Aberdeen Journal, Monday September 5 1881, page 7

KEMNAY PUBLIC BAZAAR

35 Queen Street,
Aberdeen
Sept. 3, 1881.

SIR,
Will you do me the favour of inserting the enclosed correspondence in an early issue of your paper The subject is of more than merely local interest, and I think is worthy of publicity.-Yours,
JOSEPH THOMSON.


35 Queen Street,
Aberdeen,
23rd August, 1881.


H. M Combie, Esq.
Sir,
Having some business connection in the Kemnay district, and having been solicited to aid the bazaar which is being promoted in behalf of the proposed additions to the Kemnay Public Hall, I am interested in knowing something about the ultimate destination of what the public are asked to give towards the bazaar. I understand that you are the secretary of the company forming the proprietary of the hall, and I hope you will kindly let me know whether the bazaar is for the benefit of the shareholders or for whose benefit it is. If it is to recoup the shareholders, for the loss of interest upon the value of the shares which they took up in the expectation of realising large dividends upon their investment, I shall decline to give anything for such a purpose. There are a few joint stock companies, in Aberdeenshire whose shareholders have never had the pleasurc of seeing a dividend, but I have not heard of the hat being sent round by any such company to enable them to declare a dividend. If my information is correct (and I wait your correction if I am wrong) Kemnay has the credit of originating a mode of paying a dividend at once unique in its conception and an indubitable proof of the condescension and humility of its projectors. Surely it is the very depth of condescension for those who can afford to hold shares in a joint-stock company to stoop so far as to dip their hands into the pockets of their poorer neighbours, who cannot afford the luxury of seeing their names upon a list of shareholders in a public company. I hope I have been misinformed regarding the purpose and object of the bazaar. If you assure me that it is for the benefit of the community, and not simply in the interests of a few shareholders who are quite independent of the donations of the charitably disposed, I shall gladly forward my contribution. Meantime I wait your reply,
And am, yours faithfully,
JOSEPH THOMSON.

 

Milton,
Kemnay,
August 25th, 1881.
Mr Thomson,
35 Queen Street,
Aberdeen.

Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your letter inquiring as to the ultimate destination of the proceeds of bazaar to be held at Kemnay on Saturday, September, 10. Your wish is a quite legitimate one. I am well aware that there is a great amount of misapprehension as to the intentions of the promoters of said undertaking. These I shall endeavour as briefly as possible to submit for your consideration. The hall, though the property of a company, was built to meet a much felt want in the district by money taken in shares, but given the great proportion of it as subscriptions - without any idea of ever seeing a dividend. I am aware, however, that a number of the shareholders took shares as an investment. So far off, however, is the prospect of a dividend, that the whole work of the company is being done gratis, with the exception of the hall-keeper, who is paid a small amount, I think £3. 10s. annually. The hall was never got finished, and there being a considerable amount of debt on the buildings, the money expected to be drawn at the bazaar is to be devoted :-First, to enclosing the ground in front of the buildings by a gateway and railing; second - to building coal cellar, &c., behind; third - to the better ventilation of the large hall; and fourth - to the erection of an additional room, intended as a reading or recreation room. The debt is to be allowed to be met by the ordinary revenue, and gradually, though slowly paid off.
The directors felt that without a special effort it would have been a long long time before the debt could have been paid, and these improvements effected from revenue, the only other course practicable, as the shares would not sell further.
I trust this explanation may be satisfactory.
Yours in haste,
(Signed) HENRY D. M'COMBIE,
Secretary to directors and also to Bazaar Committee.

