Castle
Park, Belfast
4th. Dec 1903
My Dear Sally[1],
How glad we all were to get your letter and to learn that, with the
exception of Mary[2], you were
all well. I hope she will soon be
better. I was much pleased to know that
Mr. Whiteside[3] had the
prospect of a settlement. I send
[hither] a Bank order for £48-8-9 - but including in the receipt the £1 given
to Cis[4]
as you directed.
The
Trustees are going to sell, if they can, [Dungody[5]]
& [Tullyvalley[6]], and
distribute the Capital Sum. The rents
amount to about £12 net annually, giving very little to each annuitant. I expect the new Land Act will enable the
trustees to sell fairly well. The
[Drumault[7]]
[??] tenants are wanting to buy [out] their rents. I have asked them for an offer, which I have not yet
received. My opinion is it would be
better to sell, if we get a fair price. Rents are unpopular, and are getting
more so every day. A landlord is a
robber - it amounts to that. The Land
Act gives a scale of reductions on the present rent, and on that reduced rent
the Government will advance the purchase money. This scale varies from 10 to 30
per cent. The difficulty as between
landlord and tenant is the amount of the reduction. If this can be arranged, the rest is easy. I should state that the Government gives a
bonus of 12 per cent in the purchase money, retaining 5 of it for
expenses. There will of course be a
loss in selling, as the money would not bear interest equivalent to the annual
rent, but the loss would not be very great owing to the bonus. I may say that if we have a sale you will
have to appoint someone to act for you, James[8]
or me. But as I will be carrying the
matter through for Mary[9],
I would like one with me on your side, and James would be suitable. He can't be ineligible, for he acted for you
at the time of the conveyance by Hunter[10]. But until we see a proposal of selling, you
need not trouble about the trusteeship.
By the way will I give the tenants some reduction, say 3/- in the for the past year. It has been the worst
year for a long time. Summer and
harvest very wet. No doubt it has been
a very bad year for farmers. Our
tenants have not yet asked for a reduction, but I am sure they will, as others
are asking and getting - of course if they do not ask I will not suggest that
they should.
I
have no more to write about business at the present, except to ask you to let
me know when you change your address, as I may have to consult you about your
own interests.
Mary[11]
and I spent some time last month on a visit among some of the Cremore
people. We had rather a pleasant
time. But I came away with the regret
intensified that we left the manse. How
I regret it and feel ashamed of its silliness.
James[12]
is in Belfast at present & is well as usual. He was here about a week ago, looking "fine". Mary[13]
is, like yourself, annoyed with rheumatism a good deal. The girls are well. Of course you have ere this heard of the
death of Mrs. Jackson[14]. What a blank it will cause at Urker. Mary G[15].
will not be disturbed, as Urker goes to Sir Thomas[16]. All here unite in affectionate regards to
you all.
Yours affectionately
W. Reid[17].
[1] Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside b. 1852
[2] probably Mary Ione Whiteside, daughter of Sarah & William WHITESIDE
[3] William Sherlock Whitesdie, husband of Sarah.
[4] Sally McCullagh Reid, daughter of William and Mary Reid b. 1870
[5] Dungoody need to follow up here.
[6] Tullyvalley
–need to follow up here
[7] Drumault – need to follow up here
[8] probably James McCullagh, brother of Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside and of Mary REID
[9] Mary (McCullagh) Reid, sister of Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside and wife of William REID
[10] HUNTER (?)
[11] Mary (McCullagh) Reid, sister of Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside
[12] probably James McCullagh, of William & Mary REID
[13] Mary (McCullagh) Reid, sister of Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside
[14] Elizabeth (Oliver) JACKSON, mother of Sir Thomas JACKSON, died 23 Oct 1903.
[15] Mary (Jackson) Griffin – sister of Sir Thomas JACKSON
[16] Sir Thomas JACKSON of HSBC
[17] William Reid, husband of Mary (McCullagh) Reid