SCOTLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10035, 28 April 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

SCOTLAND.

(Fbobi Oijb Own Coebespondent.)

EniNßunoH, March 1,

STOKMS A.SD FLOODS,

February 1894 will long be remembered in Scotland as the wildest and wettest month known for many years. Storm has succeeded storm with very brief lulls between, while the rainfall has been simply phenomenal. la the central districts, in particular, the floods have been very extensive, and have done great damage to farms and roads. Towards the beginning of the month a warm wind, melting the snow on the mountains, combined with heavy rain on the lower ground to produce extraordinary floods in the Tay and Earn. At Perth the former river rose to a level unequalled for 27 years, submerging both the north and south Inches, and flooding streets and housed. Between Dnnkeld and Meikleour the Tay flooded • the read to a depth of 4ft, and carried away part of the embankment at the latter place. At Amulree 42 sheep, which were netted in a turnip field, were drowned. The Earn turned most of the valley through which it runs into lan immense lake, and swept away great quantities of timber, fencing, &c. On the railWay between Crieff and Comrie tbe water rose above the embankment in some places, and tho trains ran slowly through two feet of water. By dint of great exertions in keeping open culverts, &c. the overflow of the Spey was prevented from carrying away the Highland railway line near Kingussie, though a vast area of land there was flooded, and the fierce wind lashed the water into waves. At Beanly people had to take to tho hills to escape the torrents ; bub though great fears were entertained for the bridges they survived the strain and the frequent blows they received from trees dashed against them. In the Carron Valley, Stirlingshire, the flood was the heaviest known for 56 years, and groat damage was done to fields, roads, and walls, especially near Dunipace. In the Eak Valley, Midlothian, the flood was also severe, but the clearing of tho river bed at Mugselburgh some months ago gave the water a clear run to the sea and prevented damage. Two deaths from drowning are reported from Ross-shire, and at Leith a man was killed by the wind blowing in the side of a tank in which he was working. At Qreenock almost 3in of rain fell in 24 hours.

In this and subsequent storms seafaring folks had a hard time of it, and some exciting scenes were witnessed at Austrnther and other fishing ports as the boats ran in for shelter from the furious wind and sea. Tho stormy weather in January caused a diminution of £16,000 in the value of the fish landed in Scotland, as compared with the same month last year ; and there can be no doubt that the returns for February willtell a similar tale. There hss also been a falling off in the passenger receipts of the railway and steamboat companies, which is not to be wondered at. At Dunoon in more than one storm the waves beat over tha pier, and it was only with much difficulty and discomfort, as well as no little risk, that passengers could land or embark. Off Cumbrae a vessel was seen to go down with all hands, but no assistance could be rendered. The Forth and Tay bridges have stood the storms nobly, and the trains running over them were in no way delayed.

TRADE AND INDDSTBY.

In tpite of the dull times and the fearful weather there has been wonderfully little heard as to distress among the poorer classes this winter. This may be owing in part to the authorities now dealing more promptly and efficiently with the "unemployed" question, by providing public work for those who hare none. At the Bame time,' in the west at least, it seems to be felt that there is need for the matter receiving fuller consideration and more uniform treatment, for the town clerk of Patrick has issued a circular suggesting the holding of a conference of municipal representatives, with a view to obtain further parliamentary powers to deal with the unemployed. In Edinburgh tbe circular was considered by a sub-committee of the Town Council, which ultimately resolved to recommend that no action should be taken. Their principal reason for coming to this decision is stated to have been the absence of unemployed in the city.

Slowly but steadily things seem to be mending though no one seems able to say how. Orders are dropping in, and dying or drooping industries are beginning to revive. Thus far, however, only one industry seems to hive come in for a sudden lift, and that is the making of locomotive engines near Glasgow. Exteusive orders have come for locomotives for the Highland and Indian railways in particular, no les3 than 45 such engines having been ordered in a few weeks, which will keep the works going for a considerable time.

Tho largest cargo of coal ever shipped at Glasgow in one vessel was taken last week by the screw Bteamer Westmeath. Sho had 6500 tons of coal as cargo, besides 2500 tons of bunker coal—in all, 9000 tons.

The annual report of tho directors of tha Town and County Bank (Limited), which has its headquarters at Aberdeen, has just been published. Tho n?t profit on tho year's transactions is stated to amount to £39,262, which is £3301 more than in the preceding year. It is proposed to declare a dividend at the rate of 12£ ocr cent, the earns as list year; to add £4000 to the reserve fund, bringing it up to £13?,000; and to carry forward £1252 to next year's account.

