THE HOME LAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3828, 26 July 1927, Page 35

THE HOME LAND

(From Our Special Correspondent.) SCOTLAND. June 13.

In the Outer House of the Court of Session Lord Fleming heard evidence and granted the prayer of a petition by James Shaw. 17 Beaver road. Blenheim, New Zealand, to presume the death of John (or lan) Shaw, brother of the petitioner, and son of the late John Shaw, solicitor, Dingwall, and Procurator-Fiscal of the Counties of Boss and Cromarty, who died in January, 1892. By his trust disposition and settlement he directed that on the death of Mrs Shaw, who was his second wife, the whole of his means and estate should be divided between his two sons and a niece. Mrs Shaw died in November, 1926. In the course of the evidence it was stated that lan, just before his father’s second marriage, ran away from but was brought back from Inverness Station. He enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders in 1889 at the age of 17, and reappeared in Dingwall and district some years later. His Lordship held that the last date on which lan Shaw was known to be alive was December 31. 1910, and that he must be presumed to have died seven years later—on December 31, 1917.

„ * *. ror a week at least rejoicings have been going on in connection with the coming of age of the Countess of Seafield, which reflect the love which the tenantry of Scotland still cherish for the aristocracy who have shown themselves worthy of their positions as owners of the soil. The other afternoon Lady Seafield, who was accompanied by her mother, Nina Countess of Seafield, at Easter Elchies, near Craigellachie. was presented with a platinum wristlet watch set with diamonds and onyx. The gift was of her own choosing, and harmonises with a bracelet which she received from the Strathspey tenantry. The young Countess made a charming little speech in reply, which. I feel certain, will be read with interest by ” exiles ” in New Zealand. Her Ladyship said: “At times during this week I have been a Grant, at other times an Ogilvie. Now I must be both at once. On my one hand is Craigellachie, and one speaks with caution beside the Kock of I’ire; but on my other hand lie Rothes and the Laich o’ Moray up to I’irnie and the fair city of Elgin. Grant and Findlater country bound together now for generations. I have read that ladies of our House complained of too pressing attentions in the district. I have never needed, nor shall need, I am sure, to be rescued except from your overwhelming kindness. I thank you from my heart for these tokens of your goodwill and affection, which I shall never forget.”

1 he burghs of Clydebank and Renfrew held high holiday when 11.R.H. Princess Mary, \ iseountess Lascelles, performed

the christening ceremony at the launch of the Australian cruiser Canberra from the yard of Messrs John Brown and Co.. Ltd. Her [loyal Highness paid formal visits to both burghs. and received official addresses of welcome. Much public interest was manifested in the visit of the King's daughter to Clydeside, ami everywhere slie was received with demonstrations ot loyal affection by immense crowds of people. The Princess passed down to the specially-constructed platform accompanied by Lord Aberconway, chairman of the builders’ firm, and other directors. between rows of cheering people, who accorded her a right Royal welcome. The religious service usual at the launching of ships for his Majesty's Navy was conducted by the Rev. W. S. Brownlie. St. James's Parish, Clydebank. At 1 o’clock the .signa] “All clear! ” appeared at the bow of the cruiser. Princess Mary then deftly cut the ribbon which operated the launching apparatus and also released the bottle of Australian wine which swung high up some distance from the port bow. The bottle fell crash against the bow, the great hull began to move at the same moment, and to the strains of " Rule. Britannia ” from the band, 11.M.A.5. Canberra moved steadily down the ways and into the waters of the Clyde. At the luncheon which followed Lord Aberconway pro; osed ” Success to the Canberra and the Commonwealth of Australia.” The sympathy and support of the Dominions was, his Lordship declared, the greatest asset which the country possessed, and everything which linked the dominions with the Homeland was a source of pride to everyone who cared for the welfare of the Emnire. Sir Joseph Cook expressed the gratitude of the Commonwealth to her Royal Highness for having come to Clydebank to launch the new vessel. It was true, he continued, that the limit of size of the new vessel was determined by the Washington Convention, but they were building right up to the limit, even to a ton. The Australian ships were being built so that, if and when the time came, they could lit into the Imperial Navy like a section into an expanding bookcase.

