OUR LETTERS, OUR SCOTCH LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1813, 20 August 1886, Page 14

OUR LETTERS, OUR SCOTCH LETTER.

(From Odb Own Coreespo^obnt.) Edinburgh, June 3. EDINBUHGH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. This extensive and interesting undertaking Vras extremely fortunate in regard tc the matter of its formal opening, which took place on May 6, when the weather, for a wonder, was magnificent. The ceremony was performed by Prince Albert Victor of Wales, who acquitted himself •with a simple manliness which won all hearts. He arrived the day before at Newbattle Abbey, Dalkeith, as the guest of the Marquis of Lothian, the president of the exhibition. On the morning of the 6th he drove into town, escorted by hussars, and proceeded first to Holyrood Palace, and thence, via Regent terrace and the North Bridge, to the city council chambers in High street, where he received the freedom of the city. Instead of taking the short direct route to the exhibition by George IV Bridge, the Prince went down the Mound, along Princes street, and up the Lothian Road. The crowd in Princes street was believed to be unprece■dentedly great, and when it was seen that the Prince was dressed in Highland costume, the cheering was tremendous. The whole of the way the crowds were immense, and enthusiastic in the extreme. Within the exhibition building and around its principal entrance some 30,000 people at least assembled, and waited patiently for hours. The Prince opened the main door with a gold key, and the action was the signal for deafening cheers from those inside, and an ugly rush by those outside. The latter caused considerable confusion and some risk for a time, but order was at length restored. The opening ceremony consisted of the singing of the National Anthem and 100 th psalm, prayer by Rev. Dr Cameron Lees, the reading of an address by the Marquis of Lothian, and the presentation of the same in a silver casket to the Prince, who replied at some length, concluding by declaring the exhibition open. This fact was simultaneously announced to the citizens at large by the firing of a royal salute from the castle and the ascent of a baloon from the exhibition grounds. The Prince was then escorted through the more prominent sections of the exhibition, and finished up by planting a tree near the western entrance, plying the silver spade given him for the purpose with such energy as to bend it, at which he was momentarily disconcerted. He then drove off to lunch with the Lord Provost in Melville , crescent. Among the crowd of 2000 persons there assembled was a stalwart fishwife from Newhaven, who, not content with shouting her welcome in the broadest Doric, and with all the fearful force of a fishwife's lungs, made a dash for the Prince's carriage to seize him by the hand. A vigilant policeman, however, inter cepted her, and hurled her back on to the pavement in the most ungallant fashion. With respect to the exhibition thus auspiciously opened, it is the unanimous testimony of all who have visited it that it is a great success. At the same time it is much more a national than an international affair, the exhibits from other countries being singularly few and unimportant, though an exception must be made in favour of the fine collections of pictures tsy French, Belgian, and Dutch artists. The fine art galleries also include many paintings of historical as well as artistic interest, by such artists as Reynolds, Lawrence, Gainsborough, and Wilkie, making, in the aggregate, a display such as has never been witnessed in Scotland before. The most distinctive feature of the exhibition, however, is the " Old Edinburgh " street, composed of reproductions of buildings which formerly actually had existence in the city, though not • contiguous to one another. The effect is very quaint, and it has been sought to heighten it by having the young women who serve at the stalls in these old buildings dressed in costumes of the n Mary Stuart period. At the same time it is a little incongruous to be served by one of the said damsels with photographs, or to find the Mercat cross turned into a sweetie shop. This part of the exhibition attracts great crowds, and in the evenings it is almost blocked by the throng of visitors. The show of machinery of all kinds — much of it motion — is very fine. There is also an interesting section devoted to women's industries, and another in which artisans are the. sole exhibitors. In the latter section a Leeds workman shows some tiny but beautiful models, which are thus enumerated by the Scotsman :—" A silver horizontal engine, made of 204 pieces ; another of 75 pieces; a lawn-mowing machine of 384 pieces ; a silver locomotive engine; a tea service and tray made out of two threepenny pieces ; another made out of one threepenny piece ; a toast rack, cruet frame, jug, and tray, made out of two threepenny pieces ; and a miniature gold carriage that can be drawn by a fly." - The buildings and grounds are all illuminated with the electric light, which is employed on a scale larger than has hitherto been known elsewhere ; and there is also an electric railway in the grounds which meets with extensive patronage. Some 12,000 season tickets, at a guinea each, were disposed of by the opening day; and up to the present time the number of visitors has already