The report of tho directors of the Great North of Scotland Railway Company for tha half year ended on the 31st of January 1894, recommends the declaration of a dividend at the rate of 3^ per cent., as compared with 3 per cent, a year ago.

A deputation from the Glasgow Trades Council has been enlightening the Town Council of that city with respect to the state of many of tho tailors' workshops in tha central district. These are situated in the basement, and are hence known as "pit shops." Lights wero required to find the way into them, and gas had to be burned in them all day. " Some of the places smelt like sepulchre?, and looked as if they had not been cleaned since they were built." Many of the premises had no ventila-

tion whatever. It was added that the workBhops visited were those of the best tailors in the trade. If these things be true, it is no wonder that disease finds its way into homes where one would not expect to find it. The deputation asked the Health Committee of the Town Council to institute an inquiry into the state of the shops in question. They also urged the appointment of women inspectors to visit shops in which women are employed, and the adoption of an eight-hour day for tho women. They were assured that their statements and suggestions would receive full consideration. A NOBLE INSTITUTION.

Mr William Quarrier, the founder of the Orphan Homes of Scotland at Bridge of Weir, has recently given an account in Edinburgh of of tha origin and growth of that now very largo and splendidly managed charitable institution. Mr Quarrier was moved to star!; in such work by his having personally known the hardships endured by friendless orphans in Glasgow. About 23 yean ago he started his first Home in a little workshop in Renfrew Lane, Glasgow, and now he has 46 handsomo buildings, erected at a total cost of £130,000, and on which there is not a penny of debt. About 10,000 children havo passed through the homes, and 1000 are there at present. Their food and clothing have cost about £150,000 more. They are from all parts of Scotland. Mr Quarrier never asks any man for help, and said all the funds required had been sent in in answer to prayer, often just as they were needed. He said they had resolved from the outset to place their entire dependence on God, to have no bazaars, to blow no trumpets, and not to advertise. Yet they had known no lacknot even when tho City of Glasgow Bank failed, in which they had money deposited. Surely these facts ara at once a reproof and a lesson to those churches which stick at almost nothing short of highway robbery to get money for buildings, &c, and are often heavily in debt for years at a time. I may add that since delivering the address from which I have quoted, Mr Quarrier has secured a farm adjoining his Homes as a site for homes for consumptives. Eighty-six acres have been bought for £6500, and the remaining 20 acres are rented for agricultural purposes.

FEMALE FRANCHISE. The lead taken by New Zealand in this matter is attracting much attention in Scotland, and there are growing indications of a desire on the part of our politicians to follow the example thu-j set them. In this as in all other movements in this country, however, "Ireland blocks the way" of tho Gladstonians, so that the Unionists are seizing the chance to champion the unfairly treated fair sox. For instance, Viscount Wolmer, the Unionist member for West Edinburgh, in addressing his constituents the other day, challenged the Government, if they really were as zealous as they professed to bo for the widening of the franchise, to extend it to the women who voted for echool boards, county councils, and town councils, and who would vote for district and parish councils—the women who fulfilled all the duties of citizens in the shape of paying rates and taxes. The Government, however, held up their hands in horror at this, and said the place of woman was at the domestic hearth. He had observed that Gladstonian women went about working on behalf of their candidates and endeavouring to get them returned, but he never heard any Gladstonian say—"Bold, bad woqfcin, go back and rock the baby, don't come hery; coolfyour husband's dinner." Sirs Fawcett had onca said, hoc child was 25 years of age and sho really found rocking the b»,by monotonous and difficult. In Edinburgh women have done such excellent work as members of the School Board and other public bodies that their enfranchisement is very favourably viewed on the whole. Tho drink interest, no doubt, will oppose it tooth and nail, but this should be an additional and powerful argument in its favour.

MAD BOOS IN GLASGOW.

The western metropolis is in a state of uneasxnens on account of the frequency with which rabies has lately manifested itself among its canine population. Several patients have been sent ftom Glasgow to Paris to be treated by M. Pasteur, the expense being borne by the municipality. A Glasgow constable who went to be treated returned apparently oured. Hewas inoculated daily for 15 days—twice a day for the first

week. He states that the hotel where he stayed was crowded with patients for Pasteur, several of whom were from the west of Scotland.

To stimulate the police to rid the streets of worthless and dangerous <?ogs, the Glasgow authorities have offered a reward of a guinea to the constable who catches the largest number of such dogs before the Ist of May. The police of Glasgow are largely Highlanders, with huuting instincts, and, in some cases, hunting experience as well. Thay have entered into the competition with great zeal, and the small boys of Glasgow have now afforded them the amusement of seeing the guardians of the peace lassoing dogs and dragging them off to the lock-up. In a few days over 500 dogs were thus captured, one active officer securing 33. Those which are not claimed within a given time are drowned. A similar raid is much need in Edinburgh, which is the most dog-infested town I know in Britain, but I suppose we must wait until the Lord Provost and a bailie or two are bitten before any action will be taken.

