SCOTLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9343, 6 February 1892, Page 5 (Supplement)

SCOTLAND.

(From Ouk Own Correspondent.) Edinburgh, December 17. THE. INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC. The subject which is occupying the -lion's share of public attention throughout Scotland at the present time is the prevalence of influenza, which has once more become epidemic amongst us. The northern part of Scotland seems to have in good measure escaped, but in the central and southern districts the pestilence has been exceedingly severe. The death notices in the Scotsman rose to figures never before reached, and gav<s rise to various leaders in that journal. No statistics are as yet forthcoming as to the number-of cases of influenza, but they must have numbered tens of thousands. In Galashiels alone, with a population of 20,000 there were 4000 cases at one time. In different parts of Dumfries-shire things were :as bad, and many of thefschools had to be closed. In, Linlithgowshire the same step had to be taken, while it is affirmed that in most of the towns and villages in the county scarcely a house has been passed by the epidemic. Even mjners were laid aside" in hundreds. In Forfar many, of the looms in the factories had to stand idle, and the ■ death-rate . was doubled. In Glasgow a great many*.clerks were seized; also tramway and railway servants, commercial travellers, and nursesjn the Royal Infirmary. In Edinburgh, the number of deaths caused directly by influenza was 121 in six weeks, aiid of these 59 were those "of persons over 60 years of age. The number' of deaths arising from diseases following upon influenza, and induced by the latter, is still larger. Most of them were" caused by diseases of. the organs of respiration. The number of ministers, professors, and others engaged in public speaking, who were attacked by the influenza was specially jarge. One newspaper correspondent, adverting to this fact, and pointing to the comparative immunity enjoyed by persons engaged in outdoor work, proposed that all churches, theatres, schools, and other places of public assembly should bo closed for three months. Only 10 soldiers in all Scotland have been attacked, and of these five were resident at Leith Port. The poor seem to have escaped much more generally than those occupying higher positions in the social scale. The influenza seems to be now passing away as mysteriously as it came, but from various parts of the country there come reports of the outbreak of other diseases of a deadlier kind, and epidemic iv extent, the order of sequence of these being—measles, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and typhusjfever. It is believed that the influenza has prepared the way for these diseases, or else that the conditions which-favoured the former have also led to the occurrence arid development of the latter. As it is, between sickness and death a gloom rests upon the country, and people long for frosty weather, which they think would usher in a healthier time. Even as things are, and supposing the public health to be re-established, these deadly weeks will long be remembered, In Edinburgh the once despised. infliK»xa -W-wro»gbfc-more havoc than anything else since the epidemics of cholera, and smallpox—now only matters of history, it is to be hoped ; and what is true of Edinburgh iv this respect is only too true of many other places in Scotland. : ECCLESIASTICAL. At the November meetings of the commissions of the General Assemblies of the Established and Free Churches, next year's moderators were chosen as usual. In the Established Church the choice fell upon the Rev. Dr Chartens, Professor of Biblical Criticism in Edinburgh University ; and in the Free Church on the Re v. Dr W. G. Blaikie, Professor of Exegetical and Pastoral Theology in the New College, Edinburgh. Dr Charteris was the originator, and is still the loading spirit of his church's scheme of "Life and Work." Dr Blaikie is well known as an author in various fields of literature, and one of his earlier works, entitled." Better Days for Working People," has had an immense circulation. Conflict still awaits the Free Church in connection with the new Declaratory Act with respect to the church's relation to the Confession of Faith. This act has been drawn up by a committee appointed, for the purpose by the last General Assembly, and it has been adopted by the presbyteries of Edinburgh and Glasgow by large majorities. The minorities, however, are resolved to leave no stone unturned to prevent the act from being adopted by the assembly, and to this end they are holding public meetings and agitating the subject in the press. They allege that the act sanctions false doctrine, that it will-make