Last Friday evening a special concert was held in Caldwell’s Hall in aid of the Prince of Wales Fund. The consensus of opinion is that this was one of the finest concerts which has been given for some time past. The names of the artistes speak for themselves, and as we have had the privilege of hearing those artistes at different periods, we in a degree knew what to expect, but everyone was agreeably surprised at the continued improvement of these talented artistes

Those who contributed to the programme were:- Miss Dolly Ronald; Mr McEwan; Miss Bessie Ronald; Mr MacMaster; Mrs Love; Mr Bruce and Mr Fairlie. On the call of Mr Robb the customary votes of thanks were accorded. The amount available for the fund after clearing all expenses, printing, etc; was £3 10s.

responsible for all future time. What sort of a committee could he give them to and how could he make sure that they would be used for the purpose for which he gave them?

Mr. J.B. Morrison was invited to make a few remarks, and recounted the history of the Halls from their inception 114 years ago. He recalled that after it ceased to be used as a voluntary school it began to deteriorate very much. They had then no place for holding meetings in the village, and, meeting Mr. Caldwell in Glasgow one day, he asked what he was going to do with the school. He replied that the villagers could get the use of it for public purposes if they appointed a committee to look after it. It had been of great benefit to the community.

The Farm Servants’ Union held a most successful meeting in Caldwell’s Hall, Torrance, on Friday evening. The object of the meeting was to discuss methods of obtaining an immediate increase of wages. Mr J. G. Robertson, organiser, attended the meeting. He mentioned that many of the farmers in other districts in the West of Scotland had already granted 2/- of an increase of wages. He asked the men not to trouble about a strike

At the close of the meeting, the following resolution was carried unanimously;- “That this meeting of farm servants instructs our organising secretary to approach the farmers of the district with a request for an increase of 2/- per week. This increase is certainly less than the difference the war has made to the cost of living for farm workers,”

The buildings which for many years have been so closely connected with the educational and social life of the people of Torrance, and known as the Caldwell Halls, have now reached an important stage in their history. These halls were the property of the late Rt. Hon. James Caldwell, P.C., and were managed by a committee of local gentlemen. Mr Caldwell had expressed the desire to hand over the halls completely to the committee, but death intervened before his purpose was accomplished. In order to carry out the wishes of her brother, Miss Elizabeth C. Caldwell, Grosvenor Terrace, Glasgow, has gifted the halls for the use of the inhabitants of Torrance and district. A constitution and a committee of management have been approved by Miss Caldwell, and the halls have now been handed over to the committee. This committee consists of Lieut.-Colonel G.S. Simpson, D.S.O., chairman; Thos. Sinclair, Esq., vice;-chairman; Mr Wm. Smith, Schoolhouse, secretary; Mr. J.S. Hunter, Westbank, treasurer; and Messrs. J.B. Morrison, J.P.; Wm. Robb and James McNeil, members. The committee has power to add to its number. There will be no immediate alteration in the present system of letting, etc, but later new bye-laws, tariffs, etc, will be drawn up. It is hoped to have some much needed alterations carried out as soon as funds are available for that purpose, and Miss Caldwell, besides handing over the halls, has generously provided the basis of such a fund by giving the handsome donation of £50 towards the alterations. The whole district has benefited by the halls in the past, and while the personal relationship has been severed with the Caldwell family, the deep sense of gratitude to the donors will always be remembered, especially as the halls are for all time to be known as the Caldwell Halls.

The Caldwell Halls, Torrance, which, since they were handed over to the public, have undergone extensive internal reconstruction, were formally opened by Captain Guy Fanshawe, M.P. for West Stirlingshire, on Saturday afternoon. The occasion was one of great public interest, and there was a large turnout of the villagers.

The halls have a somewhat interesting history. In 1813 ground was feued for the erection of a school and schoolhouse. These were what is now the east portion of the buildings, the school being on the ground floor, and the schoolmaster’s house upstairs, reached by an outside stair which has now been removed. When the School Board came into existence, a new school was built for Torrance.

The late Right Hon. James Caldwell was at that time a member of the Campsie School Board, and differing with the Board on some matter of policy, he bought the old school and ran it as a voluntary school. He added to the building by taking in part of the playground, and that is now the west portion of the hall. Failing to receive a Government grant, the school after a year or two was given up, and the buildings were subsequently used as the public hall of the village, while still belonging to Mr. Caldwell. After his death, his sister, Miss Caldwell, purchased the halls from his trustees, and handed them over to the community, together with a sum of £800 towards the cost of improvement. The halls were rather dull and unattractive, and greatly in need of reconstruction and encouraged by Miss Caldwell’s gift, an appeal was made to the public, and as a result a sum of over £800 has so far been raised.

In the main hall the porch at the entrance door has been removed and the area occupied thrown into the hall. The old, antiquated gallery in one corner has also been removed, and additional accommodation secured thereby. A new platform has been erected, capable of being extended or reduced as occasion requires, and having a level access from the ante-room behind. The walls have been treated in light tints, and imposing lamps have been suspended, while a pitch pine floor, that will delight the dancer, has been laid. Altogether the dull old place has undergone a transformation. The total estimated cost is around £1000. After they ceased to be used as  a voluntary school, Mr Caldwell presented the use of the halls to a committee of management. At that time Mr. Caldwell paid the taxes, insurance, and feu duty, but the committee had to maintain it in a good working order from the revenue they got from letting the halls. While Mr. Caldwell was still alive, Mr. Morrison and Mr Robb had approached him to see if he would not present the halls to the community. He was not adverse to doing so, but one little thing that troubled him was as to who was to be responsible for all future time. What sort of a committee could he give them to and how could he make sure that they would be used for the purpose for which he gave them?

Mr. J.B. Morrison was invited to make a few remarks, and recounted the history of the Halls from their inception 114 years ago.      He recalled that after it ceased to be used as a voluntary school it began to deteriorate very much. They had then no place for holding meetings in the village, and, meeting Mr. Caldwell in Glasgow one day, he asked what he was going to do with the school. He replied that the villagers could get the use of it for public purposes if they appointed a committee to look after it. It had been of great benefit to the community.