SCOTLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2231, 3 December 1896, Page 53

SCOTLAND.

{IteOM Ous Own Cobeespondknt.) Edinburgh, October 19. THE CZAB IN SCOTLAND. The outstanding Scottish event since I last wrote has been the visit of the Czar Nicholas II and Mb consort to her Majesty the Queen at Balmoral. Their Russian Majesties arrived in their yacht, the Standart, at Leith on the 22nd September, and were welcomed, in spite of very nnpropitious weather, by immense crowds of people, both on land and in steamers. The Channel Fleet was also present, and its guns gave an impressive welcome to the distinguished visitors, who were received, in the Queen's, name, by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught. No pains or expense had^ been spared to make the dingy docks and the dingier Btreets and railway stations of Leith look brigbt, but the fast-falling rain did much to neutralise these efforts. The Scots Greys, of which regiment the Czar is honorary colonel, escorted the State carriage from the reception room, fitted up in one of tbe goods sheds at the docks, to the tailway station at North Junction street, where the Royal personagco and their suite entered the train. Extraordinary precautions were taken to ensure the Czar's safety all along the route, and especially at Forth bridge, and no untoward incident occurred. As at Leith, addresses were presented to the Czar at Dundee and Aberdeen. It was dark when the train reached Ballater whence the journey had to be finished in carriages drawn by horses. From Crathie Church the august arrivals were escorted by about 150 Highlanders bearing lighted torches, which were favoured by an improvement in the weather, and the Bcene was a very picturesque ono. The Queen received her guests at the entrance to the castle at Balmoral, and the motherly warmth of her greeting seemed to be fully reciprocated by them. During their stay at Balmoral the Czar and Czarina were permitted to enjoy a good deal of privacy, their safety being carefully though unobtrusively, watched over by police of the Russian and Frenoh as well as English and Scottish services. The Czar went deer shooting several times with the Prince of Wales, Duke of York (to whom he bears a striking resemblance), and other distinguished personages. On Sunday, September 27, the Queen, her Imperial visitors, Prince of Wales, and other princes and princesses, and the Marquis of Salisbury 1 attended 'morning service in Crathie Church, where, four pews were specially seb apart for them. Th« minister was the Rev. Dr Colin Campbell, of Dundee, who preached from John ii, 9 : " This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilw, end manifested forth His glory." The same afternoon the Czar and Lord Salisbury were closeted together lor on hour at Balmoral. Two days later a Ballater photographer had the honour of taking photographs of the distinguished personages at the Castle. The proceedings occupied some hours, and 14 photographs were taken. So far as outsiders can judge the Czar seems to have much enjoyed his visit to Queen Victoria's Highland home, and his meiu is said to have become much brighter during his stay there. Apart from his exalted position Nicholas II seems to inspire general affection by his modest and manly demeanour and amiable ways. Nob merely ai Czar, bub as a man, he was a most weloome visitor to Balmoral; while of the Czarina everyone speaks in enthusiastic terms. Their majesties left Balmoral at a late hour on Saturday, October 3, and travelled by tho West Coast route to Portsmouth direct, not breaking their journey anywhere. As it was thus made by night or on Sunday, and was also regarded as strictly private, no demonstrations were made along the line of route. Their majesties did hot appear to be at all unduly fatigued on arriving at Portsmouth after a continuous railway" jauraey of 630 miles. In Deeside their visit will be a favourite topic of conversation for years to come. GHEAT SPEECH BY LORD BOS^BERY. The chief local topic of a political nature at the present time is the retirement of Lord Rosebery from the leadership of the Liberal party. This he first annonnoed publicly, in a letter to the Scotsman, and then on October 9 he addressed a great gathering of nearly 4000 persons in the Empire Palace Theatre, Edinburgh, when he stated his position more fully. His speech lasted for an hour And 50 minutes, and occupies five columns of the Scotsman. It was received with some reserve on the part of , the audience at first, but as the speaker proceeded he evidently gained in an ever-increas-ing degree the sympathies of his hearers. Tbe bulk of the speech was occupied with the Armenian question, regarding