THE KILDONAN GOLDFIELD,

Some of your readers will recollect the stir created in 1869 by the discovery of gold at Kildonan, Sutherlandshire, by Mr Gilchrist, an Otago settler. At one time about 500 people were at work in the diggings, but two years later the Dako of Sutherland ordered the latter to be closed on the ground of tt&i.r being unremuuerative. About £12,000 worth of gold had been obtained from them. There is now a prospect of the goldfield being reopened, as eight members of the County Council are negotiating with the present Duke of Sutherland for a lease of the SuisgiH farm, through which runs the burn in which most of the gold was formerly found. The precious metal has also been found in two or three other burns in the same district, and it will bo satisfactory to havo them all thoroughly prospected. On January 12, it was stated in tha House of Commons by Sir J. Hibbert, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, that "in the last seven years 43,650 tons of ore had been worked in North Wales, yielding 23,71632 of gold, or nearly Hdwts to the top." These figures show that it is well worth while ascertaining i£ payable gold is to be found in Sutherlandshire.

INSANITY IN SCOTLAND,

The annual report of Dr Clouston, physiciansuperintendent of the Royal Edinburghjiaylum, has just been issued, and contains, as usual, some interesting facts. During the year alcoholic excess contributed 81 cases, or 19 per cent, of the admissions. Influenza sent 15 eases, and general paralysis 42, this latter figure being just double the number of cases of the kind that existed in all the asylums in Ireland. The cases of mental disturbance following influenza had proved .curable in most instances. Dr Clouston further observes that there are very few families free from either mental disease or those brothers and first cousins of the disease which might, by like marrying like, easily he transmuted into insanity in the next generation. His investigations had led him to the conclusion that in every second family in the kingdom either mental disease, congenital imbecility, idiocy, or epilepsy, which were all most closely allied diseases of the same part of the brain, could be shown to have occurred in the past three generations. Nor did- that period nearly give a complete field for investigation. He had known insanity, skip four generations, and then reappear in exaotly the same form in which it existed 100 years before. " Tig a mad world, my masters."

CENTENARY OV THK GORDON HIfJHIANBEBS.

This event was commemorated in Edinbargh on February 10 by a dinner of the Gordon Highlanders' Association, but the regiment itself, which is shortly to be removed to Glasgow frem Dublin, will calebrato the anniversary on its arrival there. It will then be presented with new colours. Major the Hon. J. Scott Napier, who occupied the chair at the dinner named, referred to the services of the gallant regiment in Egypt, the Peninsula, and Afghanistan, and said its annals were not surpassed, if they were equalled, by those of any other regiment in the service. In support of this assertion he could quote various authorities, among them the great Duke of Wellington, under whose command the regiment had charged in the passes of the Pyrenees, at Quatre Bras, and again at Water-' 100, and had saved the day on those occasions.

OBITUABY RECORD.

Sir William M'Onie, a leading citizen of Glasgow, died at Pollokshields on Febrnary 3, aged 82. He began life in the provision trade, but subsequently, in company with his brother, carried ou a large engineering concern. He was elected Lord Provost of Glasgow in 1833, and was knighted on retiring from office, A widow and daughter survive him.

Mr R. M. Billantyno, the well-known writer of books of adventure for boys, died on February 7 at Rome, whither he had gone for the sake oE his health. He was born in Edinbargh in 1825, aud in 1841 went out to Canada as a clerk in the Hudson's Bay Company's service. A little book written by him to aoiuso his mother with an account of hia experiences attracted the atten-

tioo of the lito Mr Nelson, the Edinburgh publisher, at whose instance he wrofco "The Young Far Traders," which proved a great success. Thenceforward hs poured out books in a steady stream, publishing about 80 complete stories. He took much pains by travel and personal investigation to make his facts accurate, and his books also breathe a pure and robust moral atmosphere, with plenty of genial humour. Of lafco years ha has resided. at Harrow, near London. His eldest daughter was with him at tvs time of hi 3 death. Snbscriptions aro being invited from readers of hi 3 books in all lands to erect some memorial of one who so largely contributed to tho happine3B of many thousands. :

Mr Georgo llsadraau, for nearly '.50 years manager of the Clydesdale Banking Company, died in Edinburgh on February 12, aged 76. Ho bsgan life as secretary to the Duke of Sutherland's commissioner, and was then treasurer successively to the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Cijde Navigation Trust. He was then appointed joint - manager of the Clydesdale Bank, and a year later became solo manager. Under his guidance that concern vastly extended in importance, and he safely piloted it through tho trying times that followed the collapses of the Western Bank and City of Glasgow Bank. He was a man of the greatest probity, firm, and far-seeing. After ho had retired to enjoy the rest he had so well earned, ha was called to resume for a time the management of the bank in a time of special difficulty. He took a deep interest in all charitable and philanthropic work, and two yeirs ago gave £5000 to the Lord Provost of Glasgow to bo distributed among the charities of that city. Ho is survived by his widow and two sons.

