THE HOME LAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 6

THE HOME LAND

(From Our Special Correspondent.) SCOTLAND, July 6.

Interesting associations with Sir Walter Scott and Border minstrelsy were recalled in the old abbey churchyard at Jedburgh, when a ceremony of a simple but ii pressive character took place. It was the unveiling of the renovated tombstone which records the death, nearly 100 years ago, I of Robert Shortrecd, Sherriff-substitute of Roxburghshire, and, as the epitaph states, “ Friend from youth to age. guide, and companion of Sir Walter Scott.’’ A feature of the ceremony was the presence of Miss Mary 11. Shortrecd, granddaughter of Sherrill Short reed, who came from London for the purpose of performing the unveiling. The fellowship of Scott and Shortrecd is well illustrated by Sir Walter’s moving comment on the death of his friend : “ Heard of the death of poor Bob Shortrecd, the companion of many a long ride among the hills in quest of old ballads. He was a merry companion, a good singer and mimic, and full of Scottish drollery. In his company, and under his guidance, I was able to see much of rural society in the nintains which I could not otherwise have attained. and which I have made use of. He was, in addition, a man of worth and character. I always burdened his hospitality while at Jedburgh on the circuit, and have been useful to some of the family.” Miss Shortreed’s father was the youngest son, and for him Sir Walter secured a cadetship. He went to India in 1825.

The shipbuilding industry in Scotland continues to show improvement, and to be gradually recovering from the evil effects of the coal stoppage of 1926. There was a satisfactory increase during June In the output of new tonnage. Vessels which were delayed earlier in the year as a result of the mining dispute have been launched or laid ’. >wn, good progress is being made with the work on hand, and goodly numbers of new contracts are being booked. With peace in the industry there should be a period of increased employment. During June ’-'re were launched in Scotland 45 vessels of 47.391 tons. Gf these 28 vessels of 40.465 tons were built on the ' lyde, eight of 953 tons on the Forth, three of 5000 tons on the Tay. and six of 97. tons at Aberdeen and Moray Firth ports. The output during June on the Hyde is much the largest of that of any month this year, but the low tonnage previous months, owing to lack of material, makes a poor total for the half-year. _This consists of 100 vessels of. only 145.171 tons, as compared with 80 of 158.5 c tons last year, and 119 of 302.957 tons in 1925, and 127 of 348,476 tons in the best corresponding period—that of 1913. The outlook for the rest of year and the coming winter months is quite bright.

There has been much a<U ovci the total eclipse of the sun. It was the first in Great Britain for ver 200 yo-rs. In Scotland it was only seen in part, and at certain centres, as the weather in many places was dull and the Si was hidden by thick clouds. The north of Scotland was favoured with a clear view of the phenomenon, and on the East Coast the conditions were also good, but Glasgow and the West Coast folks woke up to a dull, leaden sky. which made observation impossible.' It was at certain centres in England that the total eclipse was seen, and many people travelled by train and motor car from Scotland to behold it. Many of those who succeeded in witnessing the eclipse say they will carry the memory of it throughout life. Durin the 20 odd seconds of its duration it struck the earth with a strange and horrible chill, an- 1 for a moment the thousands of watchers were dumb with awe.

It has been decided to folio the example of England, and to form an association for the preservation of rural Scotland. The Earl of Crawford rfful Balcarres has agreed to act as honorary president, the Earl of Haddington as president, and Sir John Stirling Maxwell. Bart., as vice-president. The objects of the association are (1) To organise concerted action to secure the protection of rural scenery, and of the amenities of country towns and villages or ’’sfigurement or injury; (2) To act, cither directly or through its members, as a centre for furnishing or procu iug advice and information upon matters affecting the protection of such amenities; (3) To arouse and educate public opinion in order to ensure the promotion of these subjects. There is no word of preserving the rural population.

We Britons have short memories. Not only do we entertain our old enemies but we go out of our way to afford them every facility for invading our markets to the disadvantage of our own industries. Even Aberdeen has of late been offering hospitality to the alien. The first official visit to that port of a vessel flying the flag of the German Government, since the war, was made by the fishery cruiser Zieten. Following an interview with the German Consul, the commander of the vessel paid official courtesy visits to Lord Provost Lewis at the Town House, to Major Bell, commanding the depot Gordon Highlanders at Castlehill, and to the harbour master, Captain T. Wyness. What a change from the days cf submarine frightfulness.

Glasgow Education Authority lias agreed by a large majority to hold an Educational Exhibition in co-operation with the Glasgow Corporation in the new Kelvin Hall

in May, 1928. A share of the free proceeds is to be devoted to the Necessitous Children’s Fund. Mr Archibald M’Neilage led the opposition on the ground that the ordinary course of education and training of" the children would be interfered with as well as the work of the teachers, while in addition the work of the official staff will be greatly increased. I quite agree with Mr M'Neilage. There are far too many of these side shows, which take up the time of the children when they might be much more profitably, occupied. The children are expected to play a big part in the forthcoming exhibition.