The Very Rev. Dr John Smith, minister of Partick. Glasgow, died with startling .suddenness on June 9. As has been fittingly said, Dr Smith has crowned his busy life by dying in harness. He was attending a meeting in West George street, Glasgow, as ,a governor of Kelvinside Academy, and appeared to be in his usual good health as he stood conversing with his fellow members prior to the opening rd the proceedings. Suddenly he fell to the floor. A doctor arrived within a few minutes, but Dr Smith was dead. He has left behind him a great record of work both in the Church and in the country. As an indication of his success as a minister of the gospel it may be stated that when he came to Partick from the North Church, Stirling, in 1886. he found a membership of 250. and that it soon rose to 2000, necessitating the enlargement of the church. Throughout the Church, in his own Presbytery as well as in the wider sphere of the General Assembly, Dr Smith won for himself a high place. He was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1922. and throughout the sittings, as well as in the performance during the year of the many duties up and down the country, he bore himself with dignity and distinction. In the realm of education he was an outstanding national figure. For many years he was chairman of the old Govan School Board, and latterly he was vice-chairman of the Glasgow Education Authority. Besides, he was president for some time of the School Boards' Association. In the death of Dr John Smith Scotland has lost a notable ecclesiastic and a great leader in the realm of education. No one who looked upon his vigorous personality at the recent meeting of the General Assembly imagined that his end was so near.

The Very Rev. Dr George H. Morrison, ex-Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Free Church, has returned to his pastoral duties as minister of Wellington United Free Church, Glasgow. At his own request, no formal “ welcome home ” meeting was held, but at an ordinary meeting of Session occasion was taken to refer to the splendid work he had done for the Church as a whole during the 12 months he had been away from his own pulpit. The Session clerk. Mr Stark Brown, said they knew what Dr Morrison could do, and they were not surprised that he had come through it, as everybody acknowledged, with great distinction. It was a great satisfaction to them to know that his powers of endurance had enabled him to fulfil not only all the arduous duties that he had to undertake at home, but also the more arduous work of visiting the mission stations in South Africa, a visit which was much appreciated anil had put new life into these outposts of the Church. The congregation, too, had stood the test. Much credit for this was due to the forethought of Dr Morrison in providing for the pulpit during his absence preachers of undoubted eminence. In the course of n brief reply. Dr Morrison expressed his pride in the congregation and his gratitude to the ministers who had acted for him in his absence. The warm welcome he had received was a great encouragement to him to carry on for some years to come. Wellington Church is one of the most important in the denomination.

The number of accidents which are taking place daily on our highways is appalling. The bulk of them are associated with the use of mechanically driven vehicles. Five deaths were reported in one clay recently. The most serious befel a Glasgow party, the members of a Burns Club, who were being conveyed in a char-a-banc to Avr f Near Fenwick the carskidded. crashed into an. embankment, and overturned. Eight of the party were injured, aud one of them died while being conveyed to Kilmarnock Infirmary. A servant girl, while riding a bicycle, collided with the parapet of a bridge at Ballindalloch. and was thrown on to the rocks 40 feet, below.- sustaining injuries from which she died. A schoolboy was killed in Edinburgh the same day, and a motor cyclist in the south. A youth belonging to Bellshill was knocked down and

kidc-d by a car alleged to have 1,..< ;1 stolen. The driver wis captured after an exciting chase. On Saturdav. June 1) a Jurnily from Newaiihill was proceeding by motor car t,i the coas!. for kolidavs. ami when at Tolleross. Glasgow. «j iC vehicle in '.diii-n t.'ie.v were seated came into violent contact with a motor bus. William Buehamin. mine manager. New:-.i thi|], and ms wife, were serioush- injered. ami their son eight years of age. ami Lily Love, a del.,, were killed. Never a day passes without an accident of some kind reported. ’’ " * * V hen a -ep.wd of lonvicts wer e erma'red in boimg operations a: Stlrimghfli Qimi rles near J. eterhead, an exciting rescue from ai-ownmg took place. One of the squad fell into a disused quarry full cf water, and oCit ueep. Unable to swim, the man was at once seen to he in difficulties. A fellow-ccnvic-t, without divesting himself of his clothing, dived into the quarry from a height of 10ft, seized hold of him,'and kept his head above the water. The rescuer, however, was much emunihercd by his heavy boots and clothing, and another convict dived into the quarry to the aid of the two struggling in the wafer. A third eonvict, getting on to a ledge of rock, supported by other members of the squad, leaned forward and grasped one of th f; men in the water, and the three were pulled to saiely. The conduct of the rescuers will probably be reported to the proper quarter with a view to their sentences being shortened.

