The Abercorn Hamiltons.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 35

The Abercorn Hamiltons.

TO THE EDITOH.

Sis, — In your issue of the sth inst. there is an article on "The Abercorn Harniltons," in which reference is made to Duddingston House, the residence in Scotland of the Duke or Abercoru, as being in the parish, of that name. Now, such is not the case. There sire two Dnddmgstons, one situated two or three miles east of Edinburgh in the parish of Duddingston, near to a small lake, ■which. is the great skating resort of the citizens, ans is the Scottish seat of the Duke of Abercorn. The other Duddingston is in the parish of Abercorn, but it belongs to the Earl of Hopetoun, and is situated 12 miles west of Edinburgh. It was bought some 60 or 70 years ago by the then Earl of Hopetoun from a Major Hamilton, who no doubt was a branch of the Abercorn family. I can't explain howit comes that the Duke of Abercorn does not now own any of the parish from which he takes his title, but I believe that at one time Major 11-imilton did own a considerable portion of it. You can take these facts as beyond all question, as my father was the first tenant of the farm of Duddingston after it was bought by* Hopetoun from Major Hamilton, and I was tlie first child born in Duddingston after thst change. I can distinctly remember two old ladies of the Hamilton family coming froiii Edinbttrgh once a year with a great yellow carriage and two big horses with a» postilion (the driver riding on. one of tha horses and leading the other) to have their annual look round their old home. — I am, etc.. Duddingston.

Cheviot, April 10

The resources of Central Otago as a fruitgiowing area arc gradually becoming bettet known, but as yet very many people do not realise that in the llolyneux Valley peaches, ODricot 5 -. and poai'3 arc produced which will stand comparison v. ith auy grown in tho famous fruit countnes of the world. The be*t sample- rarely e-\er reach Dunedin for tho rea-on that, owing- to the difficulty of transport, ihe fruit ha=; to be picked in an unripe 6<atc. As a =ample of what can be piodutcd. three =i>londid poaches, each weighing c'bout ha 1 ! a pound, were bottled and forn aided to' +his office by Mr H. Boy. le, of Cioimvell. The peaches were grown by llr Samuel St^pli^n* at- Ciomwell, and arc now on r\h.bition 111 Me-ssrs Howdsn and jloncriofl's vsinJow in Princ-os = tivct. Tho Xorth Otago Time- -rate* that several Nf ith Otajjo mr-n who \i^irsd the Greenfield K-t.ite- Lw week a good deal disappointed ami burpusod at the extent to which the Californian ihi-il^ lias been allowed 10 flourish. The Premier ha^ announeftl, 111 connection with the appointment of teachers, that oil her the whole re .pou«!bilify should be in tho hands of Education Boaul^ or e'^-e more attention «hould be given to representations made by committees than at present. If any dispute arose between a board" and a committo-e respecting ayipomtmeu;^. thoio should be some kind of hibunal set up to decide- between the board and the committee.