SCOTLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1987, 24 March 1892, Page 26

SCOTLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Edinburgh, January 14,

New Year's Day was marked by delightful weather, and country people poured into the towns in great numbers in consequence. In Glasgow, Edinburgh, and most of the other large cities, Dundee excepted, the publicans acted upon recommendations issued by the magistrates, and did not open during the day. The result was a yery perceptible diminution of drunkenness on New Year's Day, but it is affirmed that this was made up for by the rush for drink the next day. In Glasgow, for example, the number of persons brought up at the police courts for drunkenness, assaults, &c, on the first three days of the new year amounted to 1278, as against 843 during the corresponding period of last year. In Edinburgh the hotels and railway station bars, which were the only places where drink was to be had on New Year's Day, were thronged with customers. At the Waverley station refreshment room the crush was something fearful, and it is said that no less than Lls worth of glass was broken in the scramble for drink.

The worst feature of this New Year intoxi* cation was its prevalence among the young, who managed somehow or other to get drink. One boy of nine was taken to the Royal Infirmary, who had abstracted a bottle of whisky from a drunken man's pocket, and made himself as helpless as the man. A town councillor stated at a public meeting in Edinburgh that, in company with a brother councillor, he had visited the police cells on the morning of the 2nd inst. He found in them 69 persons, of whom 41 were charged with being drunk and incapable. Among these 41 were one girl aged 14, two boys aged 15, and one boy aged 16, and a great many aged 18. That was a state of things which, in his opinion, was enough to put Christianity and Civilisation to the blush. He would like to have taken round the cells all the worthy elders who stood at the plate on the Lord's Day, and were busy selling drink on the other days of the week. Yet, according to the police statistics, there were many fewer cases of drunkenness in Edinburgh at this season than on former New Years.

GREAT SNOWSTORM.

Scotland to the north of the Forth was visited last week by a snowstorm of a severity exceeding anything experienced for a very long time in some parts. In the Central Highlands, indeed, it is doubted if such a snowstorm has been known within living memory. Much drifting took place on Dava Moor and in other places on the Highland railway. In spite of all the efforts of powerful locomotives with steam ploughs attached, rains were snowed up ; while to traverse even the short distance between a signal box and the adjoining station in the face of the blizzard was found to be a dangerous task. The country roads were snowed up to a depth varying from 4ft to 10ft, and everything black disappeared under the deep snow. Kingussie was entirely cut off from the rest of the world, and locomotion within its boundaries became almost equally impossible. To add to the misery of its inhabitants, influenza was epidemic there, and the doctors were scarcely able to visit their patients. In the counties of Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness things were quite as bad, and several trains were snowed up. Among them was one containing 300 recruits for the Seaforth Highlanders, on their way from Lewis to Fort George. Their train was snowed up between Garve and Auchterneed, and remained there for 24 Hours before it could be extricated. Some of the men, in desperation, managed to walk to Auchtemeed, but the others suffered intensely. The passengers in 'the train which was snowed up at Altnabreac got out and walked to Forsinard Hotel, taking five hours to accomplish a distance of five miles. For several days no letters were received from Caithness. It is feared the losses of sheep will be very large, as all pasture is buried feet under the snow, and it is very difficult to convey any food to the poor creatures. A partial thaw has set in, but the rapid melting of the snow is dreaded almost as much as its continuance, on account of the floods which it would certainly cause. In Edinburgh there has not been much snow, but in Glasgow the fall has been the heaviest known for some years.

CLYDE SHIPBUILDING IN 1891,

The published returns show that during 1891 there were launched from the shipbuilding yards on the Clyde 373 vessels, aggregating 622,010 tons. This is a decrease of 41,990 tons as compared with 1890, and 12,490 tons as compared with 1889. The money value of last year's output is estimated at L 8,000,000, or L 1,400,000 less than that of 1890. The decline in value-is attributed to the large increase in sailing tonnage, the still larger decrease in steam tonnage, and to lower prices of materials. Messrs.Russell and Co., of Greenock and Port Glasgow, who build sailing ships chiefly, head the list qf 46 shipbuilding firms with an output of 56,676 tons. Messrs Connell and Co. come next with 21,170 tons, closely followed by Messrs Scott and Co. with 21,021 tons, and Messrs Denny Bros, are fourth with. 18,036 tons.

