March 9, 1900
Captain Herbert S Sykes, who was killed in action on February 28 in the South African War, was for five years Adjutant of the Saltcoats Volunteers RSF.

As a result of the South African War, the budget submitted to Parliament on Monday imposed increased taxation. Income tax was raised from 8d in the £ to 1/-. The beer duty was increased from 6/9d per barrel of 36 gallons; tobacco from 2/9d to 3/- per lb; foreign cigars from 5/- to 6 per lb.; spirits from 10/6d to 11/- a gallon; and tea from 4d to 6d per lb.

Mr John Nicol, Ardrossan and Mr Adam Howie Troon have passed as chief mates.

Mr and Mrs Alexander Frew, Auchenharvie Cottage, Saltcoats, celebrated their golden wedding on Friday evening.
 

March 16, 1900
Saltcoats Commissioners are going to plant 25 trees on the north side of Caledonia Road. Captain Torrance said there never was a tree planted around Saltcoats that was any good.

Ardrossan Parish Council have rescinded a motion passed last year with reference to the acquiring of a site near Stanley Burn for the purpose of erecting therein a council office.

The British troops have captured Blomfontein, capital of the Free State of South Africa.

The flax sorters in the employment of W&J Knox, Kilbirnie, have been granted an advance. They are now permitted to earn 56/- a fortnight.

Robert Thomson, 9 Wilson Street, School, has passed the examination for boy copyist (300 vacancies and 600 competitors) and will probably be appointed to London or Edinburgh.
 

March 23, 1900
The Chief Constable of Ayrshire states in his annual report that of the 4462 offences committed during the year 1899, more than 68 per cent, were directly the result of drunkenness.

At a bakery exhibition in Manchester, Mr William Conn, baker, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, was commended for his exhibit in the bread section.

The Rev Philip McColl, a former priest of St Marys RC Church, Saltcoats, was on Friday evening presented with a gold watch and a cheque for £50 from his former parishioners in Saltcoats and Ardrossan.

The amount collected by and for the congregation of Saltcoats Free Gaelic Church during the past year was £1065 of a total income of £1116.
 

March 30, 1900
Mr James Black, eldest son of Mr S Black, Ardrossan, has joined the Mounted Sharp-Shooting Corps and sails for South Africa next week.

Colonel Sergeant Nelson of Stevenston, serving in South Africa with the 1st Gordon Highlanders, has received honourable mention for bravery.

Mr and Mrs Daniel Baillie Pierpoint South Dakota, have celebrated their silver wedding . Mr Baillie is a Dalry native.

Mr James H Orr, Bank of Scotland, Dennistoun, Glasgow, is among the prizewinners of the bankers' prize in the examination on a course of lectures. he is the son of Mr William Orr, watchmaker, Saltcoats, and was trained in the Ardrossan branch under the late Mr Mack.
 

April 6, 1900
Mrs Currie, Ritchie Street, West Kilbride, has received a letter from her son, Private Fred Currie, of the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, one of the gallant defenders during the long siege of Ladysmith. private Currie reports to be in the best of health.

At the closing meeting of Stevenston and Ardeer Ambulance Class, the following were presented with awards:- medallions - Messrs WA McGillivray, WJ Nicolson, and J Hutchison; certificates - Messrs R Banks, J Forsyth, A McKelvie, James McWhinnie, J Thomson, RH Turnbull, JT Whitton, James Withers and Rev C McGregor.

The income tax is at the rate of 1/- in the £ for the year commencing April 6, 1900.
 

April 13, 1900
At the annual social of the Caledonian Railway Ambulance Class in Ardrossan, Mr Frame, captain of the team, presented Dr MacDonald, the lecturer, with a silver bowl. The medallions were presented to:- T Black, J Speedie and W Stewart and Certificates to J Haddow, J McCallum, W Hardie, R Alcorn, J Anderson and S McNamara.

Saltcoats Liberal Club Rooms were officially opened with an exhibition game between Messrs W Anderson and Fox and Messrs Gilroy and R Bradley, which was won by the latter pair.

A row of thatched houses in the Corsehill, Kilwinning, was burned to the ground, while the mansion house of Easterhill, Dalry was totally destroyed by fire.

Saltcoats and Ardrossan sent £201 and £231 respectively to the Lord Lieutenant's war Relief Fund.