Our Home Letter.

Otago Witness, Issue 1540, 14 May 1881, Page 8

Our Home Letter.

SCOTLAND. (FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ' Edinburgh, March 10th. EXTRAORDINARY SNOWSTORM. When I penned my laßt letter, in which I gave you some particulars regarding the intensity of the cold during this remarkable season, I fondly hoped I should not have to write again this year, at all events, in such a strain. This hope has been daahed to the ground, for March came in In a style which has not been equalled since the oorrespondi ing date in 1827. After two or three days | of piercing wind, snow began to fall on the 3rd inst , the wind gradually increasing until on the sth it blew a perfect hurricane from the S. E. That Saturday was a f earf nl day from Wigtown to Wick. The snow fell in blinding and inceesant showers, and driven by the terrific blast, formed immense drifts. On the morning of Sunday, the 6th, the country was fairly buried In snow. The railways and country roads were everywhere blocked, and even in the streets of Borne of the towns the wreaths were several feet in depth. In Porfar, for example, some one. storey houses were buried in snow up to the roofa, and the Inhabitants had to be dug out. The same oocurred near Oupar and west from Dundee. North of Stirling, railway communication was stopped on almost every line, and serious blocks also took place In the southeastern couutiea. Between Blaokford and Dunning, on the main line to the North, there was a drift of snow 10 miles long, and as many feet deep. Between Milnathort and Gateside the drifts were over 30 feet in depth ; while on the Highland railway, between Porreß and Dava, they reached the astounding depth of from 44 to 50 feet. Trains and engines were snowed up wholesale, no lobb than seven of the latter being buried In the short direot line between Dundee and Porfar. Trains loaded with cattle and pigs were also snowed over on the Highland line, and when they were dug out some of the poor animals were found to be dead. On the new line to Obau some 20 passengers, including several ladles, were Bnowed up in the carriages for 58 hours near Loohearnhead, and yet survived. All Sunday many thousands of men were hard at work olearing the railways and streets of town?, their efforts being greatly aided by the contemporaneous cessation of the wind and setting in of a strong thaw, But for this the results must have been most serious, aud not a few persons in country districts would have been put to sore straits for food. Some places— c g., Kinross— were completely isolated from the rest of the world for two or three dayß, except by telegraph, and the bußioesß'of the country was suddenly brought almost to a standstill. The entire state of matters is declared to be beyoud all precedent, except, perhaps, the one referred to above. Edinburgh seems to have esoaped with less Bnow than almost any other place in Scotland. By Sunday night it had nearly all melted. Ihe storm wad even more disastrous on sea than on land, bo far as losa of life and property is concerned. Numbers of vessels ran for safety to the firths of the east coast, but not a few of them failed to make the entrances, and were driven ashore on the jagged rtefs and beetling cliffs or treacherous sands which line the coast. One vessel drove on the rocks in St. Andrew's Bay, and her crew of eight men were engulfed one after another, in eight of thousands of spectators, who were powerless to help them. A little to the north of Aberdeen the fine ship Ben Rhydding, bound from Caloutta to Dundee with jute, was driven on tho sands, and every one of the 25 souls who formed her ship's company perished. It is not yet known how many vessels or lives have been lost altogether in this Btorm, but the number of the former is known to exceed 30, and it ia believed that the loss of life will reaoh 150. The lifeboat crews and other men performed many noble deeds of daring, and Porfarsbire lv particular is ringing with the heroic feat of George WilHams, a ooaßtguardcman at Usan, near Montrose, who aaved four men in a fearful sea, into which he plunged once and again. Williams has only been a year in the coastguard, and waß previously in the »avy, when he saw active service in the last Zulu War. His gallant conduct is sure to receive the reward it merits, the newspapers having made it widely known. For many a day to come the horrors of the sth and 6th March, 1881, will be the theme of talk and reminiscence throughout the north-east of Scotland. AORIOULTURAIi PROSPECTS. The prolonged severity of the weather ie ! causing much uneasiness among farmers, I who have scarcely made even a commencement of ploughing, and at the best the harvest must now be a late one. The losses of stock by this last storm are expected to prove very heavy, and a good deal of anxiety is felt for the lambs, some of which are beginning to make their appearance. Farmers have been put to great expense aince 1881 opened, through the necessity for artificially feeding their sheep, added to which the frost has wrought havoc among the turnips. It is stated that in the upland districts of .Roxburghshire the pastures have been under snow for five months, which will give some idea of the drain upon the pockets of sheep-farmers. As in the prolonged winter of two years ago, the blaokfaoed sheep have proved themselves the hardiest, and have come out of the trial much better than Cheviots. It is also noted that the sheep which were dropped in 1879 have furnished an unduly large proportion of those which have succumbed during this winter, showing that the effectß of such severe Beasons are permanent in the case of lambs dropped at their close. Everybody is commiserating the farmers, whose struggle with almost a constant succession of adverse seasons is very distressing to contemplate. The Scotsman lately reported, under the heading " A Sign of the Agricultural Times in Berwickshire," that "there is one parhh in the upper part ef the country in which 41| per cent, of the rental is of land occupied by tenants who are at this time insolvent a«d under sequestration or trust, and quitting their possessions at Whitsunday next." [ Mr John Leng, chief proprietor and editor

