Hjaltland is last of the NorthLink names

The name of the New ferry to serve Shetland is to be Hjaltland - the islands' original Norse name.

The announcement, made on Friday morning, means that all four of the NorthLink vessels, which will come into action in October 2002, have now been named.

The passenger ferry for the Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick route is to be called Hrossey - the Old Norse name for the Orkney Mainland - while the livestock vessel being bought in by the company will go by the name of Hascosay - an island in Shetland between Yell and Fetlar.

These join Hamnavoe, the name for the new Stromness-Scrabster ferry.

Minister launches latest round of Rural Partnership Fund in Kirkwall

Rhona Brankin, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, has urged rural communities to take advantage of the latest round of the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund.

Speaking while visiting Voluntary Action Orkney in Kirkwall on Friday morning, Ms Brankin said: "It is fitting that I am making this announcement during a visit to Orkney - which typifies the areas that will benefit from the fund."

The fund offers grant aid to rural communities to encourage community development and support for a variety of projects.

NFU Scotland president addresses Orkney farmers

The meeting at Orkney College was broadcast via videolink to Eday, Westray, Stronsay and Shapinsay.

Improvements sought in council's audit procedures

Orkney Islands Council have fallen well short of standards set to ensure they carry out proper internal audits of their services - according to a report out this week.

A key finding in the report issued by the Accounts Commission for Scotland shows that standards of internal audit in all Scottish councils could be improved.

The OIC have been placed with seven other local authorities in the second lowest performance band, and with the councils in the bottom band, the report says they have the most to do to comply with a code of practice.

Councillors to get lowdown on fish farm industry

Members of the council's transportation committee will be given a familiarisation tour of fish farm sites and the salmon factory at Hatston on Monday.

The chairman of Orkney Fish Farmers Association, Bruce Mainland, explained this week that they had issued the invitation to councillors following concerns expressed by some members that they did not know enough about fish farming to decide on applications for works licences.

Minister's leaves on Vigilant after first official visit to county

The Fisheries Minister visited the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Marwick Head RSPB bird reserve yesterday, before travelling back to the Scottish mainland on the fisheries protection vessel Vigilant.

Ms Brankin spent also spent time in Rousay, going offshore to see organic salmon production by the Norwegian-owned company, Ewos. She also saw a halibut hatchery on the island before returning to Kirkwall for a tour of Orkney Salmon Company's processing factory at Hatston. She later went to Stromness to view the Orkney Fishermen's Society premises and meet with representatives of Orkney Trout Fishing Association.

Udal rights are safe - Wallace

Orkney MSP and Scottish Justice Minister Jim Wallace has moved to allay fears that udal law in Orkney will be scrapped as a result of proposals being considered by the Scottish Law Commission.

Mr Wallace said this week that his attitude to udal law had not changed.

He added: "The Scottish Law Commission's consultation paper on law relating to the foreshore and the seabed is purely that. It is simply raising questions about possible changes to the existing legislation, and on udal law, the commission are asking for comments about allowing a pre-existing udal title to the foreshore in Orkney and Shetland to take precedence over Crown rights."

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Wheelchair-bound Biz vows to fight on

The stress since being interviewed by police, she says, has led to a deterioration in her condition.

She said: "I am stuck in a wheelchair now. My legs have died, just because of the stress. You are supposed to avoid stress if you have MS, it just makes it worse."

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Cheaper air fares are the way forward says Scanlon

Mrs Scanlon said: "I think it's sad that people can fly to Spain for a week and have all their accommodation paid for the same price as the flight only to the Northern Isles."

She added: "I think HIAL should offer cheap deals from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness to Orkney and Shetland, so that people could learn a lot more about the history and diversity of Scotland. Attracting more passengers into the area is the way ahead, not looking at increased subsidies to maintain air services in the Highland and Islands."

Mr Geoffrey John paid a flying visit to Orkney to find out more about the county's food and drink businesses and went away "tremendously impressed" by what he saw.

Mr John visited Orkney Meat, Orkney Creamery and Orkney Salmon during his visit and said he believed the industry was on track for a positive future.

£850 price tag for the return of Kirkwall arms

The Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records has written the community council, saying there should be no difficulty in the coat of arms being confirmed to the community council. However, she adds that the cost will be £841.

The community council, who are due to discuss the matter at a meeting on Monday night, asked for the return of the coat of arms so any new plaques bearing the arms would be legal.

It's official - Orkney Mart is first in Britain to recommence livestock sales

Mart manager John Copland outside Orkney Auction Mart (Picture: Orkney Photographic)

Orkney Auction Mart have been given permission to hold Britain's first live cattle auction since the foot-and-mouth crisis earlier in the year.

Permission was formally granted by Minister for Rural Development Ross Finnie on Tuesday, with the mart now working towards the sale next Monday. The Minister confirmed that he will be unable to attend the sale due to other commitments.

Mart manager John Copland said that they were now preparing to meet the strict biosecurity regulations required. With a number of regular buyers from south expected at the sale, anyone wishing to enter cattle should contact the mart before 4pm on Friday.

Orkney's MSP Jim Wallace was updated on the latest Scapa Flow trans-shipment container hub developments at a meeting with the OIC on Tuesday.

According to Orkney Islands Council director of harbours, Captain Bob Moore, interest in the idea of a Scapa Flow hub is continuing but that although a number of parties have shown interest no-one has yet publicly committed themselves.

Captain Moore was commenting after making four presentations about the project at three separate locations in the Far East, and to companies in London.

Graemsay not on the OIC map

Mr Roger Gershon from Hoy Low noticed that Graemsay was not included in the list of possible answers to the initial question of where the respondent lived. He complained to the council and received an apology for the omission.

He also received an assurance that an amended survey form would be sent out to all eleven households in Graemsay along with a letter of apology.

Car found abandoned in Peedie Sea

Police are looking for information after a red Ford Fiesta was found submerged in the Peedie Sea in Kirkwall on Sunday morning.

A police spokesman said that no-one was with the vehicle and that their inquiries are continuing.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious around the lorry park on Great Western Road on Saturday night or Sunday morning is asked to contact Kirkwall police.

Police praise Saturday night revellers

Police have praised revellers in Kirkwall on Saturday night after the night passed without problems.

Following the cancellation of the marquee dance, the majority of people opted to stay in the Kirkwall town centre. After the pubs closed, a large number of people congregated in Harbour Street and Junction Road, without serious incident.

A police spokesman said: "Little bother was experienced by police, for which we are grateful and would like to thank all those who were there and behaved."

Saturday's annual marquee dance run by Orkney Rugby Club was cancelled after the marquee was damaged in severe weather.

Strong winds caused a section of the massive tent to collapse. For safety reasons it was dismantled.

Plaque commemorates Rousay man's stand against "the Little General"

James Leonard of Digro gave evidence against General Burroughs, who then evicted him.

Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Community Council decided to mark the event by erecting a polished stone at the roadside near the croft.

The inscribed stone will be unveiled at a ceremony on the island on Saturday by two of James Leonard's great granddaughters.

Researchers digitise Orkney archive material

As part of "The Drawn Evidence" project, they are gathering a sample of architectural plans and drawings to illustrate Scotland's built heritage from 1780 to the year 2000.

Orkney archivist, Ms Fraser said: "It is to our advantage to have as much of our collection digitised as possible, so that it reduces the need to handle the original documents. Again I think it's good that our collection of plans and drawings proved so valuable."