which Lord Rosebery said he would fight tooth and nail against isolated action by the British against Turkey. He stated it to be his impression that the colonies would, like the United States, "deprecate awaking the arbitrament of the sword on a question which does not directly concern their vital interests." His only panaoea for dealing with the Eastern question was the concerted action of the Powers— all of them, if possible, but, if not, concerted action of the Powers most immediately interested. He thought the handing over of Cyprus — though not to the Sultan — would be a very cheap price to pay for the concert of Europe in this question. Lord Rosebery caused gome sensation by stating that during the last 12 years there had been added to the British Empire, " whether in the shape of actual annexation or of dominion, or what is called a sphere of influence, 2,600,000 square miles of territory," or " 22 areas as large as the United Kingdom." He added that " the foreign policy of Great Britain until this territory is consolidated, filled up, settled, civilised, must inevitably be a policy of peace." In the latter part of his speech Lord Rosebery referred to his retirement from the leadership of the Liberal party. His resignation, he said, had been in the hands of his colleagues since the last general election, and his letter, published on the preceding day, had simply caused it to take effect. He begged that whatever else might be the result of his action, it might produce unity in the Liberal party. If it did not do this, the sacrifice would have been made in vain. The speech has been very generally admired, except by the Radicals, and on the Continent it has received a much larger measure of approval than is usually accorded to the utterances of British politicians. Lord Rosebery looked wearied and worn even before he began to speak, but now that the supreme effort is over, and he is freed from an embarrassing and painful position, he may be expected to recover physical fend mental tkour. While itis nob likely fchab

■he will again lead the Liberal party, as some persist in saying he will do, he is certain to continue to be a leading figure in tho political life of tbe country. EXTRAORDINARY SUBSIDENCE AT DUJUURTOV. A piece of ground on the south side of tho River Loven at Dumbarton, measuring two acres in extent and known as the Old Woodyard, suddenly sank for a distance of ten feet, shortly before 10 a.m. on October 12. It is tenanted by a Mr Galbraith, who used it for breaking up vessels, and he was on it at the time of the occurrence, but saved himself by instant flight. The workmen were absent at breakfast, or loss of life might have resulted, as the buildings were rent m pieces, and a ohimney stack 50 feet high esune down with a crash. At the same time a mass of sand was forced out into the river, blocking it up and damaging the harbour, while 50 yards of a wall at Bndgond U.P. Church, 1000 yards away, collapsed. The cause of the subsidence is unknown, but it is supposed to be in some way connected with the action of the river. The damage is estirasted to amount to thousands of poundn. On the area affected the ground has been riven into terraces, with chasms between them, presenting a curious sight, which has attracted many thousands of spectators. A SPOILED HABVEST. The bright promise of an abundant harvest in Scotland, regarding which I wrote lately, was unhappily spoiled at the last moment by a spell of unpropibioas weather. The beautiful crops in the Lothians were all out, but not yet gathered in, when the weather ohanged, and became dull and wet. In a whole fortnight the amount of sunshine registered was only 2ar ! 33min, and thsre was no drying wind to compensate for the absence of sun. In conspquence the grain was sodden and ruined. Barley, for instance, which would have brought 253 per quarter, was made fit only for feeding stock. Only a few of the earliest farms in East Lothian escaped the ruin. In the north, where cutting begins later, the damage is also less, through, owing to the continuance of the wet weather, it will be great there too. Farmers affirm that this is the most disastrous September they have experienced tinoe 1872, aud the calamity is the more keenly felt from the fact that up to the end of August the harvest promised to be one of the best od record. MUSIC HALL DISASTER AT ABERDEEN. A catastrophe attended by a lamentable loss of life occurred at Aberdeen on the evening of September 30. The locality was a music hall in Biidge place, known as "The Palace of Varieties." It was leased by the Liver more brothers, who were making arrangements to take it over in a few days from the joint stock company which