SCOTLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 21

SCOTLAND.

(Fhom Oor Own Correspondent.) Edinburgh, October 21. THE CAMPEHDOWN CENTENARY,

The 11th October was the 100 th anniversary of the great naval battle of Camperdown, which contributed in no small degree to the naval supremacy of Britain, and henoe is an event of the first mctguitude in the history of the British Empire. Admiral Vkcount Duncan, the heo of the fight, being a native of Dundee, the municipal authorities of the town resolved to celebrate the centenary of the battle in a fitting manner, and in this they were heartily supported by the citizens. The previous day being a Sunday, the Earl of Caraperdown (the greatgrandson of the gallant Duncan) visited the grave of the latter in the quiet churchyard of Lundie, and placed upon it a beautiful wreath of flowers, while the tenantry hung other wreaths on the railings enclosing the tomb. At the service which followed in the church the Rev. Dr Burr, minister of the parish, paid a tribute to Duncan's memory, dwelling upon his deeply religious character, and mentioned that he once held office as an elder in that church.

On the 11th Dundee was decorated with flags, and the proceedings began .with the admission of the E-irl cf Cumperdown as a member of the Ancient Incorporation of Bonnetmakers, to which his illustrious ancestor had also belonged. The ceremony of investiture consisted in piecing on his Lordship's head a large Tarn o' Shanter, emblematic of the trade. The Earl, accompanied by bis sister, Lady Abercomby, and eeveral naval officers of high rank, descendants of captains who foaght under Duncan at Camperdown, then proceeded to tbe Great Gallery of the Albert Institute, where ho was received by the Lord Provost, magistrates, and a great gathering of the leading cit'z?ns. The Town Clerk (Sir Thomas Thornton) then Tead an address to Lord Camperdown, setting forth the sentiments of the municipal authorities on the occasion. Lord Ptovost M'Grady added a few sentences in which he mentioned that five Provosts of Dundee had belonged to Duncan's family, his father being Provost in the troublesome year of 1745. Duncan himself was in the strictest sense what was described in some old admissions to tbe freedom of the city as "a toon's bairn." Lord Camperdown replied in fitting term?, and the audience having given vent to its enthusiasm in repeated cheers, they dispersed. In the afternoon Lord Camperdown and the naval officers were entertained at luncheon in the Town Hall. Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax, KCB., in responding for the Navy, drew an interesting comparison between the British men-of-war ia 1797 and those in service in 1897. A ship like the Royal Sovereign, on which be flew his flag, cost as much, he said, as 10 firsl-class ships of war 100 years *go. The third-class cost nearly as much now as a 100-guu ship did in 1797 ; while a first-class torpedo boat cost little less than a 50-gun frigate did in Duncan's time. In guna tbe progress had also been marvellous. The 110-ton gans now on board ships, with a charge of 9601U of powder could send a projectile weighing 8001b through 32iu of armour at a range of 1000 yards. A wire gun built at Woolwich even surpassed vtbis, piercing 34in of armour at the same range with a projectile of 860ib. Admiral Fairfax also spoke warmly of the men, saying he did not suppose we could have a finer body of- men than the seamen of the present tirae. The day's proceedings were wound up with a display of fireworks in the Baxter Park after the darkness fell. LORD WOLSELEY AT GLASGOW.

The Commander-in-chief visited Glasgow on September 23, in order to receive the freedom of city? It rained as it only (and often) does in Glasgow, so that the crowds who lined the streets failed to see his Lordship, who was shut up in a closed carriage ; but the City Hall, where the ceremony tcok place, waa thronged with aa enthusiastic assemblage of nearly 4000 persons. In acknowledging the honour conferred upon him, Lord Wolseley paid a warm tribute to Scottish military bravery, after which he went on to urge the necessity for " a highly trained and efficient army."- He said : 11 It was the worst sort of axrant folly to declare that for our protection a navy only was required." He pointed out how war was continually being forced upon us by the unprovoked attacks of savage peoples in different parts of the world ; and, yet, while the duties and responsibilities of our arir.y had largely increased, only one battalion bad been added to the army for 25 years, and that was only done this year. The- consequence was that our army was overstrained and out of gear, and was no longer able to meet effectively tbe demands now made upon it for a big or tetious war. It waa ia the hope of directing

the attention- of that great city and of the country generally to tha pressing want of a larger army that he had ventured to speak thus openly upon it. Lord Wolselay's words have excited a good deal of attention, and more is certain to be said upon the subject.