of the Dundee Advertiser, lately delivered at Lawrencekirk a lecture whioh deserved, and has received, notice at the hands of a larger public than that little town can furnish. The aubjeot of the leoture waa " American competition with our farmers." Mr Leng quoted figures showing that nearly two thirds of our grain imports now come from the United States, which also Bent us in 1880 lire stock to the value of upwards of Li 0,000,000, dead meat valued at more than L 16,000,000, dairy produce to the extent of L 21,000,000, and L 276.686 worth of potatoes. Startling as these figures may appear to be, Mr Lang Bhowed that, for example, all the dead meat Imported amounted to an average of only one ounce per head of the population daily. He said that the importation of live cattle, whioh were fattened in this oountry before being killed for the market, was found to be a paying enterprise, and one which admitted of large extension. He gave a number of instances showing the depressed condition of farming in England, and then passing on to Scotland said it was admitted that if 1880 had not been better than the preceding seasons large numbers of farmers would have been ruined. He knew of cases in the counties of Forfar, Fife, and Perth, in which farmers who a few years ago were possessed of several thousands of pounds, had lost their all, and been compelled to give up their farms. Prom his having been in America he had been consulted by more farmers than he would like to mention— some o{ them young, but more, he was sorry to say, middle-aged men with families— as to where he would recommend them to go with a better pros pect of success. Mr Leng said he believed that a continued increase in the imports from the United States aud Canada might be anticipated for some years to come. He urged that in order to enable British farmers to keep their heads above water, the land is this country " must not be legislated for in the interest of a class, but for the interest of all. It must be liberated from the . barbaric legacies of the dark ages. In a word, it must be made free both for its owners and occupants to make the best possible use of it, so as to secure the best possible results from its cultivation." This makes a good peroration to a leoture, but the country will have some severe throes to Buffer before this freedom Is born.

THE RECENT OUTRAGES. Nothing further has transpired regarding the murderous outrages in Edinburgh and Lelth detailed in my last. The remains of the miscreant who shot himself were quietly buried, and his confederate awaits his trial. A very general belief prevails that the deceased, at all events, had formerly been a bushranger in Australia, if he had not, in> deed, been at one time a member of the Kelly gang. Scars were found on his body, which showed that he waa no Btranger tp bullets. The viotlms of the outrages are now progressing favourably, and since he learned this, the man who is in oust'ody has become as reticent as he waß oommunioative when he thought that there was nothing bu,t the gallows before him.