reached a total of 415,345, or an average of 17,306 per day, bo that the financial success of the undertaking is looked upon as assured. A good deal of pardonable patriotic pride is felt and expressed at the excellence and success of the exhibition in spite of ;the competition of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in London and the Nautical Exhibition in Liverpool. Colonists on a trip to this country should make a point of seeing it. IHB GENERAL ASSEMBLIES. Thege bodies have just concluded their annual sittings in Edinburgh, where their proceedings have attracted less notice than usual, owing to their being of a quiet and routine nature for ths most part, and to the diversion of public interest effected by the exhibition and the Irish question. As usual, the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church assembled first, and this year it did so in the unusual circumstances of having no moderator, Dr Logan Aikman, who was moderator last, year, having since died. The Rev. Professor Duff, of the United Presbyterian Theological Hall, and Chairman of the Edinburgh School Board, was elected to the vacant' post of honour, where he had a quiet and unduiturbed experience. The total membership of the church was reported to be 181,146, being an increase for the year of 1255, or at the very small rate of 17-24ths percent., though this is considerably higher than the average annual rate of increase during the last 10 years, which was only 997. The total reIo* UU o ce 0 n , - h amoun *ed to £367,915, or £22,280 less than m the preceding year which is due to a smaller sum having been required to be raised for building purposes. The number of congregations on the synod roll is 557, being two less than last year ; and the average annual stipend of the ministers is set down at £262 15s being an increase for the year of £2 17s 2d . '

In the Established Church Assembly the Lord High Commissioner was Lord Thurlow, whose only title to fame is his agitation in favour of the opening of museums on Sundays, a fact which did not escape remark in the hostile camp of the U.P. Synod. It seems that there was difficulty in getting the post filled at all this year, Lord Aberdeen being in Dublin, and Mr Gladstone's Irish policy having alienated from him those of the Scottish nobility who would at all pass muster as Lord High Commissioner^ The Assembly was not deterred from expressing itself as strongly opposed to the project of the commissioner when it was brought up by a petition. The Rev. Dr Cunningham, of Crieff, was elected* moderator, and thus the quiet of the sittings was largely assured ; while Dr Story, of Roseneath was elected, after a division, one of the clerks, in- succession to the late Principal Tulloch. Beyond an inquiry into charges of drunkenness made against a Berwickshire minister, who was acquitted, and a prolonged discussion on the theme of union with other Presbyterian Churches in Scotland, nothing specially calling for notice occurred during the sittings. The church's membership is stated at 564,435, an increase for the year of 8813, or at the rate of I*sß per cent. In the Free Church Assembly the Rev. Dr A. N. Somerville, of Glasgow, who visited Dunedin some nine years ago, was chosen to fill the moderator's chair, and his energy and more than youthful enthusiasm made themselves felt throughout the proceedings, which would otherwise have been rather tame and dull. The Assembly wisely devoted much of its time to the consideration of matters connected with the church's life and work, but owing to the newspaper reports being exceptionally meagre, the public at large have learned little of what was said or done. The finances of the church exhibited a fairly satisfactory state of things, considering the prevailing depression ; the v total income being £594,050, which is £31,978 less than the preceding year's total. As in I the case of the U.P. Church, this decline is attributed to a lessening of the amount raised for buildings. The sustentation fund amounted to £171,8.60, being i a decrease of £492. The church has 1069 congregations, |with a membership of 330,464, being an increase during the year of 5544, or at the rate of 1 % 69 per cent. In one respect the church's returns manifested special progress, viz., in regard to the support given to foreign missions. Excluding the sums raised f Oj.* Jewish, colonial, and Continental mission work, amounting to almost £25,000, there was contributed during the year for the purposes generally understood under the name of " Foreign Missions" a total amount of £97,229. This is much 'the largest total yet reached in regard to this matter in the history of the Free Church. It also compares very favourably with the corresponding amounts subscribed by the Established and U.P. Churches, these being £22,051 and £39,673 respectively. The only subject which created anything like a stir in the Free Church Assembly was the stock one of Disestablishment, with its younger sister Presbyterian Union. The former theme was discussed for an entire day, no less than seven motions being submitted. In the end the Assembly adopted, by 476 votes to 98, and by 450 votes to 99, two motions by Principal Rainy, approving of the action of the Church and State Committee in opposing Mr Finlay's bill, declaring that no such measure would be regarded as a reason for