Four professors of the I niversity of Glasgow have sent in their resignations, all of which have been accepted—name!v, the Rev. Professor H. M. B. Reid, D.D.", who is retiring from the chair of Divinity, which he has occupied for 23 years; Professor \V. S. M‘Kechnie, D.Phil., who is fessor George A. Gibson, LL.D., who is rerctiring from the chair of Conveyancing, which he has occupied for 11 years; Protiring from the chair of Mathematics, which he has held for ]8 years, and Professor H. J. W. Hetherington, who has retired from the chair of Moral Philosophy consequent upon his appointment as principal of the University of Manchester. Professor Archibald A. Bowman, who occupies the chair of Logie, is to succeed Professor Hetherington.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has celebrated its bi-centcnary, having been incorporated by Royal Charter, dated May 31, 1727. The officials and staff marked the occasion by a dinner in the North British Station Hotel. Edinburgh. The Duke of Buccleuc'n, K.T., the governor of the bank, presided over a company numbering 300.

In response to an appeal by the Glasgow Education Authority, many' notable artists have given gifts of pictures in aid of tho Necessitous Children’s Holiday Camp Fund. Her Majesty Queen Mary has contributed a picture from her private collection. The Authority has agreed by a large majority to form an art union for the distribution of the pictures ns prizes in connection with the Educational Exhibition to be held in the Kelvin Hall in May next year. It is hoped that, a substantial sum will be raised in this way.

'There are in progress developments which will make the Zoological Park at Corstorphine, Edinburgh, the largest in Europe. A piece of new ground is being taken in, and the accommodation for animals will be greatly increased. It is hoped that while his Majesty the King is in residence at Holyrood in July, he may be able to open the new aquarium constructed and stocked by the society. The Scottish Zoo occupies an incomparable situation on tho face of Corstorphine Hill, and portions of it are so constructed that wild nniniais. such as lions can be seen in the open.

A great feill or bazaar has been held in Glasgow at which £10,520 have been raised for the funds of An Coniunii Gaidhealaeh which has done much during recent years to stimulate an interest in Highland arts, crafts, language, and literature. The leading Highland aristocracy have assisted in th o enterprise. At the close of the feili a telegram in Gaelic was sent by the president of An Comunn Gaidhealaeh, Mr Angus Robertson, Pollockshie'ds, Glasgow, to the Prince of Wales, as patron, informing his Royal Ilighne s of the amount raised.

The Socialists are intending to make u bid for the representation of some of the Highland constituencies. 'They have manifested a great interest in the recent land raid in Harris, and two members of Parliament, Mr William Adamson, the Secrotary for Scotland in Mr Ramsay Macdonald's Government, and Mr Thomas Johnston, the member for Dundic, have been in the Western Isics, and they proceeded to Scarista to interview Mr Macieay, the proprietor of Scaristaveg Farm, and the raiders recently liberated from Inverness Prison, hoping to get the parties io come to an amicable arrangement. Mr Macicay declined to agree to the proposals put forward, and there the matter cuds meantime.

Mr George William Constable, a native of Carse of Gowrie. wiro has been factor on the Traquair Estates, Innerleithen, for 35 years, has died in a nursing home in Edinburgh. Interested in every phase of local government work, Mr Constable was a member of the Peebles County Council ever since he went to Innerleithen; he was also a member of the old School Board, and later he served for a term on the Education Authority. Mr Constable was president of the Scottish Estate Factors Society. He was deeply interested in agriculture, and served as a director of the Highland and Agricultural Society. Mrs Constable died some years ago. One sen was killed in the war, and a surviving son is factor on the Buie