it impossible to deal with heretics, and that it sets up the Church, instead of the Bible, as the standard of Divine truth. It is not likely that the Conservative party will carry their opposition to a successful issue, for the Free Church is now very broad in its ministerial constituency. At the same time they will make a stubborn fight, and the church will suffer from the civil war, and even more from the state of things which is bound to follow the adoption of the act. The gap between the laity and the ministry in this church is steadily widening. The great lack of the Constitutional party is a suitable leader. The leaders whom they have are, to put it mildly, such disagreeable individuals, and so conspicuously unsuccessful in their own spheres of ministry, that not a few who sympathise largely with their views cannot bring themselves to associate with them in their ecclesiastical efforts. GAMBLING. The great spread of gambling, especially betting, is stirring up many ministers to speak out on the subject. In not a few cases they evidently feel hampered in their utterances by the prevalence of the lottery system in their church bazaars, but there are not wanting welcome indications that this felt inconsistency i is likely to cure itself, as such lotteries are becoming fewer. A Dunferniline minister stated in a recent sermon that it is estimated that there are 10,000 bookmakers in this country. At a conference ou the subject, held by the U. P. Presbytery of Kilmaruock and Ayr at Greenock, it was affirmed that a Glasgow minister had stated that one place with a population of less than 8000 sent L3OO weekly into Glasgow for betting purposes. In some of the large workshops at certain hours of the day, or on certain occasions, work was paralysed till certain results were made known. It was also averred that in the middle classes betting was on the increase, and that in the upper classes the growth of the vice was very sad. The conference adopted a resolution severely condemning the holding of lotteries at church bazaars. SCOTTISH BEEF FOIt LONDON. As is well known, Aberdeensbire supplies a large proportion of the beef devoured in London at Christmas time, and several train loads of cattle are sent south at this time every year, with a view to furnishing the " roast beef of Old England" to Coclcney tables. The number sent this year is rather under the average, owing,it is said, to the mildness of the season; but the influenza epidemic has also, beyond question, limited the consumption of beef. Four trains filled with cattle to the number of 600 were despatched from Aberdeeu on the 10th inst., the consignment filling 96 trucks, as compared with 114- last year, and 157-the year before. The value of the stock is estimated at about L 16.000. The cattle trains are sent alternately by the three routes from Scotland to London, and this year they were forwarded by the Caledonian and London and NorthWestern lines. Many more were forwarded to the metropolis in other ways, and at the Christmas market opened there three days ago the Scotch cattle numbered 2600 out of a total of 4-510 exposed for sale. They were universally admired, and brought the best prices. These cattle are of the black polled breed, and nearly all of them come from the three counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Ross. PLAGUE OF MICE. Some parts of the counties of Selkirk and Dumfries are suffering at the present time from a superabundance of these rodents, which have eaten the pastures quite bare in some places. The farmers are suffering seriously, and with a view to seeing what is to be clone, their landlord, the Duke of Bticcleuch, hns ordered an inquiry to be made' into thu matter. Birds of prey have increased largely in the district, and foxes are also living on the mice, but with-

out appreciably diminishing the numbers of the latter, which are described as swarming on the ground in "vast mnltitudos." Shepherds and others have killed numbers with sticks, one man killed 1000 in a.single day, but dogs are said to be of little use in destroying the mice. Better things are hoped for from cats, and good mousers are being advertised for and sought for in other ways with an eagerness paralleled only in the experience of Dick Whittington or Jock Graham. One sheepfarmer is reported to have over 100 cats "at work" on hill pasture land. Up to last accounts, however, the mice still held their own against all comers. STRIKK Of A CHURCH CHOIIt. The touchiness of church choirs is proverbial, and that of Dudhopo Free Church, Duudee, has furnished a fresh illustration of the fact. It seems that the members hijcl been in tho habit of sitting facing tho minister, and with their backs to the congregation, but some of them proposed