ile had a terrible temper and was known up Mid down the Ottawa River as a scrapper". He died at 91, a pretty ripe age for a brawler who also sired 15 children in two marriages. Catherine "married George Kemp who was very fond of liquor". No other comment, except naming their children, with the last thus: "Jason was drowned at Terniskaming". Anpther son, Walter, had nine children. My grandfather William had ten, A son James had eleven. The youngest daughter, Jane, must have realized that even such a good thing as Thorhsoris could go too far, produced only two. Anyone who can multiply can see why I have so many relati6ns. The original two had grOwn to 60 in two gentratiori.s. Heaven knows'hove many the 60 produced. But I'd really like to go back and talk to some of the old-timers, They were virile people in more ways than ore. To each his °Iva THE CLINTON NEW ERA Amalgarnated THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1865 1924 Established 1881 Clinton News-Record A member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) Publithed every Thursday at the heart of Huron County Clintoti, Ontario Population 3,475 CANADA OF RADAR TEE HOME M. second class mail registration number e- 0817 SUElSCRIPTION RATES: (in advance) Canada, $6.00 per year; 1J-5,A,, $7,50 Ktrof W. ROULStON — Editor J. HOWARD AITKEN * General Manager Many Americans are refused landed immigrant status in Canada for no apparent reason other than 'their political views. The most recent ease was that of Gabriel Kolko, a 38-year-old Americaxi and outspoken critic of the war in Vietnam. He was hired last May as a full professor to teach U.S. history at York University, Toronto. It did not occur to him that he would have trouble getting into Canada. So he gave up his tenure at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He sold his house there. He purchased another one in Toronto. When he applied for landed immigrant status he was refused entry on the grounds that his presence in Canada would be "contrary to Canadian national interest." His application was made outside the country. But when he hired a Toronto lawyer he was advised to make a second application from within the country. There's a Marked difference between an external application and one that is made internationally. The Department of Manpower and Immigration does not have to show any reason for refusing entry on an external application, but on an internal application the department can be made to show cause why an applicant is refused entry. On the day the department reversed its decision, Kolko's lawyer was ready to file a writ of mandamus against the department, It all goes to show that a little legal pressure and a little publicity goes a long way. It did at least for Kolko who could afford a lawyer. But what about those Americans who cannot afford high-priced lawyers? How many of them must there be, 1-low many have been refused entry to Canada without appeal or explanation? It is time, long past it for that matter, for the government to state clearly 'what its policy is regarding the entry of Americans who actively oppose U.S. war policies. Too many mistakes have been Made. It is time for one just policy that will apply to those who can and cannot defend themselves. — Contributed 4 Clinton News,Record, Thursday, July 15, 1971 petulant. I was aware of them only as a sort of perpetual disturbance, Iike the crows. But as the raft began to take shape so, too, the personalities of the boys assumed form, There was never any question of who would be the leader. His name is Kevin, He is clearly destined to be the organizor, the cajoler, the enthusiast, the driver. It was, of course, his lea in the beginning. You could wonder if it was a raft he wanted or simply the power of an organization or the respect for the natural ability of command that he recognized in himself. He will be the kind' of man who will get things accomplished. So, too, the engineer, the basic builder, was recognizable from the beginning. He is Bill, He knows how the job should be done, that this board won't take the stress that way, that it will have to be four-inch nails instead of two, that the logs must be cedar, that the anchor rope will have to be longer because the raft will swing with the current. It is all instinct with him and all remarkably right. He is content to contribute and expedite in a self-effacing way that seems characteristic of men and boys who were born to put things together. Yet of the three it is Craig who is revealed most clearly. Craig is the dreamer of the three. To him the raft is not simply an ambitious project or a test of discipline or skill. It is an exercise for the imagination. Craig is inept at the simplest carpentry. He is far and away the laziest of the three. But without him the others might not see it through. For Craig gives meaning to what they are