The work on hand is estimated at about 275,000 tons, or about 5000 tons less than at the same date last year. The two principal ships on the stocks are a line-of -battle ship of 14,300 tons and 16,000-horse power, at Messrs Thomson's yard; and two monster steamers for the Cuuard line, one of which is being builfc by the Fairfield Company, and the other at Clydebank. They are to be over 600 ft in length, with a gross tonnage exceeding 13,000, and with twin-screw engines which will work up to 30,000-horse power effective. These two steamers alone represent 4000 tons more than the entire output of the Clyde shipbuilding yards in 1858.

LANIf IN SCOTLAND,

The leading auctioneer and estate agent in Edinburgh states in his report for 1891 that 6ince the failure of the City of Glasgow Bank in 1878 the sale of land, except sporting estates, has gradually declined, and there is no visible symptom of improvement or reaction. He exposed at auction during last year 43 estates, with an area of 1,119,927 acres and a rental of L 1,816,400. Of these only nine were sold, for a total sum of L 88,393. He adds that the agricultural outlook is better, owing to the fall in rents, but there seems to be a disinclination to invest in land, owing to the uncertainty as to prospective legislation affecting it. A parliamentary return has been issued showing the number and area of deer forests in Scotland, and distinguishing those which have been formed since 1883. The latter number 13, with an area of 311,019 acres. Since 1883 there have also been "partly formed" eight forests with an area of 263,906 acres. Reckoning only a third of this latter total, it appears that in eight years almost 400,000 acres have been taken for deer forests. As the first Crofters' Commission, in 1883, stated that nearly all the land specially suitable for deer

had even then been appropriated for deer forests, it would seem clear that much of the 400,000 acres under notice must be land suited for crofters. More is certain to be heard of this return when Parliament meets.

DR MACGREGOR ON DISESTABLISHMENT,

The Rev. Dr. Macgregor, of St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, and moderator of the Church of Scotland, in a sernion delivered on the first Sunday of the year, said that during 1892 the very greatest question which ever came before the British people would come up for solution, and whichever way it was settled, the consequences must be of the most serious and permanent kind. After referring further to disestablishment, and asking his hearers to pray that any measure which would bring about calamity and a permanent disruption in their great Scottish Presbyterian Church might be averted, Dr Macgregor added :—": — " Never, since the Reformation, had an ecclesiastical question involving such consequences come before the people of Scotland, and especially before the members of the Church of Scotland, as the question, ' Shall the old National Church go under ?'" A newspaper, called the Beacon, is being started to oppose disestablishment, and the ministers of the Established Church are, generally, in an interesting state of flutter. One would like to see them as much in earnest to discharge their duties as to defend their stipends, but no one expects that who knows anything about ecclesiastical matters in Scotland. bailies' eloquence". It is well known that some of the worthy civic magistrates of Scottish towns indulge in curious utterances at times, but it is only occasionally that these find their way into print. A couple of specimens, however, have received publicity recently. In the one case Bailie James Martin, Glasgow, thus referred to the Police Bill which the municipal authorities of that city are promoting : — "They talk to us of vagrants wi' this new Police Bill. If Christ had appeared among them, He wid ha'e been hauled awa' to the polis office and sent to Barlinnie." In the other case Bailie Macpherson, Edinburgh, in dismissing a prisoner who had not been convicted of the charge brought against him, told him that he was acquitted, but if he was brought up again that charge would be remembered against him — a clear case of "not guilty, but don't do it again." THE SEXES IN GEEENOCK.

A census of school children has been taken in Greenock at the instance of the School Board, and it is found that the total number of children under 14 years of age is 19,545, of whom 10,042 are boys and 9503 are girls. At a meeting of the board to consider the figures, the chairman drew attention to the fact that while eight years ago there were 9789 children under five years of age in the burgh, the number according to the census just taken is only 7460. He added that if the decrease continued, they would require to close one or two of their schools. Ex-Provost Campbell pointed out that the males outnumbered the females in Greenock, which had long been distinguished in this way, and he did not suppose that another town in the country could show the same results. It may be added that the Imperial census taken last April showed that Greenock was the only one of the large towns of Scotland in which the population had declined during the decade, on which account it has now to yield precedence to Leith and Paisley.

SCOTLAND AND THE JEWS.