DUTIES ON SUGAR,

It is becoming evident that this will become before long a burning question in Scotland, especially in Greenock, where sugar-refioing is still a very important industry, and in Glasgow. West Indians have been writing to the papers declaring that the sugar industry in the British West Indies, owing to the foreign bounty system, is in danger of extinction, and the islands themselves of bankruptcy. So strong is the local feeling, that the severance of the islands from British rule, and their incorporation with tbe United States, is openly spoken of. The secretary of the Greenock Chamber of Commerce has addressed an offioial letter to other public bodies ia the towu, in which he urges them to move the Government to impose countervailing duties on sugar, as the only way of warding off the threatened catastrophe. He cays that it is precisely on the ground that Freetrade is the . settled policy of the United Kingdom that the directors of the Chamber, of Commerce urge the imposition of these duties, as they contend that the sugar industry would thereby be placed oa a Freetrade basis. The writer states that "since 1888 the sugar refined by British refiners has fallen from 917,000 to 712.000 tons in 1896, while the foreign-refined sucftr imported into this country has risen from 345,000 tons "to 730,000 tons," and he urges that this state of thing! "surely calls for serious consideration and instant action."

GROWTH AND PROGRESS OF GLASGOW.

The great western city seems to be full of vitality, and is going ahead in a style wlrcb shows that its progress is of a healthy and enduring kind. According to the annual statement, just published, of the Lord D<?an of Guild, during the municipal year there were 21i miles of new streets added to the city. The tofal value of the buildings erected during the ye*r was £1,551,000, being an increase of £560,000 over the preceding year. The chief progress was in two-roomed houses ; but the total value of the warehouses was £486,690, the highest figure yet reached in a single year. The city medical officer estimates the population of Glasgow on the Ist June, 1897. at 715,579. This is an increase for the year of 12,229, or 1 8 per cent. This rate of increase exceeds the mean rate for the.years 1881 91.

Concurrently with this growth of the city, important measures, are about to be taken for the purification of the Clyde — a most necessary step. It is customary to blame Glasgow for the unsavoury condition of its river, bub this is not ettirely fair, as many other towns pour their drainage into the Clyde or its tributary streams. The Lanarkshire County Council is accordingly taking action with a view to the purification of the sewage of these other towns. Similar step 3 taken in Glasgow itself have proved very successful, so that it is hoped that the condition of the river will be much improved when the various schemes now under consideration are put into operation. I mentioned in my last the laying, by the Duke and Duchess of York, of the memorial stona of the uew Corporation Galleries in Kelvingrove Park, the funds for the new building -having been mainly derived from the surplus on the Glasgow International Exhibition of -1888. The success of that exhibition has caused a proposition for the holding 'of a similar one in 1901 to be taken up heartily, and the guarantee fund now amouot9 to £200,000.

The Glasgow Corporation now provides musical recitals for the people on Saturday afternoons in the City, Grand National, and St. Andrew's Halls, the prices for admission ranging from a penny to sixpence. In opening the proceedings at the last-named hall, Lord Provost Richmond said that from 8000 to 10,000 persons were present ia the three halls, and he knew of no place in the kingdom where they could get so much good music at so low a rate.

A trial is about to be given in several of the principal streets of Glasgow to a new kind of American paving called slcatraz. It is a kind asphalt, composed principally of a quartz-sand found en the coast of California, fibre, and bitumen. It is said to wear well, and to withstand extremes of heat and cold. The paving is to be upheld by the American company for five years free of cost to the corporation. The experiment will be watched with great interest in this country, where the best pavement for streets which have to bear a heavy traffic is a question of unc?a«ing and urgent importance to the municipal authorities of all the principal cities. In Glasgow the paving has been laid principally by negroes brought over from America, whose ways of working have afforded never-ceasing interest to crowds of onlookers.

MOTOR. CARS

These vehicles are still rare in Scotland, though they are beginning to put in an appearrnce. A Coventry gentleman travelled the other day from John o'.Groats to Edinburgh, a distance of 330 miles, in 34 hours in a motor car. A couple of gentlemen rode in another motor car from Clifton P*rk, near Horebattle, Roxburghshire, to Edinburgh in shr 38min, of which 50 minates were devoted to luncheon. The distance is 58 mile?, and the quantity of petroleum consumed was less than four gallons. At Aberdeen an actress, who was fulfilling an engagement there, went about the city in a motor car. The new vehicle feems to have withstood well the tests afforded by the hilly Scottish roads.

A TOO-TRUE DREAM.

Persons interested in psychological phenomena have had another singular occurrence brought before them for their consideration. A lad named Wilson, employed on Blairmore farm, near Dunoon, was riding from the harvest field to the steading, when his horse took fright on hearing a gun fired at a rabbit. The animal bolted, throwing Wilson, whose leg caught in a chain which he was using as a stirrup, so that he was dragged along the road and sustained very serious injuries. He was conveyed with all possible expedition to the Western Infirmary, G'asgow, but died soon after his admission there. A letter was found in his pocket, received by him on the previous day from his father 1 , in which the writer stated that he had dreamed of seeing his son either killed or seriously hurt by a horse. Hn accordingly cautioned him to be very careful, and if anything happened to him to write and tell his father at once. How is such a coincidence to be accounted for ?