doing. His reedy voice is touched 55 YEARS AGO July 13, 1916 Sunday afternoon the Clinton 1.0.0.F. Lodge held it's annual decoration services at Clinton Cemetery where the graves of former members were decorated. The procession Left the Lodge rooms at 3 o'clock headed by the Clinton Kiltie Band. Many friends in this county, of T. J. Hannigan, of Guelph, secretary of the Hydro-Radial Association, will be delighted to learn of the good news that came to him on Wednesday. His son John Hannigan, who enlisted at Guelph as a private, has been recommended for the Victorian Cross for bravery at the front. Members from Clinton L,O.L. attended Sunday services at Middleton's, Shannon's and Londesboro's Churches. A carryall load went to Seaforth in the evening. 75 YEARS AGO July 15, 1896 A resident of St.. Andrew's ward who had been losing chickens regularly the past few weeks obtained a fox trap, expecting to stop the robbery. Next morning a large dog was How true are the history bOoks? The disturbing thing about -the publication of the -Pentagon papers recently by newspapers in the United States is that it makes one wonder just how true our history books are. Throughout the whole affair, while the American government was trying in every court in the I.J.S. to have the report barred from publication, it never once denied that the sensational revelations were true. Assuming the story is true, what would have happened had not the New York Times and Daniel Ellsberg not broken the law and printed the contents of the secret document? In all likelihood, history books 50 years from now would have been telling the same story of the Vietnam war that we have believed to be true for several The struggle for peace The recent announcement that the United States and the Soviet Union have reached a breakthrough in their efforts to curb the nuclear arms race is most heartening. Not only will the two super powers concentrate on reaching an agreement to restrict 'defensive anti-ballistic missile systems, at the same time they will also try to agree on limiting some offensive weapons. If there is a genuine nuclear arms limitation by the United States and the Soviet Union, mankind will breathe more easily. But it must be remembered that the struggle for peace is not confined to nuclear weapons. In Asia in particular, warfare continues in several lands. Almost 2,000,000 troops are engaged in the Indo-China conflict. This brutal war involves about 50,000,000 people living in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, The Indian Government is trying desperately to care for between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 refugees who have fled across the border to get away from the grisly civil war in East Pakistan. The Government of Ceylon is now holding about 13,000 pro-Communist insurgents and the fight against the rebels is continuing. Nuclear disarmament is vital. But the struggle for peace also has to involve greater social justice for the poor and dispossessed the world, Until the two billion people living in Asia are allowed to achieve a higher standard of living, instead of merely existing, there will continue to be strife and conflict in the world's most populous region. — Contributed. Story of one Pakistani mother How do you convey, in meaningful terms, the plight of five and one-half million people living in indescribable conditions of poverty to 22,000,000 Canadians living in plenty? This is the problem facing tfie nine organizations participating in the Combined Appeal for Pakistani Relief (CAPR). The numbers are so great and incomprenensible that most people feel the problem is too big, and their help is so small that it would make no difference. But the suffering Pakistanis are individuals and, perhaps, the best way to relate the situation is on that basis. Here, direct from the area, is a description of one such individual-a Pakistani mother-by a relief worker: "While walking along the border between East Pakistan and India, I came across the body of a naked Bengali woman Starving, barely alive, she was one of ..hundreds of thousands who are streaming across the border into India every day. Moving her gently into the shade of a nearby tree, I covered her nakedness, gave her food and water. Here is her story: 'Her little home in East Pakistan had been destroyed by marauding soldiers. Her husband had disappeared, apparently killed in the bitter fighting between the Bengalis and Punjabis. She had gathered her children and a few possessions, and fled to the border, hoping to find food and shelter somewhere in the Indian province of West Softie pioaeers for kissin'eonsins By doing a little mathematics, I've tome to the conehision that I must be related to half the population of Canada. I've just received a small booklet compiled by thy tinge, Ivan C. Thomson of Ottawa. It sets forth the genealogy of my