SHEW MONSTER STEAMERS. , In former letters I have mentioned how tho concurrence of the introduction of steel for shipbuilding, and the springing up of the active provision trade with America, referred to above, had led to the giving of orders for Bteamera of gigantic size. Some of these are now leaving the stocks, and will booh be running. One of them, the Allan liner Parisian, of rather more than 5000 tonß register, enjoyed for a few days the distinction of being the largest ' steel vessel afloat. On the Ist Inst., however, there was launohed from the yard of Messrs J. and Ot. Thomson, Olydebank, a vessel which quite eclipsed the Parisian. This was the Servia, a new Ounard liner, whose gross tonnage is 8500, her measurements being— length, 530 feet ; breadth, 52 feet ; aud depth of hold, 42 feet 9 inches. She can carry 6500 tons of oargo, 1800 tons of coal, and 1000 tons of ballast water, has four deoks and a promenade deck, and is divided into sections by nine watertight bulkhead?. Her engines are expected to reaoh 10,500 horse power indicated. The ship's company will number 200, and she has accommodation for 450 first-class passengers. She is also fitted with permanent berths for 600 steerage passengers, but these can be increased to 2000 if required. The Servia is the largest merchant vessel afloat, next to the Great Eastern. The same builders have now in their yards, also ia course of construction for the Canard line, several other huge Bteamera — viz., the Aurania, 7500 tons; the P&vonia 5500 tons ; and the Catalonia/ 4800 tons ; besides smaller vessels . \ Immense quantities of steel are required ifor the construction of these big ships, ! ,which are usually steel-decked, aa well aa built of steel plates, and new steel works are accordingly springing up in Lanarkshire. A very large one at Motherwell, known aB the Dalzell Steel Works, and belonging to Mr David Colville, of the Dalzell Iron Works, has just begun operations. Its furnaces are capable of producing weekly 500 tons of " Siemens " steel ingots. The steam-hammer used to consolidate the slabs, prior to their being out into blooks of suitable size for plates, can give a blow equal to considerably more than 400 tons. The anvil is a single iron casting, weighing 150 tons, on which is mounted a smaller one with a Bteel face. The engines, shearing and hot-sawing maohinery, and, in faot, the whole of the plant are of the most powerful description. Colonists of a mechauioal turn of mind, when visiting this country, should not omit to pay a vkrit to snoh works as these. In this connection I may appropriately note the death of the man who has very j largely conduced to bringing about the state of things above described. I refer to Mr John Bell, one of the originators of tho Anchor line who, with his sons introduced the refrigerating process for preserving fresh meat, out of which the great American meat trade has arisen. Mr 801 l died on February 25th at his residence at Shandou, to which he retired a few years ago. He had ontered on his 76 bh year when ho died. On the occasion of hia retirement from business he was enterfcaiued at a public dinner and received a presentation.

ANOTHER MUNIFICENT GUT TO DCJJTOBE.

Dundee is clearly in the wuy of luck, educationally. I mentioned lately thac two parsons had bstweeu them offered to give the

town a sum of L 130,000 towards the esfcab. lishment of a science college, and now I have to mention an offer of L 30.000 to the High School, of whioh, as some of my readers will remember, the Rev. F. O. Simmons was onoe rector. The gift is made by ex-Bailie Harris, and it has arisen out of the faot that the School Board is endeavouring to establish a right of ownership over the High Sohool. The donor of the L 30.000 offers it on condition that the sohool is left under the government of its present directors, without challenge or objection ; that the free annual revenue of LSOOO of the L 30,000 should be set aside for the higher education of such deserving pupils attending the schools of the School Board as that Board may from time to time nominate ; and that the free annual revenue of the balance should be applied to the Improvement of the higher education in the High School, Including therein the reduotion of fees in the higher classes. The School Board have resolved to. forego their claim to the High Sohool only on condition that they receive LIO.OOO, to enable them to establish another elementary sohool. The matter is thus still in abeyance, but it is said that in consequence of this decision^ tne School Board Mr Harris will probamfrecall his gift. OBITUARY RECORD. The Earl of Seafield, one of the most extensive landed proprietors in Scotland, died at Cullen House, Banffshire, on February 18th. The cause of death was bronchitis, arising out of a cold caught by him some weeks before, while shooting. Lord Seafield, who was the seventh earl, was born in 1815, began life in the navy, and succeeded to the title and estates in 1853. According to Dome3day Book, the estates amounted, in 1870, to 305,883 aorea, situated in the counties of Moray, Banff, aud Inverness, and yielding a rental of L 71,000 annually. The remains of the late Earl were interred with Highland honours in the family mausoleum at Duthie, in presence of a large gathering of the tenantry. He is succeeded by his son, Viscount Keidhaven, ; who was born in 1851. It is stated that the late! Marl planted no lens than sixty millions of trees on his estates. Two leading medical men in Edinburgh have passed away. The first to do so was Dr W. R. Sanders, Professor of Pathology in the University, who died on February 18th, aged 53. . Sinoe the death of the late Dr Begbie, he had been reckoned the first consulting physician in Edinburgh; while as a professor he waa equally esteemed, apd noise or idleness was unknown in hia olass. A large body of the students, at their special request, were allowed to attend his fnneral. The other physioian referred to waa Dr Peter Hendyside, who died on February 21st, aged 72. He was distinguished as an anatomist, and for many years waß lecturer on anatomy in the Edinburgh Sohool of Medicine, besides whioh he published I numerous works oh his favourite study. As an operator he was also noted, even in this city of skilled operators, for his dexterity. He leaves behind him a monument to his memory, in the Bhape of the Edinburgh | Medical Mission, whioh he waa mainly in. I strumental in founding. The following deaths may also be noted : —The Rev. J. B. Hamilton, of the Laigh Kirk, Kilmarnock, died on February 16th, aged 78. He had been minister of the first charge since 1843, and as suoh was much respected. In consequence of failing health he retired from active duty six months ago.— Mr Robert Mitchell, solicitor, Cupar, a gentleman well known in Fife, died on February 21st> in consequence of a piece of meat stick* ing in his throat while he was taking tea. i He was 45 years of age. — William Gall, commonly called "Singing Willie," who vru known in every hamlet in the north-east of ! Scotland, has died at Mark Kirk, Kincar- | dineshire, aged 84. He was found lying on ' a oountry road daring the intense frost, and never reoovered. From hia youth he had supported himself by singing at fairs and farms, many of his songs being composed by | himself. In spite of his Bohemian life he was " honest to a proverb," and the news of his death has been received with much regret on soores of farms, specially in the counties of Forfar and Kinoardlne.—Mr Alexander Smollett, of Bonhill, Dumbartonshire, died the other day, aged' 79. He represented the county in Parliament in the Conservative interest from 1841 to 1859, and was convener of the county from 1848 till his death. —Mr Maitland-Heriot, of Ramornie, died yesterday at Paris on his way back to Sootland from a fruitless search for health in the south of Prance. He was born in 1818, and has been sheriff of Forfarshire for a good many years. Personally ho was much respected and beloved.

