SCOTLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 496, 1 June 1861, Page 9

SCOTLAND.

The Scottish Registrar- General's report shows the influence of scaton on the number of births. The births in March, April, May} and June are considerably more numerous thun in other months of the year. In JEngland, the excess is spread more over the entire first half of the year. In Scotland the marrying months are June and December. In England the last quarter of the year is the season of most marriages. As for deaths, the cold time is their " season."

It is understood that Sir David Dundas, who filled tbe office of Solicitor-General under Lord John Russell's Government, will be proposed as a candidate for Sutherlandshire, in the room of the Marquis of Stafford, with every prospect of success.

The Edinburgh Town Council has opposed itself to the demand of a member for the Scotch Universities. Mr. Macknight having moved that the Council should petition Parliament to grant a representative to the Universities of Scotland, Mr. Duncan M'Laren moved an amendment that the Council petition Parliament to a contrary effect. The amendment was carried by 19 to 7.

The ship-building trade on the Clyde continues active, and all the various establishments are well-employed. Shipments of pigiron have been somewhat restricted, last week's export having only reached a total of 7117 tons as compared with 11,114 tonn in the corresponding week of 1860. There is but little improvement reported at Dundee in the American demand for linen, but orders to a fair extent have come in from other quarters, and a pretty good home trade baa been done. Transactions in the wool trade continue limited to the supply of actual wants, the uncertainty of American and continental afftirg putting a stop to speculation. The Board of Trade, in replying to a communication from the Scottish Shipbuilding Association, lias intimated that saloons erected on the weather decks of river passenger steamers solely for the shelter of tbe passengers, will be considered as falling within the meaning of the 21st section of the Merchant Shipping Act, find that the measurement of such a saloon is not to bo added to the tonnage of tbe hull.

The Ilev. Mr. M'Lcod, Free Church minister, of Alloa, N. 8., preached a sermon to the local Volunteers, on Sunday evening. The rev. gcntlemrai appeared in the pulpit without gown or bands, raid in f nil Volunteer uniform. The precentor was similarly attired. Mr. M'Lcod chose as hia text the Oth verse of the 17th chapter of Exodus — " And Hoses paid unto Joshua, choose us out men, and go nut, fight with Amalek ; to-morrow 1 will stand on .the top of the hill, with the rod of God in mine hand."