maternal ancestors in Canada» Some people find their ancestors a huge bore. Others are afraid of skeletons in the closet. I find ancestors fascinating, as I try to picture them, think of the incredibly difficult lives they led, and wonder what characteristics I and my children have, received from them, My uncle's booklet is no high-coloured romance. It deals in facts: births, deaths, names, property titles. But among the pages is the occasional: laconic comment which makes me -wish I could leap back into the 19th century' and explore further. t My maternal great-grand- parents were certainly not of the aristocracy. Ha was a ship's tarpenter, and that's one reason he, Walter Thomson and she, Margaret Vartell, his new bride, set out from Donegal, Irelarid, for St. JOho, New Brunswick, Where there was A ship-building industry, He was 20, she 19, It was 1834. Within a few years, with three Children, they moved to Upper Cenedsi, because Walter had heard of Work to be obtained in the building of slides on the *Upper Ottawa River. These slides were built for the The three boys who are staying at the camp down the beach from our place are building a raft. They were hard at it all day yesterday and again this morning, The grand launching is now no more than an hour or two away and I mean to go down and have a hand in it. Watching them at work — The Leader, The Engineer and The Dreamer, as I've come to think of them — I've been wondering if it isn't maybe the most enduring of all the remembered projects of boyhood. Oh, a tree fort is fine, too. But a raft — well, a raft is a call beyond horizons. I have it on the highest authority, the bemused father of one of the builders, that they're acting mighty strangely. They're not boys who work gladly, he complained the other day. But their sawing, 10 YEARS AGO July 13, 1961 Town of Clinton is in good shape financially, according to finance committee chairman John A. Sutter. He reported to council on Monday night that all loans have been paid at the bank. Also, tax payments are good, with only tax arrears on two properties prior to 1959. William Sturgeon, father of Mrs. James Cruickshank and Mrs. Edward Florian, Clinton, celebrates his 80th birthday on July 14. Miss Bonnie Boyes received word last week from the Royal Coriservatory of Music, Toronto that she had passed her Grade 8 piano with honours, Bonnie is a pupil of Gordon P. Scott, Stratford. 15 YEARS AGO July 12,1956 Last Sunday evening's service at Brownie's Drive-In Theatre saw 90 cars and an estimated 500 people enjoying outdoor church. Next week the service is in the charge of Rev. 15. J. Lane of the Presbyterian Church. Final decision to change the site of the public school at Hensel!, has resulted le the purchase of the Kerslake property on the south side of the village. The land, which cost $10,500 will be used for the school building, which IS expected to cost $120,000. Architects have been engaged arid the council is preparing a by-law authorizing the building. The annual "Bull Night" staged by the Waterloo Cattle Breeding Association, is scheduled for next Tuesday evening, at the headquarters of the Association near Waterloo. Every farmer, his wife and family are invited for fun, education and fellowship on that evening. 25 YEAS AGO July 18, 1946 Lucan Council at a special Meeting to deal with tenders for the -waterworks system, awarded three contracts, Contract for the well and pumping equipment Was given to International Waters Supply Co, London; elevated water tank to Horton Steel Works, Fort Erie:, water hammering and hauling goes on and persistently on. They're quixotic, he tells me, and quickly bored with any one pursuit. Yet clearly they are dedicated to the raft and totally absorbed in completing it. They fight all the time, he tells me. And yet the raft is being built with perfect team work, gravely, intently, each giving his particular talent to the job. Watching them, it occurred to me, you could see the man-to-be in each boy and that just the three of them down there on the beach make a kind of purposeful society. Before the construction began, you see, I couldn't have distinguished one from another. They're perhaps 10 or 11, slat-thin, powered by some hidden, tightly-coiled springs. Their voices are high, squeaky, piercing and, until the building of the raft began, very often ' ... , . mains to Dick Construction, Weiland. The induction of ,Rev. Arthur Hewitt was held in the United Church, Bluevale. R. W. A. I3eecroft, Wingham, presided and addressed the minister Rev. H. C. Wilson, Brussels, inducted the minister and addressed the congregation. The work of Recreational Committee, appointed ago a meeting of various organizations, was reviewed at a public. meeting. Approval was given unanimously to the work done by members of the committee. 