STARTLING ACCIDENT AT PETERHEAD.

The harbour of refuge works at Peterhead were the scene of an alarming accident^ on September 18. A huge block of concrete, weighing 50 tons, was being lowered at the end of the breakwater into, water 60ft dqep, when the brake of the crane failed to acb, and the mass fell to the bottom with a tremendous splash. Two divers were at work below, and the block fell between them, close to their feet. In its fall the block smashed Ihe large wheel, and the workmen fled to escape tbe fragments. The air pumps being thus deserted, the diver* who had so marvellously escaped Ihe failing mass of concrete would hare been suffocated for want of air

had not the foreman and another workman rushed to the pumps and set them going again. Thus all was well that ended well.

BURNSIANA.

During the 12 months ending on September 30 tha number -of persons who visited Burns's cottage, near Ayr, was 34,059, which is 4000 below the previous year's total. Ths sigoatnres in the books include those of visitors from India, China, South Africa, Jamaica, America, &a. The adjacent monument was visited by 40,000 persons during the year.

At a meeting of the Glasgow Mauchline Society it was stated that the memorial fund now amount* 1 to £3600. The cottage 3 are approaching completion, but the tower will take some time yet to finish. Tenants for the homes were selected from KUmarnock, Lanark, Irvine, Dumfries, and Mauchline.

BOOM IN WALROS LEATHER.

Among the varied effects of the cycle boom is the unexpected oue of causing an enormous increase in the value of the hide of the walrus, which, when properly dressed, is found to be exceptionally suitable for burnishing. As a consequence it has risen in price from 2d per 1b to seven times that figure, and even Is 51 has been given for it. A wait us of average sizs is now worth £10, and the Dundee whalers have not been slow to seize the chanoe of recouping themselves in some degree for the falling-off in the whale and seal fishing. One of them lately arrived in port with 600 walruses on board. It ia to be feared that at this rate the ungainly creatures will soon become scarce.

OUTRAGE AT A CHURCH MEETIHO.

An extraordinary occurrence is reported from Sfcornoway. Tbe local Frea Church P*e*bytery assembled in the Drill Hall in that town to moderate in a call to a minister from Postree, and about 250 persons belonging to the calling congregation were also present. The moderator, Rev. Mr Macfarlane, was drawing near the clote of his sermon, when the hall was pervaded by fumes of a most pungent kind, which set everybody coughing, and some persons left the building. It was found that the fumes proceeded from some sulphur and cayenne pepper some evil-disposed person had. lighted near the entrance. The sulphur was extinguished and the doova were thrown open for a time to air the hall, after which tbe business of the evening was resumed. Much indignation was expressed at the outrage, which is the more surprising in view of the Highland feeling foe ecclesiastical decorum.

OBITUARY RECOBD

Sir J. W. P. Canipbell-Orde, Bart., of North Uisb and Kilmory, died at the latter place on October 12, aged 69. For 20 years he had taken a prominent and useful part in the county affairs of Argyleshire, where he will be much mifsed.

A noteworthy Ediubureh citizen has passed away in.the person of the Rev. Dr Montgomery, Dean of Sfc. Mary's Cathedral, who died on September 21, aged 84. He belonged to a younger branch of the family of which the Earl of Eglinton is the head, and began life as an advocate, but on account of d«atness he relinquished the bar and entered the cburob. He succeeded Dean Ramsay on the death of the latter. Oa St. Mary's Cathedral being built ho presented it with a one peal of bells. In 1860 he married a sister of the late Lord Elphiustone. Dean Montgomery was a most courteous and genial man, a good preacher, and was held in universal esteem. The sab-deaa of the cathedra^ Canon Wilson, has been appointed his successor.

Mr James Nicholson, tailor, a Scottish minor poet of wide repute, has died at GovaD, at tbe age of 75. He was a native of Lanarkshire, and an ardent advocate of total abstinence. Besidfs bin poems, he published a book on botauy and another on astronomy. Some ye%rs ago he received, a sum of £150 from the literary fund in acknowledgment of bis merit?.

Mr Erskine, of Linlathen, a highly-esteemed Forfarshire gentleman, died on September 30 after a prolonged illness. His own name was Patterson, but on succeeding his uncle, Mr Erskine, of Linlathen, in 1870, he took the name of Erskine. Ha was at one time an officer in the BUcfe Watcb, and afterwards took a keen interest in voluutesring, and was for a t'rao colonel of the Forfar "Artillery Volunteers. He ia succeeded by his sod, who is acting as secretary to the Earl of Aberdeen, Governor-general of Canada.