resuming connection with the State, and adhering to recent declarations as to the necessity bf disestablishment and disendowment. The so-called constitutional party sorely missed the aid of Dr Begg, whose mantle as a debater has no£ fallen upon any member of his following. At a later sitting another debate took place over a communication received from xhe Established Assembly, expressing the readiness of the Established Church for union on the basis of establishment. This was responded to by the adoption of a very long motion, the pith of which was to be found 'in its concluding part, which asked the sister church's attention to Dr Rainy's motions above referred to, and which were given in full. This reply gave rise to some wrathful language in the Established Assembly, but eventually a motion proposed by Professor Charteris, and consisting of polite nothings, was adopted by a large majority over a curt, angry motion proposed by Dr Story. The matter now stands thus:— The Established AssemMy will not hear of union save on the basis of establishment ; while the Free Assembly (and the United Presbytrian Synod too, I may add) will only hear of union on the basis of disestablishment and disendowment. Consequently matters are at a deadlock; and the discussion has served no purpose save that of making either party more tenacious than ever of its own views, with the result that the Presbyterian union so much talked about is further off than ever. So it ever will be, as long as external union only is thought of and union of heart is ignored or contemned. I may add that it was statedin the Established Assembly, and listened to with undisguised, if unbrotherly satisfaction, that a member of the Constitutional party in the Free Church had intimated that he was so displeased with its action in regard to disestablishment that instead of placing at its disposal a sum of £20,000 to be devoted to territorial work, he intended to let the Established Church have the control of the money. 'POLITICAL. The prospects of a dissolution are being keenly canvassed by politicians of all shades of opinion in Scotland, and there seems to be a very general agreement that it ought now to take place with as little further delay as possible. It is difficult as yet to say what the issues of a general election would be in Scotland, but I am inclined to. think that after all Mr Gladstone's position would not be greatly affected by it. It is said that he himself will meet with strong opposition in his seat for Midlothian, and this is quite likely. The same experience probably awaits Mr Goschen and Mr Childers in their seats for the Eastern and Southern Divisions of Edinburgh respectively. At the same time, while the contest will be closer than at the last general election it seems doubtful, as far as one can judge from present indications, if the actual result will be greatly affected. Scotsmen generally are such believers in Mr Gladstone, and they have so committed themselves to him on former occasions by their almost ludicrous expressions of enthusiasm for him, that they find it difficult both to change their allegiance and to face the shower of criticisms and sarcasms which such a change would certainly call forth. They feel themselves compromised, and this feeling will largely affect their action at the poll. TRADE AND INDUSTRY. As illustrating the effects of the present state of matters in Ireland, it may be mentioned that the Standard Life Assurance Company, whose headquarters are in Edinburgh, has found it necessary to set apart a sum of £40,000 to meet possible losses upon land in that country. i In spite of the low rat es of wages now commonly prevailing in Scotland, we still hear from time to I time of the importation of foreign workmen. For example, during May 48 men were brought

to Govan from Germany to finish steamers which are being built in the Fairfield yard. The men are upholsterers, carvers, and gilders. The local workmen have taken the matter quietly. At the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Union Bank of Scotland (Limited), it was resolved to declare a dividend at the rate of 12 , per cent., which is the same as that declared last year. The agitation for the reduction of rents in towns is making way slowly but steadily in some of our principal cities. Glasgow and Aberdeen have already established associations wifch this aim in view, and now Dundee has followed their example. At the meeting held for the purpose in Dundee, a resolution was adopted to the effect that further legislation is imperatively required to deal more effectively with the hovels let at exorbitant rents to the poorer class of labourers. Edinburgh has not yet moved in this direction, though in no place is such a reform more needed, since in respect of this matter of house rent it is one of the dearest cities in the kingdom. A somewhat singular result of dull trade is reported from Dundee. Owing to the stoppage of some of the jute factories, and the adoption of shorter hours in others, the receipts of the gasworks from the sale of gas have declined to the extent of £4000, while the sale of secondary products shows a further decline of £4500. It has accordingly been resolved to raise the price of gas 20 per cent. Evidence of the continued dullness of trade between the Clyde and the United States is furnished by the lately