 

Aberdeen Journal, Monday September 12 1881, page 7
BAZAAR AT KEMNAY.
On Saturday afternoon a bazaar was opened in the Public Hall, Kemnay, by Dr Farquharson, M.P.for the Western Division of Aberdeenshire. The object of the bazaar was to provide funds to make certain additions and improvements to the building and its surroundings. The hall is the property of a joint stock company, but the funds at their disposal are insufficient to meet the contemplated expenditure. It is proposed to erect a railing at the front of the hall, which is much required; to improve the ventilation, and to erect a reading-room in connection with the building. With this view an appeal was made-to the ladies of the district and to friends in various parts of the country; and the appeal was very cordially responded to, contributions having been received from all quarters. The articles were tastefully arranged un a number of stalls by the ladies who had consented to act as saleswomen, and a tempting display of wares was the result. On the tables were a great variety of work, including tidies. Berlin work, sewed work, and an immense number of articles both useful and ornamental. In addition to the tables for the display of ordinary wares one is accustomed to see at a bazaar there were stalls for flowers, poultry &c., and all were more or less patronised by the visitors. The first table was presided over by Mrs Maitland and Mrs. Gellie, Kemnay; the second by Mrs Findlay, Siding and Mrs Bruce, Kemnay; and the third by Mrs Petrie, Kemnay, and Mrs M'Combie, Milton of Kemnay. The flower stall was under the charge of Miss Donald, and the refreshment table was presided over by Mrs R. Petrie and Mr Maitland, jun. The poultrv and implement stall was under the charge of Messrs Annand, Siding, and Bruce, Kemnay. There was a bowling alley under the care of Messrs Stewart, Findlater, Milne, and Dawson; and "Aunt Sally" was looked after by Messrs Dow and M'Donald. The presidents of the various tables were assisted by an efficient band of young ladies, By noon a considerable company had assembled in the hall, and shortly afterwards Dr Farquharson entered the hall, accompanied by Mr W. K. Burnett, who is chairman of the Hall Company.
Mr Burnett briefly introduced Dr Farquharson to the meeting, remarking that he required little introduction to an audience composed mainly of his constituents. He had attended exceedingly well to his duties in Parliament as their member, and they could see by his presence here that he was willing to do anything he could for them in any other way. (Applause.)
Dr Farqnharaon expressed his plesaure at being present, remarking that in addition to the not inconsiderable labours of members of Parliament both by day, and not unfrequently by night, in the House of Commons, there had been put upon them lately functions of a pleasurable but somewhat responsible nature, namely, of coming to these pleasant gatherings and aiding in the work of charity. After alluding to the bazaar recently held at Dufftown, opened by Mr R. W. Duff, M.P., whom he described as the best bazaar man in this part of the country, he went on to refer to bazaars in general, remarking that they bad become much more numerous and successfu1 than they once had been, the reason being that they were now conducted on much better commercial principles. As regarded the reasons for the bazaar, he had no doubt they knew them better than he did. The hall, handsome as it was, stood in want of some completion; and the condition of the company did not enable much money to be spent on these necessary adjuncts, and they were called together to raise what was necessary for the purpose. Some people cavilled at the idea of calling on the public to subscribe to an undertaking which was commercial. It was in a sense commercial, but people had taken shares in the hall for the benefit of the locality, and not to put money into their own pockets. But the best answer to those who cavilled was to let those who approved of the undertaking come there, and let those who did not approve stay away. (Hear, hear,) After some further remarks to the same effect, Dr. Farquharson said there was a tendency at bazaars or public dinners for speakers to ramble into the questions of reciprocity, free trade, and fair trade, and even the land question - (applause) - but he did not intend to say anything on these questions in the meantime. Perhaps before the end of the recess he might have an opportunity of doing so. He concluded by renewing his expression of satisfaction at being present to meet his friends and constituents of all shades of opinion, and formally declared the bazaar to be opened.
The sales then actively proceeded.
Source and date unknown.
KEMNAY
New Public Hall – Miss Burnett, Kemnay House, laid the foundation stone of this Hall last Saturday. There was a large assemblage of spectators, Rev. Mr Peter, Captain Burnett, Mr Peter Christie (Secretary to the Hall Company) Mr Dawson, Road Surveyor, (one of the Directors) and others took part in the proceedings. A silver trowel was presented to Miss Burnett bearing the following inscription:- 'Presented to Miss Burnett, Kemnay, on the occasion of her laying the foundation stone of the Kemnay Hall, 29th June 1878.' Cake and wine were served in the Public School Room after the ceremony. A number of toasts were pledged.