A public meeting was held in Glasgow last week, under the presidency of the Lord Provost, to consider steps for relieving the distress of the Jews in Russia. It was resolved to raise funds for that purpose, and as soon as the preliminary arrangements were made to call a public meeting on a much larger scale. In Edinburgh a meeting was held three days ago in the Free Assembly Hall, under the auspices of the Chovevi-Zion, a Jewish organisation. Several hundreds were present, most of whom were Jews, but the Rev. Dr Macgregor moved the principal resolution, in favour of the appointment of "a Scottish auxiliary embracing Christians of all denominations, entitled The Scottish Society for the Restoration of the Jews to Palestine." The Rev. Mr Paterson, an Edinburgh minister, who has taken the leading part in aiding Jewish refugees from Russia who have landed at Leith, in seconding the motion, said that it was estimated that 5290 Jewish refugees had passed through Leith and Edinburgh in their flight from Russia. Ho added that many hundreds of the refugees had been denied entrance into New York, and many of them were returning to this country. Even if it were for nothing else than our own self-defence in this country, these Jews must be helped. Two deputies from the society named above gave interesting accounts of its work and the prospects before Jews who might settle in Palestine under its auspices.

OBITUARYRECORD

There has been quite a run of deaths among ministers in Scotland during the past month. The Rev. Alexander Davidson, of the Evangelical Union ' Church, Leith, died in a shop in Leith Walk, which he had entered to rest. The Rev. Peter M'Dougall, of the United Presbyterian Church, Stromness, died very suddenly in his manse, though apparently in perfect vigour. The Rev. John. M'Farlane, senior minister of the Free Middle Church, Greenock, died in Edinburgh after a long illness. The Rev. Richard Waterston, minister of Free St. Paul's Church, Dundee, died on January 6th, aged 60. The Rev Dr Macrae, parish minister of Hawick, died on January Bth, in the 77th year of his age, and the 49th year of his ministry. The Rev Dr Davi'lson, of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, also died on January Bth, aged 74. He had been minister of the parish for 46 years. Lady Grizel Baillie, of The Holmes, St. Boswells, has died of influenza in her 70fch year. She was aunt of the present Earl of Haddington. She was a lady of benevolent habits, and also took an active part in church affairs. She was the first deaconess of the Church of Scotlandr Her death is much regretted.

Sir W. H. Gibson-Carmichael, Bart., has died at his seat, Craig Castle, Dolphinton ; aged 64. He was the 13th baronet, and also took orders as a clergyman of the Church of England. The fishing village of Cockenzie has been plunged into mourning by the death of Mr Robert Ovens, who was for many years schoolmaster there. It was mainly owing to his exertions that the harbour of Port Seton was constructed. He also organised a building society which enabled the fishermen to build their own houses, a.id made Cockenzie quite a model village. The fishermen twice presented him with public expressions of their gratitude, and turned out en masse to his funeral. As a teacher Mr Ovens was most successful, but he retired four years ago on account of failing health. Seldom has any man in his position left behind him such a record of a useful life.

GENERAL NEWS

Newmiln House, about five miles north of Perth, which was rented and occupied by Sir John Millais, R.A., was gutted by fire early on the 10th inst. Sir John and Lady Millais were asleep in the house at the time. Most of the

paintings and other valuables were got out of the house safely. The damage done is estimated at about L2OOO.

The personal estate of the late Hon. Robert Baillie-Hamilton, of Langton House, Duns, and who was M.P. for Berwickshire from 1874 to 1880, has been sworn as amounting to L 45.000.

The Crofters Commission has concluded its work at Glenelg, Inverness-shire. It is stated that the crofters there have now got their rents reduced in all no less than 60 per cent, since the agitation began.

The Dundee School Board has agreed to appoint a lecturer to set forth in its schools "the scientific facts in regard to the health of the body, and particularly in regard to the injurious effects of alcohol upon the young." Attendance at the lectures is to be optional. No less than 36 ministers of the Free Church died during the year 1891. The total number of congregations connected with the denomination is about 1000.

In a paper read last week before the Edinburgh Chartered Accountants' Students' Society, Mr Richard Brown, C.A., stated that there are at the present time in this country 70 trust investment companies, with a paid-up capital of L 39,000,000 and a debenture debt of L 16,000,000. Most of them were formed in 1887, 1888, and 1889.

The boys in the Wellington Reformatory, near Edinburgh, made 14,000 pairs of boots last year, besides doing farm work. It is stated that two or three of the Dundee steam whalers, on returning from an Arctic cruise on which they are about to start, are likely to make an experimental trip to the whale fishing in the Antarctic Ocean.

Several gentlemen made the ascent of Cairngorm on the 4th inst. , in spite of the deep snow and intense cold. On the top the wind was so tremendous that a halt of only two or three minutes was made. The difficulties of the ascent are described as having been " almost Alpine." Next day the fearful snowstorm set in.