SCOTLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1865, 19 August 1887, Page 22

SCOTLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Edinburgh, Jane 9

In the Glasgow Bankruptcy Court on May 18, the examination was to have taken place of Thomas Stevenson, tea merchant, 209 Gallowgate. He did not appear, and it was staled that it was believed that he had gone to New Zealand, whereupon the sheriff granted a warrant for his apprehension as an absconding bankrupt.

Every year Edinburgh is coming more to the front as a business place, although strangers usually look upon it rather as a place of educational importance and historical interest. Among its more recent commercial developments is its trade in cattle, which has been rapidly growing of late years. It is especially noted for ) the high-class character of the live stock sold in its marts, and to this is largely due the fact that these are now attended by buyers, not only from many parts of Scotland, but also from England, and sometimes even from Ireland.

A sad accident occurred at the Forth Bridge on June 2, resulting in the death of two men and the serious injury of four others. In consequence of this accident the men suddenly struck for a rise of Id per hour on their wages, on the ground, mainly, of the dangerous character of their work. They held two or three rather animated meetings among themselves, and there were also some rather warm encounters between them and one or two of the overseers. After several days had been thus wasted, about 1000 of the men resumed work yesterday on the old terms, while 500 others either left of their own accord or were not re-engaged.

DISTRESS IN THE LEWS,

Once again there comes a cry of distress from this island, though amid the din of politics it has been but faintly heard. Mr Macdougall, Free Church minister at Lochs, 1 Stornoway, has written to the newspapers that much distress prevails in that district, the population qf which is over' lsoo, all belonging to the class of crofter fishermen. Owing to bad weather for months past tillage has, he says, been rendered extremely difficult and fishing impossible. Seed is so scarce that much land remains unsown, though otherwise tilled and ready. Some of the people have bartered their live stock for potatoes and seed, but a refusal had been given to many who wished to do the like. The children attending the public schools are stated to be in a miserable condition, wretchedly clad, and many of them having to go to school without having had any breakfast. Mr Macdougall says the present season of the year is usually the time of greatest scarcity with the people, but they have seldom, if ever, been so utterly straigtened as they are just now. He has had as many as five in a day at the manse asking for food for their starving families. There is evidently something wrong when famine is such a .constant visitor to the Hebrides, and it seems a thousand pities that something cannot be done by emigration, or otherwise, to put matters on a proper footing. Periodical charity is only one degree better than periodical famine. Yet ii seems impossible to get the people to look at things in an unsentimental, practical way. They blindly follow those who work upon their prejudices and ignorance, and regard their true friends and well-wishers with suspicion and hatred. In these circumstances there seems no help for it but to leave them to learn further lessons in the school of suffering.

OBITUARY RECORD.

The Rev. Dr George Jeffrey, Glasgow, one of the leading ministers of the United Presbyterian Church, died suddenly on May 23, aged 70. From his ordination in 1839 to his death lie continued in the same charge. As a preacher and platform speaker he was very popular, and his business qualities were of the first order. He was clerk of his presbytery for many years, and in 1879 was moderator of synod.

Dr Thomas Spencer Baynes, Professor of Logic in St. Andrew's University and editor of tbe " Encyclopaedia Britannica," died suddenly in London on June 1. He was a native

of Somerset, but was educated at Edinburgh. University, and began his "career there as assistant to the celebrated 'Sir William Hamilton. In 1857 he became assistant editor of the Daily News, and in 1864 he was elected to the chair at St. Andrew's, which he occupied up to his death.' ' He_ was a frequent and distinguished contributor to magazine literature, and his skilful management of that huge work the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" also added much to his reputation. Of late yeaTs, however, the brunt of the work fell upon his colleague; ex-Professor Eobertson Smith. In private life Dr Baynes was much entertained. For some years past his health had not been robust. \ Mr Thomas Stevenson, the eminent civil engineer, died on May 8, in his 70th year. He was a son of the famous Robert Stevenson, and with his brothers fully maintained the world-wide reputation of the family in the matter of lighthouse and dock construction. In Scotland he was connected with nearly every scheme for harbour or river improvement, and the navigation of the Forth, Tay, Clyde, and Nith owes much to him. He also carried out similar improvements in the Luns j and Eibble, in England, and the Foyle in Ire- j land. In lighthouse matters he was even more | eminent, while as an inventor of improved i meteorological instruments he also gained I well-earned fame. In private life he was held injhigh honour for his solid qualities and unswerving rectitude. Probably few men in his- day have done more for their generation, j and made so little noise about it. In re- | ligious matters he took an active interest, and j played a useful part. Mr Stevenson is sur- \ vived by his widow and their only child — j Mr Robert Louis Stevenson, the well-known' \ novelist. !

The Eev. George Divorfcy, secretary of the Scottish Reformation Society, died in Edinburgh on May 9, aged 67. He was educated at Aberdeen University, and in 1853 'he was sent out by the Colonial Committee of the Free Church to Victoria, along with nine other ministers, among whom were Drs Mackay and Cairns. Mr Divorty laboured afc South Yarrow for seven and a-half years,, till compelled to return to Britain onaccounfc of ill-health. During the last 20 years of his. life he occupied the post in connection with the Scottish Eeformation Society with which his name is chiefly and honourably identified. For some years he was also editor of the Bulwark, the well-known defender of the destructive principles of Protestantism.

GENERAL NEWS,

The Tay bridge is now practically com-v pleted, as a train ran over the whole of it on June 4, and it is expected the first passenger train, containing the directors of the North British Railway Company, will cross it tomorrow.' At a recent preliminary testing of the northern half of the bridge, six engines, weighing 432 tons, were employed. The results were stated to be most satisfactory. The Board of Trade testing of the bridge has been in progress this week, but no particulars regarding it have as yet been published.

One of two kangaroos given by the Marquis of Bute to the town of Paisley escaped the other day and made off across country, chased by a number of youths. On reaching Ferguslie the poor animal dropped down dead; from exhaustion and fright.

The Kirkcudbright Town Council has, by eight votes to six, reversed its former decision to celebrate the Queen's jubilee by drinking some gallons of whisky and water out of the town's Punchbowl. A petition to that effect, signed by 600 inhabitants, was presented. In moving its adoption, a councillor said the burgh had been disgraced by having its name branded over the whole country as " Whisky Jean."

The net value of the personal estate of the late Lord Deas is stated to be £72,971. His entire property, real and personal, is left to members of his family and other relatives. The personalty of the late Mr Alexander Kirkpatrick, of Allanshaw, near Hamilton, has been proved as amounting to £174,807.

A pedestrian named Carlisle, who some years ago gained notoriety by walking from Land's End to John O'Groat's, accomplished the other day the feat of walking 300 miles in six days. The course was the public road between Gifford, Haddington, and East Lothian, and his days' performances were 71, 51, 51£, 51-§, 51£, and 24£ miles respectively. On the last evening he was fresh enough to give a lecture on some of his chequered experiences as a sailor, lion tamer, pedestrian, and circus clown. The new railway line between St. Andrew's and Anstruther was opened for traffic on June 1, and was well patronised. It will be a great convenience to the East Neuk of Fife.

May 20 being the anniversary of the battle of Langside, the event was commemorated by the laying of the foundation of a monumental column on the battlefield. The column will bo 58f fc high, of stone, and of an ornamental appearance.

The Fishery Board, having been asked to aid in a scheme for the extension of Stonehaven harbour, say that they prefer the larger of the two plans proposed, but added that the cost— £67,ooo— " it is wholly beyond the resources of the board to face."