40 YEARS AGO July 16, 1931 Mr. Albert Seeley showed us yesterday a rather peculiar specimen of horticulture, a stock of Regal lily with 13 perfect blooms at its head. The blooms Were of uniform site and each one as large as one would expect to see. Another stock, Mr. Seeley said had a round dozen of blooms, but this one had a full baker's dozen. Huron County veterans laced holding their annual picnic at Bayfield on Wednesday, July 22, when it is hoped a good representation of veterans and their families will be present. The committees are making preparations for the entertainment and comfort of the pichicers. It was honest of those boys who were swiping cherries from a tree in the garden of a citizen to leave a two-dollar bill, now wasn't it? It May be that they did not intend it, but there the banknote was found the following morning. People of all ages and all walks of life do it/remit-tat and essential jobs as Red Cross volunteers. "YOU AN HELP TOO. What's new at Huronview? These students from Huron Cow*, Misses Joe Anne Bates, Elizabeth Gallaher and Audrey Marriott, who are taking a course on social service at Hetorivieav this summer, assisted the regular staff with the Aid time music and dancing on Monday afternoon. Wednesday afternoon's activities were held on the lawn this week with several outdoor games played and well over 100 residents taking part, Pastor Bigelow of Bayfield, Baptist Church, led the Family Night Program held in the auditorium last Thursday evening, The musical numbers introduced by Mr. Bigelow included a ladies duet by Mrs. Chapman and Louise Talboe; an accordion solo by Shirley Keys; a vocal solo by Mrs. Bigelow; and numbers by the chorus and a sing song led by Mrs. Chapman. There was also a reading by Nancy Tawcett, It was decided to have a band concert on the lawn if possible each Thursday evening in July and August. with awe at the enormity of the raft's possibilities. "Gee, we could . . we could go clear to China on this raft," he marvels. ,"We could drift around the point and through the narrows and go right across the whole ocean! We could take dried food! Prunes and things! We could fish and catch rain in a bucket!" The other two look at him narrowly, not quite catching the vision, but wanting to and, finally, such is the contagious quality of a concept that they join him in the reverie. "It might take a whole month to get to China," The Leader says authoritatively. "We'd fix a sail op her," says The Engineer in his practical way. "We'll sail around the whele world," The Dreamer says. found in it much to the surpris of the owner of dog an chickens. A picnic party from Blyth with a belt had an outing at Bayfield and lost their way on the return. They managed t locate Clinton at a late hour and reached home early in the nex morning. On Tuesday evening week, a the residence of Mr. Joh Gordon, St. Helens, Mr. Jas Inglis and Miss Minnie Gordon were made one by Rev. S. M. Waley. They take up residenc near Brandon, Man. in a week years. History students would be making judgements on untrue, facts. And if it happened this time, how many times in the past may a government have .managed the news and influenced history? Such rewriting of history is common in countries such as Nazi Germany, Russia and Cuba, but to have it pop up in one of the democratic western nations shakes one's faith a little. Perhaps it is time for more public scrutiny of major decisions of our governments so that we will know the truth behind our history books, If the stories told by the Pentagon papers prove to be true, Ellsberg should be hailed as a hero of Oemocracy, not as a criminal. Bengal. But her expectations were short-lived. Her children vanished, her possessions were stolen, her clothing literally torn off her back. Nothing was left but to die." This Pakistani mother did die a few hours later, but her story could be repeated a thousand times over. Maybe these human beings are thousands of miles away, maybe they are dying by the thousands, but let us remember: THEY DIE ONE BY ONE JUST AS WE DO—BUT WITH A DIFFERENCE — THEY DIE IN UTTER DEGRADATION LIKE ANIMALS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWNI Their lives have been destroyed or broken because of the age-old problem of man's inhumanity to man. Isn't it time that we, as Canadians, stood up and said: "We wilt help, we will not be defeated by the magnitude of the problem. We will at least help one individual, young or old, to overcome in this, the greatest human tragedy in modern history". Let us stand up and be counted by contributing to the Combined Appeal for Pakistani Relief (CAPRI. You may send cash donations or cheques to the CAPR agency or church of your choice, or to Pakistani Relief at Box 1000, Station "F", Toronto 5, Ontario or Box 200, Station "H", Montreal 107, Quebec. Dcoations may also be made through any branch of the chartered banks of Canada. One immigration policy needed