owned it. Tho audi&nce on ( the j evening in question was smaller than usual, numbering about 400 persons. The proceedings had toot long begun, and the curtain was down, when it was seen that fire had broken out amoug the scenery in the top of the flies. Toe assistant stage manager asked the audience to retire, and as the flames burst forth at the same moment, a pauio ensued, and a wild rush was made for tho ex'ts. These were speedily blocked, and frantic scenes took plaoe, in which many persons were severely burned, and others were crushed or had limbs broken. Several were literally dragged out of the flamas. The gas also exploded with a terrific report, adding ' to the terror of tho situation. The artistes had. s. narrow escape, aud several of the ladies were ' rescued only half-dressed. Nothing in the building could be saved,, and the firemen concentrated their efforts upon the saving of the adjoining property, in which they were fortunately successful. A detach- j ment of soldiers belonging to the Gordon Highlanders rendered great help to the firemen and police. Several infants wera snatched by meu from their mother's arms and borne into j the street in safety. Ib was found that 30 peopib ""ere more or less eeverly injured, and the charred bodies of three lads were recovered from the rains. Four of the injured succumbed subsequently to their injuries. A large proportion of those present were youths and girls. Had the fire occurred two nigbts earlier, on the half-ye».rly general holiday, when the house was crowded, the results would no doubt have been frightful. It is snppcsed that the fire was \ caused by seme inflammable material being accidentally ignited by a gas jet. The cash taken at the door was dropped during the panic, and the money rolled about at the entrance. Even amid all the confusion and terror a scramble was made for the money, some of which was rescued by the police. It is stated that a year ago alterations were made on the hall, and especially in regard to the exits, by order of the magistrates. A trial of their efficiency was then made, and the place was emptied in four minutes. The "ugly rush "of a panic, however, upsets all calculations founded upon ordinary conditions. CONVICT MUTINY AT PETEBHEAD. The works in connection with the harbour of refuge which is being constructed at Peterhead by convict labour, were the scene of a mutinous outbreak on September 24. Some convicts were being employed in mixing the cement used in making concrete blocks, when they became lazy and careless. _ A warder found fault with one of them on this account, when he at once struck work. Being ordered to resuma his work he threw his shovel at the warder, and the other convicts followed his example, wounding one of the other warden in the foot. They were only cowed by a stalwart warder, an ex-Life Guardsman, drawing his sword and threatening to run through with ib any convict who dared to approach him. Help arriving, the convicts allowed themselves to be chained, and were then marched off to prison. PEOGEESS OP GLASGOW. Glasgow harbour was en fete on October 2, on the occasion of the laying of the last copestone of tho Cessnock dock by Lord Provost Sir James Bell. The dock is one of the finest in the kingdom, and is capable of accommodating vessels 700 ft ia length. The quay wall is 11,212 ft in length. At a dinner of the members of the Clyde. Navigation Trust tho same evening the Lord Provost gave some remarkable figures showing the progress of the trust. In 1771, the first year in which they had a complete record of the revenue of the Clyde, the total revenue was £1044. Last year it rose to the unprecedented amount of £405,000. Onefourfch of the entire revenue of the trust for the past 126 years had besn earned during the past four years, which showed its present Btate of prosperity. The Lord Provost also affirmed that no city in the kingdom with 200,000. inhabitants and upwards was so lightly rated as Glasgow. Those which ran them the closest in the commercial race paid from 8s to 10s per head more than they did. In Edinburgh house rents averaged £2 per head more than in Glasgow. In spite of all this tbe rates in Glasgow had not been increased for 10 yeara, and during the current year they were being reduced by about Id per pound. His Lordship gave it as his opinion that the outstanding feature in the history- of the city was the introduction of water from Loch Katrine. This had saved many thousands of lives, and had raised the whole standard of health in Glasgow. Another important public ceremony took place on October 8, when the foundation stone of. tfie new Glasgow bridge was laid by Sir Jam.es Bell with Masonic, honours. There wwu

