FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21647, 18 May 1932, Page 12

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LETTER TO OVERSEAS SCOTS Written for the Otago Daily Times. By Robert S. Angus. EDINBURGH, March 10. Dr Johnson, like many less distinguished people, was impatient with those who attached too much importance to the influence of the weather. But it is a subject which is hardly to be avoided in view of our present exceptional experience. Until this week, when we have had some snow, there has been no rain to speak of for over a month. Loch Lomond is only 13 inches above the lowest level ever recorded at any time of the year; the Dee is six inches below its "mid-summer level—a friend who is fishing there tells me that -it looks like a burn —and the absence of snow on the hills means that during the spring and early summer all the rivers will be low unless we have an exceptional rainfall. The ground is so dry that the farmers are holding back their ploughing, and they are afraid to sow ;o early in the yea lest heavy frosts should be still ahead. Those who came north to indulge in winter sports have remained to enjoy the clear sparkling weather and the blue skies. Outdoor work generally is unseasonably far advanced since there has been little of the usual interruption, and altogether the, rural calendar seems out of joint. NAVY AND ARMY EXPENDITURE. Mr John Wallace, the member for Dunfermline burghs, made a strong effort in the House of Commons this week to secure for Rosyth dockyard, which is in his constituency, some share of the navy’s repair work which is at present concentrated in the south. It is a tragedy to see an expensively equipped establishment reduced to a carc-and-maintenance basis. The Admiralty spokesman, however, while giving an assurance that there is no intention to abandon the dockyard, pleaded that to transfer work there would be far too expensive. On the other hand. Mr Duff Cooper announced that this year Aberdeen is the one place where the War Office is not economising: it is building new barracks there, and tiot before time, seeing that the present buildings date from 1789 and are well on the way to qualify as an ancient monument. DIVINITY HALLS. A legislative item in which Scotland is interested is the Universities Bill, which was read a second time this week by the House of Lords. The measure is a sequel to the union of the churches, and provides for a gradual fusion of the divinity halls maintained by the United Free Church in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen with the divinity faculties of the universities. The present duplication of chairs, especially when the number of students tends to decline, could not be defended. In future appointments will be made by nomination so as to ensure that the professors satisfy the universities in respect of scholarship and the churches in respect of their character and doctrine.' At the same time the ■ .irrow doctrinal tests, dating from the time of Queen Anne, will be relaxed. When fusion is complete Scotland should be second to no country in the world in the fullness of its provision for a supply of scholarly ministers. THREAT TO FOREIGN MISSIONS. Disquieting accounts have been given to the Scottish Church courts this week of the outlook for foreign missions. It is not generally realised that of the total annual expenditure of ..bout £400,000 only some £55.000 is raised by the church at home; the rest is provided by the missionaries in the field; and last year the accounts showed a deficit of £25.00U. The prospect of having to reduce the salaries of 273 missionaries by 10 per cent, is highly repugnant, especially when —with an effort —the minimum stipend is being maintained for the ministers at home. Dr Macfic, of Rajputana, pointed out to the, Edinburgh Presbytery that the deficit is equal to the amount which was spent last Saturday in Edinburgh in connection with the Rugby international match. Hard pressed though we are, it will bo a disgrace if the missionary effort, for which Scotland has been distinguished for three generations, should have to be curtailed. TUBERCULOSIS REDUCTION, I have several times alluded to the decrease in the death rate from tuberculosis. The situation is well summed up in the annual report of the Royal Victoria Hospital, of which Sir Robert Phillip is the distinguished head. During the 50 years since the discovery of the tubercle bacillus, the death rate in Scotland from all forms of the disease has fallen from 311 per 100,000 of the population to 88, and from tuberculosis of tlie lungs' from 215 to 02. The total death rate has decreased by about half; that from tuberculosis by more than twothirds. The growth in both prevention and cure encourages the belief that this once-dreaded disease is on the way to ultimate extinction. MUSICAL ENTERPRISE. Mr Robert Burnett’s many friends will rejoice to know that though no longer a young man he has embarked on a new enterprise—the formation of a choir which will do for Edinburgh what the Orpheus Choir of Sir Hugh Roberton docs for Glasgow. Mr Burnett for over 30 years has been Edinburgh’s foremost singer and teacher, and he has the attractive personality required for leadership. His choir, which consists of 100 members, gave its first concert this week after only four months’ existence, and the size and enthusiasm of the audience were a promise that the enterprise will have the success it deserves. Another musical announcement of interest is that the promoters of a reorganised Scottish orchestra have come to an agreement witli the 8.8. C., so that the support of the latter is assured. BRONZE AGE AXES. Unexpected treasure trove came to light the other day when a lady walking along the banks of the Kale Water — a tributary of the Teviot —found a store of 14 bronze axe-heads which, according to the experts, are at least 3000 years old. They are all of the‘same graceful design, with their cutting edge still sharp, i and suitable for hunting and domestic , purposes as well as for warfare. They | are supposed to have been the stock-iu trade of the local blacksmith, who hid them in the river-bank till ho could find , buyers for them. Tlie discovery has ox- j cited lively interest and the experts are | busy on the site in the hope of finding further clues. Specimens of the axe heads have been deposited in the Antiquarian Museum. SCOTT CENTENARY. In most of the Border towns preparations arc being made for the cclebiation ■ of the centenary of Walter Scott s death. , Mr John Buchan has therefore chosen a fitting moment for the publication of the biography which, as a Border man aud a novelist himself, steeped in the works of Scott, be says he “was bound one day or other to write, for. I have had the fortune to be born and bred under the shadow of that groat tradition. He has set himself to “ re-cut ” the lines of the Lockhart portrait, with the advantage of being remoter in time and relationship, and able to present Scolt in truer but not less impressive pro- i portions. He brings out that although j Scott was always bound to be a writer, l be gave more attention than is generally | realised to the work of his profession | and to public affairs. Those who find ! Lockhart too long will be glad to have

the essence of bis work presented in so readable a. form. The book is published by Messrs Cassells, and its price is 9s 6d. NATIONAL TRUST GIFT. The National Trust for Scotland — formed to assume custody of places of natural beauty or historical interest—has had a fine windfall in the form of a promised bequest of the rocky headland of Ardmeanach on the west coast of Mull at the mouth of Loch Scridiau. Mr A. Campbell Blair, the owner, has announced his desire that on bis death it should’ pass into the ownership of the trusr. Its cliff rising about 1200 ft above the sea is the haunt of sea birds and wild goats. One feature of the property is a gigantic fossil known as MacCulloclPs tree, an object of instructive interest to geologists. Fortunately or otherwise it is too remote to be much frequented, but the gift is valuable as a reminder to other owners that the trust is available as custodian of property which it is desired to consecrate to public use.