published annual report of the State Steamship Co. It shows a debit balance of £11,245, and as the total backgoing now amounts to £70,000, it is proposed to reduce the nominal capital by 50 per cent. The company has declared no dividend since 1881. The West Coast herring fishing has begun satisfactorily, and hopes are entertained of a good season, which means so much to the inhabitants of the Hebrides. As showing the importance of the Scottish fisheries, it may be noted that, according to a return just issued, the value of the fish (exclusive of fish of the salmon kind) landed in Scotland during the first four months of the present year is set down as amounting in the aggregate to £553,928. MORE WATER FOB GLASGOW. The inaugural ceremony in connection with the increased supply of water from Loch Katrine to Glasgow, mentioned by me in a recent letter, took place last month at Mugdock reservoir, the Lord Provost of Glasgow presiding. The corporation's powers have been extended so as to allow them to draw water from Loch Katrine to a depth of 12ffc, instead of seven as formerly, and the surface of the lake is accordingly to bo raised si"t. ' This will increase the storage to 9,850,000,000 gallons, or nearly 200 days' supply. The new works are estimated to cost about a million sterling, which is only £100,000 short of the cost of the former works, exclusive of pipes in the city. The distance from. Loch Katrine to Mugdock reservoir is 25| miles, and from the latter to Glasgow 8J miles. In the former section the tunnels measure llf miles in length. The benefit to Glasgow of the increased water supply will be very great. GENERAL NEWS. The death is announced of Mr Walter Scott, of Boynsmill House, Forgue, who was known throughout Aberdeenshire as a cattle breeder and as the proprietor of the Glendronach distillery. The Rev. Dr Cunningham, of Crieff, Moderator of the Established Church Assembly, has been appointed to succeed the late Dr Tulloch as Principal of St. Mary's College and Frimarius Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrew's. The office of principal of the newly reconstituted Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh, has been filled by the appointment to the post of Mr F. Grant Ogilvie, of Gordon's College, Aberdeen. Mr Ogilvie is only 28 years of age. ' Dr Douglas Maclagan, who has been Professor of Medical Jurisprudence in Edinburgh University since 1862, and who has been President both of the Royal College of Surgeons and of the Royal College of Physicians in this city, has received the honour of knighthood, much, to the gratification of his students and the general public. The election of a successor to the late Dr Cotterill in the Anglican Bishopric of Edinburgh took place two days ago. Canon Liddon, the, famous preacher, of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, was the enly person nominated for the post, and though several of those present objected to him on account of his High Church leanings, they did not propose anyone else, and the canon was elected by 40 votes to 4, 10 decliniug to vote. The canon is at present travelling in Palestine for the benefit of his health. In the Court of Session yesterday the wife of William Murdoch, formerly a commercial traveller in Glasgow, but stated to be now a clerk in the employment of Mr Patrick, butcher, Maclaggan street, Dunedin, obtained a decree of divorce against her husband on account of his desertion of her since December 1881, since which date she had not heard from him. / The wife was also granted the custody of the one child of the marriage. In spite of energetic efforts to prevent it, the western embankment of Port Glasgow harbour has been steadily subsiding for six weeks past, and a good deal of it has fallen in. The foundation of the quay is found to be quite undermined. Though great damage has been done, the working of the harbour is being continued. The Town Council of Aberdeen has resolved to expend a further sum of £20,000 in carrying out its scheme of city improvements. The personal estate of the late Mr H. Dobie, formerly a merchant in Glasgow, afterwards of I Gart Ferry, Ayr, and latterly resident in Edinburgh, has been sworn as amounting to upwards of £340,000. A publichouse in the Canongate, Edinburgh, was broken into one night recently, but the thief found himself confronted by two retriever dogs, which were 'left loose on the premises at night. He seems to have struck them with some sharp instrument, in spite of which they forced him tg leave without getting any booty. The annual return of the volunteer force shows the total number of volunteers enrolled in Scotland to be 51,433, of whom only 903 are nonefficients. The counties which contribute most largely to the total are: — Lanrark, 11,929; Midlothian, 5781 ; Aberdeen, 4399 ; Forfar, 3215 ; and Renfrew, 2708. The rear is brought up by Cromarty, with 67. The strength of the several arms of the service is as follows : Rifles, 39,546 ; artillery, 10,595 ; engineers, 1017 ; light horse, 235 ; mounted rifles, 40. A movement is on foot for the erection of a monument to the memory of the late Mr Thos. Edward, the Banff naturalist. The total amount realised by the sale of the library formed by the late Mr J. Whitefoord j Mackenzie, W.S., to which I referred in my last two letters, in connection with Burns' MSS,, was over £8500.