flrab of all, a service in St. Enoch's Parish Church nnd a procession from Blythswood aquaif, but wet and stormy weather greatly interfered rath the public enjoyment of tho procpediiic*. The old bridge was erected in 1853 In its demolition it has bean found to bo sever«ly crocked, while its foundations were washed away to a dawterous extent. The new bridge is to coßfe about £80,000, and its construction will occupy about two years from the present time. . The Olyde at Glasgow is now crossed by 10 bridges, 3 subways, and 7 ferries. A third important undertaking in Glasgow, now on the point of completion, is the Glasgow District Subway, whioh is just an underground cable tramway. Its route starts from St. Enoch Square, and proceeds via Buchanan street, Cowcaddens, New City road, and Great Western road to Kelvin Bridge. There it passes under the Kelvin, traverses Hillhead and Patrick, passes under the Clyde to Govan, and b&ck through Plantation and Kiuuing Park to Bridge street ; then once more burrowing under the Clyde, reaches its starting point. The total distance is about 6£ mile?, and the stations are 15 in number. The fare is a penny for any distance. No tickets are issued, the money being paid at a turnstile at tbe entrance. Thus anyone can travel round and round all day if he likes for the sum of Id. Glasgow is now honeycombed by underground lines of communication, but there are malicious people in the Baafe who say that to travel underground is,_ in Glasgow, not any more trying than to^face its insalubrious atmosphere abovG ground. Great difficulty was encountered in driving the tunnels under the river, and one contractor gave up the work in despair. The entire coat of the subway is stated to be well within the company's capital of £1,000,000. Each "train" will consist of two carriages only — one for smokers and one for non-smokers. The electric light is employed throughout. OBITUARY RECORD. The Rev. D. K. Gcithrie, Free Church minister of Liberton (near Edinburgh), and eldest son of the celebrated Scottish preacher, the Rev. Dr Thomas Guthrie, died on September 7, aged 65. He was a useful, qm*».t man, chiefly known an joiut editor wiili his brother (Mr C. J. Guthrie) of their father's "Life." He also took an active interest in ragged school work. On the day of his death his second eon was ordained to the ministry in California. For some years Mr Guthrie's duties had been discharged by a colleague. The Rev. Dr Taylor, senior minister of the First Free Church, Thurso, died on the sth inst., aged 91. Dr Taylor, who was o::e of the most venerated, as well as most venerable, ministers in his denomination, was licensed in 1829, and began his ministry in London. In 1831 he was called to the parish of Thurso, from which he "came out" at the Disruption i in 184-3, since which date he had laboured there in connection with the Free Church. He was moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church some years agd, and was able to preach regularly once every Sunday till a few wfttku before his death. He leaves four daußhter*, and a son who is a well-known Free Church minister in Glasgow. A man of wide influence, though sedulously keeping himself in the background, passed away on September 7, in the person of Mr Frederick Pitman, W.S.. of Edinburgh. To his ability is due the resuscitation of the Consetvative party in Scotland, and its very complete organisation. He was a business man of great influence, being law agent for maay large landowners, as well as for the Union Bank of Scot- ! land and the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company, of both of which great coucerns he was also a director. Personally he was much beloved. - . '! ■ Sir T. D. Brodie, Bart., of Idvies, Forfar- j ! shire, and also an eminent Edinburgh lawyer, died on September 6, aged 63, He was Deputykeeper of the Privy Seal from 1869 to 1874, was Secretary of tho Carron Iron Company, and managed several large estates. He also did yeoman service to the Unionist cause, and his services in that direction were rewarded by a baronetcy in 1892. He was a keen angler, ' sportsman, and naturalist. He is survived by I his second wife, but leaves no issue, so that the baronetoy lapses. Mr David Boyle Hope, sheriff of Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Berwick, was found lying dead on the beaoh at Portobello early on September 10, the cause of death being unknown. The deceased came of an eminent legal family, and was hiimelf called to the bar in 1858. From 1867 to 1890 he was sheriff-substitute of Dumfries, and was then made sheriffprincipal, but was soon after transferred to the post which he beld at bis death. He was a musical enthusiast, and