that their position should be reversed, with a view to greater efficiency in leading tho singing. The minister (Rev. Alex. Inglis) objected to this, on the ground that some of the members of the choir might be guilty of levity in their behaviour. Through some misunderstanding, however, the precentor thought the change had'been agreed upon, and it was accordingly carried out-a proceeding which "scandalised" some of the elders. The session next informed the choir that they must return to the old practice, whereupon the choir struck, and their places were vacant the next Sunday. The session came together again, and agreed to a compromise, whereby the choir were to turn round and face the congregation when they rose up to sing. ; This was tried, but the manoeuvre caused so much noise that it is expected the session will give in and allow the choir to have their own way. ' PACTS ABOUT GLASGOW. Dr Russell, the medical officer of health for Glasgow, has issued a pamphlet containing facts and figures relating to the city, as brought out by the late'census. There were then 57,618 Irish-born persons in Glasgow, yet this total is the lowest of its kind for 40 years. The population within four miles of the Royal Exchange is 806,085. The number of houses in Greater Glasgow—extended by Act of Parliament since the census—is 142,985, the average rental of which is Ll2 10s 9"98 d. This is a fall of 14s 7d per house since 1881, but Dr Kussell says that the, change does not show that rents have fallen, but is merely another aspect of the fact that the proportion of large houses has .diminished. He adds that it may be said that in Greater Glasgow the house-rent costs c veryinhabitant Is per week on tho average. . SCOTTISH BANKING. The annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Royal Bank of Scotland was held in Edinburgh on November 24. The directors' report stated that the net profits'for the year amounted to L 199.753. A dividend was declared at the rate of 9 per cent; The bank's liabilities in respect to deposit arid current accounts were stated to amount to L 13,151,731; and in respect to notes in circulation to L 879.880. As compared with the preceding year, these totals exhibit increases of L 307.463 and L 38.885 respectively. The annual report of the directors of the Commercial Bank of Scotland was issued last week. It states that " the result of the year's business has been exceptionally favourable/ The net profits are set down at L 175,205, and a dividend is proposed at the rate of 14 per cent., while L 25.000 is added to the reserve fund, bringing it up to L 625.000. The deposit and current accounts amount to L 11,651,502 an increase for the year of L 151.912 • while the notes in circulation are returned at L 878.917, or L 43,388 less than at the same date last year! The annual meeting of the shareholders of the National Bank of Scotland (Limited) is to be held..next week. The directors' report states that the net profits-on: the year's transac- I tions amount to L 173,395, and it is proposed to pay, as for some years' past, a dividend at the rate of 13 per cent, aud a bonus of 2 per cent, besides adding L 25,000. to the reserve fund (bringing it up to L 750.000), and carrying forward a balance of L 23.374 to next year. The total amount of the deposit and current accounts is given as L 13,697,730, or L 4160 more than at last year's balance. The notes in circulation are set down at L 738,498, or L 21.516 less than a year ago. OBITUARY UECORD. The Earl of Erroll, the eighteenth holder of the title, died at Slams Castle, near Peterhead, on December 3, aged 63. He began life in the army, and saw service in the Crimea, the countess accompanying him. ' She landed in uniform, with 'pistols in her belt, and-visited the trenches daily. At the close of the war, the officers of the regiment presented her with her portrait, life size, with a beautiful white horse given to her by Omar Pasha standing by her side. For a good many years Lord Erroll had lived a very secluded life, seldom leaving his estate; but he took a warm interest in his tenantry, and did much for their welfare. He is survived by three sons and two daughters. His eldest son, Lord Kilmarnock, who succeeds to the title and estates, ia a major in the Royal Horse Guards. Dr William Kennedy, clerk to the School Board of Glasgow,, died in that city on December 10. Ho had been laid aside from duty for nearly five months by a cancerous affection. He was a native of Forfarshire, and hAld-wKnlnstio- posts at Dunipaee, -Arbroath,!ind Edinburgh prior to his appointment in 1873 as clerk to the first school board in Glasgow. It is to him that the flourishing state of the board schools in Glasgow is mainly due, and by means of pamphlets and in other