FROM NORTH OF TWEED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20433, 13 June 1928, Page 15

FROM NORTH OF TWEED.

A LETTER TO OVERSEAS SCOTS.

By Robert S. Angus.

EDINBURGH, May 3. Mr Churchill has undoubtedly acted wisely in dropping kerosene —which we generally call paraffin—from the duty of 4d a gallon on imported light oils. The motorist can pay the addition to the price of his petrol without feeling it seriously, but to the farm servant and the country labourer who burns 2gal or 3gal a week in his lamps and cooking stoves —the latter greatly increased in popularity since the coal stoppage—the extra cost would have been much larger than any saving on sugar. The only place where any regret will be felt is in West Lothian, whose shale industry will be deprived of some, though by no means all of the benefit it had anticipated. Wo had a visit last week from Sir Warren Fisher and his colleagues of the Industrial Transfer Board, who are inquiring as to the possibility of absorbing in other trades the men who are surplus—permanently as it would seem —to the requirements of coal mining. They saw representatives of employers and workmen, of employment committees, and of local authorities. I believe that once it is made clear that many of the men can never hope to secure work in the mines again they will be more disposed, in spite ot their innate conservatism, to seek openings elsewhere and not be content to linger about the corners of the colliery “ rows ” hoping for better times. Even if these come as the result of Mi Churchill’s scheme of rating relief, we shall have more miners than we need. PRINCE GEORGE IN GLASGOW. In spite of its reputation as a place of advanced political views, Glasgow never fails to give an enthusiastic welcome to its royal visitors, and when Prince George went there to receive the honorary freedom of the city he had the usual experience. He made an excellent impression, for, though he is an indifferent speaker, he has the genial chccrinoss of manner which belongs to all sailors, and he played his part in what must have been a rather tedious series of ceremonials with the air of one who really enjoyed them. He finished the day by attending a charity ball and dancing till train time. Glasgow now has all the sons of the Royal House on its list of honorary freemen. ABERDEEN NEWSPAPERS. I am sorry to learn that there is every probability of the Aberdeen Press and Journal and its allied publications being sold to one of the London syndicates. When I first heard the story I was completely sceptical, knowing from my early association with the place and the paper how intense is the dislike of outside interference. -But a circular issued to the shareholders recommending the acceptnance of an offer of £3 15s per share is proof that matters have advanced far. Since then another offer of £4 6s a snare has been received. I have still a faint hope that when the shareholders meet next Wednesday they will, decide to stick to their property. They have done remarkably well out of it, especially those of them who bought their shares as was possible little more than 30 years ago—for half a crown each. If it changes hands the new owners will have to treat it with the utmost care, for any attempt to make the papers mere local editions of Loudon publications will soon be fatal. SCOTS FUSILIERS ANNIVERSARY. This being the 250th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, preparations are being made to celebrate the occasion, beginning with a parade on Saturday at Ayr, the headquarters of the regiment, and including gatherings at Glasgow, Portsmouth, and London. The Fusiliers came into existence in 1678, when Lauderdale ruled in Scotland, and from the name of their first commander they were known as “ the Earl of Mar’s grey-breeks.” They were engaged in police work during the Covenanting times, but, contrary to a belief at one time general, they were not at Killiecrankie or Glencoe. They fought at Ramillies and Oudenarde, at Sheriffmuir and Fontenoy, on the Canadian plains, and in the Netherlands, in various South African wars, and in the Great War they furnished battalions for all the main fields of the campaign. Mr John Buchan, the historian of the regiment, describes the typical Scots Fusilier as “ physically stocky and muscular, wearing on his rugged face an air of ferocious geniality, pre-eminent in faithfulness and discipline, but with a gift, when occasion demands it, for bold and desperate inspirations.” At a time when there is a tendency in the outside world to believe that all Scottish soldiers are kilt-wearing Highlanders, it is fitting that the history and the prowess of the Lowland regiments should be recalled. A DUCAL HEIR. Yesterday the Marquis of Graham, son and heir of the Duke of. Montrose, attained his majority, but, as he is at present at college, celebration of the event has been deferred till the summer. The story of the Grahams