also rendered good service to religiouß &nd philanthropic work of various kinds. The ranks of Scottish lawyers have sustained yet another los« in the death, on October 4, after only two days' illness, of Mr Alexander Blair, sheriff of the Lothians and Peebles. Mr Blair, who was 62 years of age, was twice advocate-depute, then sheriff of Chancery, and of Stirling, Dumbarton, and Clackmannan, ptior to receiving his last appointment, in 1891. He is survived by tbreo sons and three daughters. The Rev. Dr J. G. Cazenove, Sub-dean and Chancellor of St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, died in this city on September 30. He was educated at Brighton, Marlborough, and Oxford, especially distinguishing himself at the university. After experience as a curate in Engand, be was appointed in 1854 Vice-provost and in 1867 Provost of the Episcopal Theological College in Cumbrae. In 1878 he was transferred to the posts named above, in Edinburgh. Dr Cazenove was probably the ablest man in the Scottish Episcopal Church — a scholar, an able writer, and a preacher of very high rank. It will be difficult to fill his place. His wife, a Leeds lady, died in 1890, leaving no issue. Lady Elizabeth Clough Taylor, second daughter of the Duke of Argyle, died at Dulchenna House on September 24, of a chill, after only two days' illness. She married Major Edward H. Clough Taylor in 1880, and leaves two children. She was buried at Roseneath with Highland honours. GENERAL NEWS. As an evidence of the mildness of the climate of Bute, I may note that some fine figs, ripened in th* open air, were gathered in a garden there the other day. The first chair of modern Greek in any British university has been established at St. Andrews, and Mr A. N. Jannaris, a Cretan, has been appointed professor. He formerly held an appointment in the University of Athens, and is the author of an English-Greek dictionary and other educational works. TL«» personal estates of the deceased persons under-mentioned have been sworn at the amounts stated after the names:— Earl of' Moray, £855,348 ; Sir William Mackinnon, of Loup and Balnakill, £560,563; Duke of Hamilton, £312,890; Mr R. L. Watson, distiller and wine merchant, Dundee, £184.788 ; Mr John Hope, W.S., Edinburgh, £142.836; Mr Joseph Taylor, manufacturer, Laugholm, . £117,133 ; Mr Henry H. Begg, distiller, Loohnagar, ' £73,166 ; Countess of Stair, £7167. I The Ladies Isabel and Flora Douglas- ■ Hamilton (sisters of the Duke of Hamilton)

have been admitted as members of the Good Templar body. The ceremony took place in the town hall at Hamilton, which was crowded on the occasion. The Marquis of Bute has consented to accept nomiuation to the offioe of provost of Rothesay, which his father and grandfather held before him. His Lordship has already been mayor of Cardiff, aud the Duke of Norfolk is mayor of Sheffield at the present time. '• A stalk of corn 7ft high and bearing 150 pickles was found lately on the farm of Barr, near Largs. Squirrels are reported to be unusually numerous and to have done much damage in the woods in Berwickshire. Owing to the mildness of last winter much fewer of them died than usual, hence the pUgue. ■ A good example comes from Peebles, The kirk session of the parish church having I resolved to hold a bazaar to raise funds to i build a church hall, the minister, Rev. Mathew j Gardner, preached on the subject, and saying that he had set aside the bazaar on Ms own ■ authority, called upon the congregation to sub- - scribe £1000 on the following Sunday. They responded loyally, the collection amounting to £1330. i An old woman in Bridgeton, Glasgow, drowned herself in the Clyde rather than go to the poorhouse. At the annual sale of black-faced rams at Perth, under the auspices of the Perth Ram Society, one ram brought £135, and another • £90. Arrangements are in progress for the amalgamation of two large mining concerns, the Fife and Cowdenbeath Coal Companies, whose united output is nearly 600 tons per day. It is believed the amalgamation will benefit the miners as well »s the shareholders. By 22 votes to 16 th© Edinburgh Town Council has resolved to erect ifca town hall on the square block bounded by Castle Terrace, and Spittal, Grindley, and Cornwall streets. This will necessitate the ousting of some 500 persons, who protested in vain, and the pulling down of a number of houses, for the moefe parfa in excellent condition. The North British Railway Company was uawilling to part with the oanal basin at Port Hopetoun on any terms, and the council was unwilling to face the cost, delay, and risk of obtaining compulsory powers from Parliament to enable them to force the company to sell the sites to them.