Dr John Fox, who had practised as a medical man in Greenock for 58 years, and was very well known there, died on February 4. He was an Irishman, and graduated at Queen's College, Dublin. He leaves a widow and grown-up family.

Dr William Alexander, editor of the Aberdeen Free Press, died on February 19 of pneumonia, following ioflueuzv He was 68 years of ag<s, and was a self-made man—his father being a blacksmith, a,nd afterwards a small farmer. An accident which necessitated the amputation of a leg turned his thoughts from farming to literature, and he became connected with the North of Scotland Gazette, a paper which a year later was transformed into the Aberdeen Free Press. Here he made his mark, becoming one of the most respeoted and influential journalists in Scotland. He also acquired wide fame as the author of the story, "Johnny Gibb, of Gushetneuk," which has become a Scottish classic. He published two or three other books dealing with Aberdeenahire life and interests. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of Aberdeen. His" funeral was attended by the municipal dignitaries and other leading citizens, and the streets were lined by many thousands of mourners. He leaveß a widow, but no children.

GENERAL NEWS. :.','., Money is being collected in Glasgow for a memorial to the late Mr William M'Bwen. It is to be expended on a monument in Cathedral square and the foundation of a bed in the Koyal Infirmary or Old Men's Institute. £1750 has also been collected for a memorial to the late Mr Alexander Crum, of Thornlisbanfc.

The large biscuit factory of Messrs M'Vittie and Price, Edinburgh, was destroyud by fire on February 11. The damage, which is estimated at £25,000, is covered by insurance, but the firm will lose much by the delay before the workß, which require much intricate machinery, can be restarted. Three hundred hands are thrown out of employment by the fire*

The Glasgow Golf Ciub now has about 700 members.

At the last quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, held in Edinburgh, it was stated that the full income of the Grand Lodge for the year ended on November 30, 1893, amounted to £2285, and its funds and estate on that date to £33,788.

A woman 91 years of age, and against whom there were many previous convictions, was sent to gaol for 14- days in Glasgow the other day.

At a meeting of the Hawick Co-operativo Society it was stated that its membership was 3165, its share capital £42.000, and the net sales in 1893 amounted to £122,000.

A huge block of granite, measuring 35ft by 16ft by 14ffc, and weighing nearly 650 tons, was blasted at Craignair Hill last week. Five other blocks, measuring from 30ft by 9ft by Bft down to 18ft by lift by Bft, are also lying in the same quarry. Smallpox is still prevalent in Leith, and many people in all ranks there are being vaccinated. In Glasgow also the disease has obtaiued a bold," and an outbreak having occurred in the City Poorhouse, all the inmates have been vaccinated.

An unknown donor has promised to give £8000 to provide prizes for the pupils (who number between 2000 and 3000) attending evening classes at the Edinburgh Board Schools.

The now notorious estate of Ardlamont has been purchased by Mr D. M. Nicol, of Ard-

marnock, the adjoining property. Mr Niool i 9 the Unionist candidate for Argyleshire.

A batcher out of employment threw a stone through tha windows of the Lancefield street police station, Glasgow, iv order that he might find temporary quarters in prison. He got his wish gratified for a week. The Argyle Free Church in Oswald street, Glasgow, has been bought by a bonding company for use as n whisky store. For years the company had utilised cellars under the churoh for this purpose, but latterly the fumes from the

whisky so permeated the building as to make it unfit to be a place of worship. 1 The personal estate of the late Mr Thomas Grieve, merchant, Glasgow, has been returned as amounting to £47,205; that of Major Colin Campbell, Edinburgh, late of the Madras Cavalry, at £37,000; and that of Major W. B. Young, of Ascreavie, Forfarshire, at £30,000. The stamp duty on the personalty of the late Sir Archibald Orr Ewing, Bart., amounted to

The Glasgow School Board has adopted a resolution putting a stop to all sales of books and stationery in the schools, save where authority has been given by the board. The Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company has juat declared a dividend for the half-year at the rate of 3 per cent., compared with 4- per cent, a year ago.