ways he also helped the cause of education throughout Scotland. He is survived by his widow, two sons, and four daughters. The Rev. John Raukine, of Cupar, who was moderator of the United Presbyterian Synod in 1876, died on November 21, aged 82. He was a quiet, useful man, who built up a good congregation, and aided in the work of his presbytery and church generally for many years without seeking fame, Dr J. S. Fraser-Tytler, of Woodhouselee, who had been Professor of Conveyancing in Edinburgh University since 1866, died in this city on November 26, aged 71. GENERAL ITESIS. The honour of knighthood has been conferred on Mr George Reid, president of the Royal Scottish Academy. The Dundee Police Commission are negotiating with the Earl of Home for the purchase of the Barrack Park. The price asked by his lordship is L 35,000. The chair of Music in Edinburgh University, vacant through the resignation of Sir Herbert Oakeley, has been filled by the appointment of a German, Mr Frederick Niecks, who was born at Diisseldorf in 1845, but has been resident in Scotland for more than 20 years. He has published several works relating to music. The largest catch of herrings known, in Loch Fyne for a good many years was made on November 23 near Inverary. Five thousand boxes of herrings were sent off at once to Glasgow, but many of the boats could not get their fish disposed of owing to the want of steamers. In the new Glasgow Police Bill a clause has been introduced whereby anyone who keeps his shop open on Sunday for the sale of any article save milk and drugs, will be liable to a fine of 40s. ■ The fines for drunkenness in Aberdeen during October amounted to L 173, as compared with only Ll2O during the corresponding month of 1890. The biggest of the many bazaars with which Edinburgh is annually afflicted at this season, took place lately in the Waverley Market on behalf of the Police Widows and Orphans' fund. The total number of persons who paid for admission was 27,500, and the total amount drawn was nearly LIO.OOO. The personal estates of the following deceased persons have been sworn at the amounts' stated after their names: —Mr James Rodgers, 1 Clairmont gardens, Glasgow, L 59.263; Mr George Schrader (of Schrader, Mitchell, and Weir, leather merchants), Glasgow, L 36,153; Mrs Marshall, Roseville, Moffat, L 22.116 ; Mr H. K. Love, Hamilfield, Beith, L 19,369." Mr Couacher, the now general manager of the North British railway, has issued a circular to the servants of the company, in which he urges them to pay more attention to being civil to the public and keeping the carriages and stations clean —advice which they sorely need. According to a statement made by the master of works to the Glasgow School Board, there are now in Glasgow 126 schools, with accommodation for 92,181 children. The Edinbugh Town Council has resolved, by 20 votes to 14, to carry out the purchase of the tramways in the city. Dr Pryde, on retiring from the head mastership of the Edinburgh Ladies' College, Queen street, has been presented by tho pupils with a hsndsome silver bowl, and by the teachers with a silver cigar case—somewhat convivial gifts, surely, for ladies to bestow upon their instructor and head. A proposal by the War Office to convert the Cameron Highlanders into the 3rd Battalion of the Scots Guards has aroused the members of the clan living in Glasgow and the neighbourhood. They met and passed a resolution declaring that on no account would the proposal be acquiesced in; and they also determined to call a. meeting of the whole clan to take up the matter. Three Irishmen were brought up tho other day on a charge of making a row in a model lodging-house at Coatbridge, when " pokers, tongs, mid teapots were flying in all directions." Tho procurator-fiscal declared that the lodging-houses were becoming the refuges for all the desperadoes in the country, there being so many complaints from them. Steps are being taken to raise L 30,000 to extend the accommodation for the medical school at Aberdeen University. The town of Aberdeen has given LIO.OOO of this amount, and L9OOO core lias been promised to the committee which is conducting the movement.

The Bruce Herald says that Mr W. M'Lean harvested a splendid crop of oats on his farm at Clarkcsville about a week ago, and Messrs Allison and J. Inglis are just about to start on magnificent crops of wheat. Many other crops in the district are nearly ready to cut. A correspondent at Wainroka informs the Oamaru Mail that cutting will be nearly finished this week. The returns will be better than were at first anticipated. The crop is being cut rather on the green side, and threshing from the stook will not be attempted in many cases, a§ the weather has not been sufficiently drying,