The Rev. Peber Cameron Black, for many years parish minister of Old Monkland, died on September 30, aged 65. His parish is one of the largest in Scoblaud, and Mr Black sncceeded in erecting in it no leis than sis quodd sacra churches to meet the needs of its large and growing population. During the last four years an affection of the heart had compelled him to retire from ministerial work.

The death is alao a'nnoucced of the Rev Gavin Crawford, parish minister of FAuldhouse. 110 was bathing at Innellan, and on coming out of the water was seized with an apoplectic fit;. He wa« taken to his lodgings, but died the same afternoon. Mr Crawford waß 47 years of age, and had occupied his charge at Fauldhouae with much acceptance for IS years. •

Mrs Ferrier Hamilton, of Cairnhill, a muchreßpected Ayrshire lady, has died of grief, caused by the burning to death of her younger son at Cnolg&rdie, Wettcm Australia, some months ago.

(MINERAL NEWS

A sum of £1100 has been raised for the relief of the relatives of the men drowned in the disaster off Fair Isle, Shetland, recorded in my last, and it is stated that <h ! s is sufficient. Her Majesty the Queen sent a donation of £20.

At the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Norbh British Railway Company the chairman, the Marquis of Tweeddale, stated that the shareholders in that concern now exceed 25,000 in number.

A gentleman, who desires to remiiu anonymous, has presentsd the University of Aberdeen with £8000, as the endowment of a fellowship in cl&ssics and mental philosophy, to be called the Croom-Robertson Fellowship.

The Jubilee fund for the rebuilding of Gl»sgow Royal Infirmary ia getting on but slowly. Messrs Templeton and Co , Greenhead, have just sent in a second donation of £1000, but a large amount is still required. Mr J*meß Coats jun., of Ferguslie, Paisley, has sent a donation of £1000 to the local lifeboat fund, besides doubling his annual subucription. He has done so to mark his disapproval of attacks lately made upon its management, and to help to make up any loises caused by them to the fand.

A committee of the Edinburgh Border Counties' Association is collecting funds to erect a memorial to James Hogg, " the Ettrick Shepherd," at Efctrick Hall. The housa in which ha was born in 1770 no longer exists, but it is propose 1 to erecb an obelisk, suitably inscribed, upon the site. Bo'ness is suffering from combined epidemics of scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and measles. Insufficient water supply is blamed as the chief cause.

Trawlers landed at Aberdeen in one day lately over 200 young sharks caught by them about 30 miles from the coast. The sharks have been greatly hindering the codling and haddock fishing.

The hxl?-ye«rly dividend of ths Highland Railway Company upon its ordinary stock is

announced to be at the rate of only 2 Mg cant. A great blast fired the other day at the well* known granite quarries at Craignair, Dalbeattie, dislodged some immense blocks of stone. The largest measured 26ft bj 18ft by 18ft, and wa» estimated to weigh 650 tons. The railway station at Berwick ii shortly to be reconstructed, at a cost of £50,000. The centenary of the birth of the poeb Motherwell was celebrated at Paiiley on October 13 hy a public diDner, at which the provoit presided. Mr Francis Miller, Annan, a relative of the poet, proposed tha toast", of his memory. "A prise offered for a commemorative ode on the ocoasion was won by Mr Ken 1 , a Paisley booksaller, who read his poem amid much applause. Mr C. H. Krugtr, M.8., CM., a nephew ot the President of the Transvaal Republio, has been appointed resident surgeon in one of the wards of Edinburgh Royal luficmary. An extension, measuring 8250 ft by 50ft, in about to be made to Rbthcaay piec, at a cost oE £14,000, and the front of the town is also to ba lit by electricity.. ' • -

Some alarm has been created by the discovery that the Canadian water weed (Elodia Canadensis) is making rapid progress in Loch' leven, so that fishing and boating are impossible in some places. Experts state", ho waver, that in a few years it will die down of its own accord. The seeds are balieved to' h»ve found their way to the'lochin timber imported from Canada. .- - ' A new diving dresi for carrying on divibg " operations at depths never before attempted was successfully tested in 'Loch Lone last week, in the presence of a party of expect*! A diver went down to the bottom (in 186 ft of water), remained there 40 minutes without any discomf orb, and brought up a block which had been lowered for the purpose. The invention is a patent, which is being worked by the BuchananGordon Diving Dress Company. The personal estate of the late Mr James. Gordon Oswald, of Scotstoun, has been proved at £329,284 ; that of Mr W. A. Robertson, wine ' and spirit brokor, Glasgow,, at £188,200.; that of Mr Charles Kinlocb', of St. Martin's Abbey, Perth, at £122,700; and that of Mr Georg« Elder, Koock C*Btlo, at £110,093.