SCOTLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2391, 28 December 1899, Page 30

SCOTLAND.

(Feou Our Own- CoRUKsroxDEXT. ) EDINBURGH, September 14. OBITUARY RECORD.

Dr John Duncan, who was a leading man among the eminent surgeons of Edinburgh, died somewhat suddenly on August 24 at Kinloch, in the Isle of Skye, where he had a shooting. He had just completed his 60th year. Dr Duncan was a strong man, both mentally and physically, and made his mark in his j^rofession. For many years he w:w surgeon in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and he also filled the presidential chair at the Royal College of Surgeons. At the meeting of the British Medical Association at Edinburgh in July. 1898, he was president of the surgery section. His death at a too early age has called forth many ex-pic-ssions of regret, especially from members of his own profession.

The Rev. Dr James Bonnar. for 58 years minister of the United Presbyterian Church, Ea«t Kilbride, has died at the age of 82. He was one of the oldest ministers in his denomination, and was held in much respect. He was the author of a, work on prophecy, entitled " The Great Interregnum." Since the beginning of 1898 he had hail the assistance of a colleague.

Two well-known schoolmasters have just ended long and useful careers. The one is Mr John Gunn, of Reay, the oldest teacher in Caithness. Ha retired only a few months ago, after serving his generation for 57 years. The . other is Mr John Liddle, formerly head master of the Burgh Academy, Forfar, ond afterwards of St. John's School, Glasgow, and then of St. James's School, Great Hamilton street, in the same city. He celebrated his jubilee last March, and retired in June, much beloved by his many pupils.

Quartermaster and Hon. Lieutenant Charles Griffiths, of the Ist Royal Scots, shot himself with a rifle at Muryhill Barracks, Glasgow. He had been suffering fo- some time from neuralgic pains and depression of spirits He was 43 years of age, and had seen active service in South Africa. He leaves a wife and six children, and his eldest daughter was chen on her honeymoon, having been married only a few daj r s before to a colour-sergeant in the same regiment.

Mr James Graham, LL.D., a leading Glasgow lawyer, has died at Largs, aged 75. H2 was Dean, of the Faculty of Procurators for five years.

GENERAL NEWS.

During a severe thunderstorm at Crieff, a young woman was standing at the door of a shop in ilie High street, when a flash of lightning struck a metallic belt whicli she was wearing, shattering it to pieces, but leaving the wearer unhurt. For several years the German military authorities have been experimenting with the training of Scottish collies for the finding; of men wounded in battle. At the ambulance manoeuvres of the Bth German Army Coips at Coblenz the other day, four of these dogs proved their value for this purpose. In a few minutes they tracked and discovered 20 men who were so hidden that men could not have found them in daylight, much less at night. Several German regiments now keep small trained xiacks of these sagacious animals. The personal estate of Mr Alexander C. CVnnal, chaplain in the Royal Artillery, who resided at 19 Park Circus, Glasgow, has been lecorded as amoWnling to £58,235; ond that of Miss Isobel Henderson, 6 Athole Gardens, Glasgow, at £29,053. - Widespread regret has been caused by the sudden illness of. the Marquis of Bute, who was struck down -by a shock of paralysis on the right side. For a time his condition wa.s serious","but lie now seems to be recovering. A very quiet and unobtrusive men. til-} Marquis' is nevertheless very popular in Scotland.

The committee which is looking after the election of the statue of Mr Gladstone in Glasgow has entrusted the work to Mr Hamo Thorneycroft, R.A. The amount of money in hand is £3500. A 'sea Avail is>. about to be constructed along the entire -length of the South Beach at Troon, at a cost of £7450. After a. 'proloviged 'debate, the Glasgow Town Council rejected by 48 votes to 12 a pioposul to open the Peoples Palace on Glasgow Green on Sundays-. By a fire at the back of King street, Stirling, damage to the r.motmt of some thousands of pounds uas done to the warehouse of Mr Valentine, ironmonger, the workshop of Mes.-rs J. and L. Hunter, cabinetmaker?, and Mr Gilfillan's wool btorc. The loss is only partly covered by insurance. This is the fourth fire whicli has occurred in ihi.s district within a fortnight.

The clean∫ of Glasgow cost £73.119 lasr year. The quantity of material dealt with 'was 423,465 tons.'

The well-known estate of Corstairs. Lanaikshire, was put up for sale the other day in Edinburgh in three lots, at the upset price of £140,000. It did not find a- purchaser, but sinee 'then the principal lot, including the mansion house and 3200 acres of land, has been sold privately to Sir James King, Bart., an e.^-Lord Provost of Glasgow, for 0 little uncler £100,000. It is jt-did that the' other two lots will now be,, retained by their, owner, Mr Joseph Monteith. They include the fine 1 evidence of Cianloy. Sir James King already owns Both well Castle and grounds.

The Clober b!eachwork«. Milngavie, have been the scene of :i fire, by which damage was done to the extent of £8000. They are th" oldest bkachworkh in Scotland, and the machinery, pond, and watercourse were conpiructed 'under >he supervision of James Watt, of stcam-engine'renown.

Civilisation is. at .length reaching St. Ki'da. The Government are about to erect a small pier there for the use of boats.

The foundation of the new municipal buildings at Dumbarton ih to be laid with due ceremony on the 30th inst.

Sir John Stirling -Maxwell, when lcturnirtg from a shootinj; expedition some distance from Foit William, aw.^ mounting a Uoise, when it swexved, thiowiixs; him

heavily, and breaking a bone near the right ankle.

A good deal of talk has been caused iv thj West oi "Scotland by Mr Stewart Coats, son of Mr James Coats, of Auchendraiie, and grandson of Sir Peter Coats, having joined the Church of Rome. Mr Coats is at present in Scotland, but he has resided in the United States during most of his life.

The inextinguishable Rev. Jacob Primmer, of Townhill, Dumferline, gave an open-air address last week for two hours in pouring rain on " Ritualism in the Established Church." One scarcely knows "whether to admire most the zeal of the preacher or the endurance of his hearers.