is closely interwoven with that of Scotland, and members of the family have played an important part in many episodes, heroic qpd tragic. Through his mother (the only child of the late Duke of Hamilton), Lord Graham is descended from Robert the Bruce. Through her also he will one day be owner of the island of Arran, in addition to extensive estates in West Stirlingshire. For the last 200 years the family of Montrose—which never seems to have had much association with the town whose name it bears —has lived the uneventful life of Scottish lairds, on the best of terms with its tenantry, but hard hit financially in modern times by agricultural depression. The present duke, in spite of the handicap of deafness, has been more prominent in public affairs, and recently scandalised his friends by declaring himself an adherent of Scottish Home Rule. His mother (one of the Grahams of Netherby) though now an old lady, is still a noted beauty, and the duke is himself one of the most handsome of men. A GLASGOW PUBLIC SERVANT. Sir Charles Cleland, who for over 40 years has been a prominent figure in the public life of Glasgow, waa entertained at luncheon this week in recognition of his services as chairman of the Education Authority, a position from which he retired a month ago. He was presented with a run-about motor car and a Spanish mahogany portfolio containing the names of the subscribers. Sir Charles was at one time regarded as a future Lord Provost, but a certain aggressiveness of manner, the expression of a robust and forceful character has delayed so far and perhaps prevented, his attainment of the supreme municipal post. Though he is a hard-bitten Tory in Imperial politics. Sir Charles frankly recognises that “we are becoming more or less quickly socialised, that further socialisation lies ahead, and the advantages and disadvantages, the difficulties and the dangers of that development must be met.” He pins his faith to an educated democracy. The esteem in which he is held is indicated by the fact that the chairman of the gathering was Mr D. M. Cowan, the Liberal M.P. for the Scottish Universities, and that one of the speakers was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow. “ SURFACEMAN.” I was under the impression that I was one of the few with a pleasant memory of the poems of Alexander Anderson, who wrote under the name of “ Surfaceman.” It was, therefore, both a pleasure and a surprise to learn that for some years there has been in existence an Alexander Anderson Memorial Club, formed at his native village of Kirkconnel, and holding periodica] meetings, of which the first in Edinburgh took place last Saturday. Anderson began his working life as a railway navvy, but, with a zeal for self-cul-ture, perhaps not so common now as once it was, not merely wrote poetry, but acquired a working knowledge of French, German, Italian, and the classic languages. He became secretary of the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution, and during his later years was librarian of Edinburgh University. Professor Pringle-Pat-tison, who proposed the toast of his memory, claimed that Anderson’s Scottish poems of child life would be included in every anthology so long as such poetry was read. He had in mind, no doubt, that excellent blend of humour and pathos “ Cuddle Doom” It was mentioned that “Rab” and “ Tam,” who figure in that exquisite piece, are still alive, at the ages of 84 and 86. AN AFRICAN PIONEER. The Rev. Dr Alexander Hedderwick, who for 40 years has been head of the Church of Scotland Mission at Blantyre, Nyassaland, has announced his intention to retire from that post. Dr Hedderwick, the son of an Aberdeenshire farmer, and educated at Aberdeen University, went to Central Africa immediately after he

graduated at the age of 23, and he has devoted the whple of his working life to its people. He was one of the founders of the native church there, and through his books he has helped to create a Central African literature. He had a large share in the translation of the Bible into the Nyanja language, of which be wrote the grammar. As a practically minded Aberdonian, Dr Hedderwick has always had a keen eye for the material as w r ell as the spiritual progress of his flock, and his name will have a high place in the roll of Scotsmen, with Dr Livingstone at their head, w'ho have spread civilisation in Central Africa. DINGWALL SEPTCENTENARY. Dingw-all has had a round of festivities this -week in celebration of the 700th anniversary of the grant of its first royal charter. Its remoteness has had its advantages, for it has escaped much of the domestic strife which has interrupted the continuity of civic life further south. The occasion was marked by the opening by Lady Cromartie of the Carnegie Town and County Hall at a cost of £BOOO. Dingwall includes among its honorary freemen Lord Rosebery and Mr Lloyd George, both of whom sent messages of congratulation.