GENERAL NEWS. The inventory of the personal estate of late Mr Grabam-Menzles, of Hallyburton, distiller, who died on the 20th November last, has been recorded, and shows its total value to be L 432,823. The estate is divided among his family. The estate of Badentoy, Kincardineshire has been bought for L 40.750 by Miss Proctor, Garden place, Aberdeen. After a lengthened controversy the Glasgow Town Oounoil has resolved, by 23 votes to 17, to call for fresh plans (by open competition) for the new municipal building, the cost of which ia fixed at " about L 250,000."

Many who hall from tho north of Scotland will regret to hear that the Rev. Dr Kennedy, of Dingwall, has been obliged to leave for Mentone to recruit his health, and will probably remain abroad for a considerable time. As soon as it was known that his health was suffering, his- friends in the district of Kiltearn set on foot a subscription for a public testimonial to him, with the result that L 516 was presented to him at a public meeting held to bid him farewell for the present, while about L3OO more was subsequently received. The money was subscribed entirely in the northernmost districts, and when their poverty is remembered, the spontaneous and liberal character of the donations says much for the esteem in which Dr Kennedy is held by thoße who know him best.

The Committee formed to raise a fund for oho relief of the friends of those who perished in the Tay Bridge accident, met at Dundee on the 3rd inst., when it was stated that the total amount obtained had been L 6527. As, however, tho North British Railway Com* pany had settled all claims arising out of the accident, the Committee had not expended more than H9lO. It was resolved to return

to the Railway Company the LSOO which the latter had subscribed to the relief fund, and a 3ub-committee was appointed to consider what should be dove with the L 4116, which could then remain over. Successful experiments have lately been made in the lighting of railway carriages by gas on so long a journey as that between London and Aberdeen. The apparatus is newly patented, and instead of supplyiag the train as a whole, it supplies each carriage singly. The experiments show that a carriage can be lighted by seven jets for 33 houra at a total cost of 9d, and sufficient gas can be carried for the double journey from London to Aberdeen and back. Whereas, moreover, It takes 45 minutes to light a long train with oil lamps, five minutes suffice under the new mc i hod. The late Mr Thomas Oarlyle, whose funeral took place privately at Ecolefechan on the day on which my last letter was despatched, has bequeathed to Edinburgh University, of which he was at one time Lord Rector, his Bmall Dumfriesshire estate of Craigenputtock. Its. area is 800 acres, and its present rental is L 250 per annum ; but with the improvements now in progress, its annual worth 1b estimasfcTd at L3OO. The estate came to Mr Cartyle through his late wife, whose name was Welsh. The proceeds of the property are to be applied to the endowment of ten " John Welsh " bursaries in the University, five of these to be given for proficiency in mathematics, especially pure geometry, and the other five for proficiency in Latin, Greek, and English, or in two of these languages.