We are very thankful in these times for the least reduction in our assessments, for in many instances they have become intolerable. The prospect of a reduction of about 3d in the £ in the assessment required by the Parish Council of Glasgow was referred to at a meeting of the council. The convener of the Finance and Law Committee pointed out that the council is now no longer responsible for fixing the actual rate, and while it was difficult to say how much the reduction might be under the new method of valuation, on the old basis it was equivalent to the figure mentioned. It would be necessary to requisition £1,331,627 from the corporation, who are now the rating authority.

An Empire Exhibition is to be held in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, from July 27 to August 6. The object of the exhibition is to prove that Edinburgh is not only a tourist but a commercial and business centre, for exhibitors will be greatly helped to find markets for their goods, not only in Scotland, bnt throughout the Empire. It is intended that'at the conclusion of the exhibition catalogues containing full details of every exhibit will be dispatched overseas to the most important buyers in the British Empire. Mr L. C.~ Al. S. Amery, Secretary of State for the Dominions, and Mr J 11. Thomas, M.P., have both sent their good wishes for the success of the exhibition. The Earl of Cassillis has agreed to perform the opening ceremony.

Mr Archibald M’Laren Lindsay, writer, Glasgow, must have been well known to many people who are now in New Zealand, especially those who have been connected with the Young Men’s Christian Association. He lias died suddenly at his residence, 1 Park Gate, Glasgow. Air Lindsay, who was in his eighty-fourth year, was the last surviving son of the late Professor William Lindsay, D.D., of the United Presbyterian Church College. Graduating M.A. at Glasgow University, he became Professor of Conveyancing at the St. Mungo College, and for 25 years he acted as treasurer of the Y.M.C.A. Having been interested in volunteering he held the rank of major in the Ist Lanarkshire Artillery, and was awarded the long service medal. Mr Lindsay was one of the public spirited men we can ill aflord to part with in these days.

The time is not far past when Greenock was a busy centre of the sugar refining industry. Now that industry has fallen upon evil days. The precarious state of the sugar industry in Greenock has been emphasised by the corporation, which has agreed to petition the Government to take steps to deal with the position created by the operation of subsidies on beet sugar, preferential tariffs, and foreign dumping. Only two of the five refineries in the town are working, and unless something is done to combat the triple menace, these may also have to close their doors.

It may interest many Highlanders now resident in New Zealand to know that the West Highland Museum at Fort William has been reopened for the summer and autumn session. It has for its object the collection under one roof of Celtic relics, and has received a large measure of support in so far as loans aic concerned. There is a most interesting collection of historical and prehistoiic relics, specimens of art, craft, ami industry, as well as books, pictures, documents, weapons, etc., all connected with the West Highlands and Islands. This year’s exhibition is devoted more particularly to Celtic and Gaelic art and literature and old tartans. The Hon. Alr.i Godfrey MacDonald, Ostaig, Skye, performed the opening .'crcmony.

Extensive housing schemes have been carried out all over Scotland, and others are being inaugurated, but the shortage of dwellings seems to be as great as ever. Glasgow Corporation Housing Committee has approved of contracts amounting to over £144.000 for various works in connection with the construction of a second section of a housing scheme at Balernock.

Those who have lived in any of our great Scottish cities will know the stir occasioned at the end of the summer months by people coming end going to the country resorts.. The bad times through which we arc passing seems to have very little effect on the holiday traffic. The Clyde resorts continue to draw enormous crowds, as many as 30 special trains leaving in a single day for places in Ayrshire. The East of Scotland resorts appear to draw g’-eater numbers every year, many trains having to be duplicated.

Mr John Coutts Duffus, jute merchant and manufacturer, London and Dundee, has been presented with the freedom of the burgh of Cupar. “ in recognition of his munificence to his native town, and of his kindly interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the burgh.”

The town was gay with bunting ami nags on ll: * * * Air V\ i11i....! w h.cc, B.Se. (London University), a native of Muirkirk, Ayrshire, has been appointed heaxlmaster of the Coleraine Academical Institution, in Northern Ireland, hi 1914 Mr White joined the army and gave four years active service in France, gaining the AI.C. and the D. 5.0., ami rising to the rank of major. He is in his 37th year.

A new High School, erected by the Roman Catholics at the request of the Dumbarton Educational Authority, has been opened at Dalreoch, Dumbarton. The structure has cost £40,000. It will make complete provision for the higher education of the Roman Catholic children in the area.

The Rev. John Chalmers, senior minis* ter of the North ( Peter Memorial) United Free Church, Stirling, has con? pleted 50 years’ service with that con* gregation. Fitting recognition has been made of his long aiid successful pastorate.

Since the Union movement has reached an advanced stage there has been a decided tendency to unite congregations where there has been anything in the nature of overlapping. Milnathort and Orwell Lnited Free Church congregations have agreed to unite. The respective ministers—the Rev. Johnstone Miller and the Rev. M. R. MacNaughton—have agreed to resign in order to permit of a new pastor being chosen lor the united congregation.

As an indication of our increasing in* dustrial activity it is worthy of mention that the London and North-Eastern Railuaj Company has decided to construct 2100 additional wagons at a cost of £330,000. They include 12-ton open goods wagons and special bolster wagons for the conveyance of steel rails and long iron. Contracts have U-m placed for much of the work with firms in the west; of Scotland.

The death has taken place at Berwick-upon-Tweed of Mr Philip Al. Henderson, solicitor, of Messrs Sanderson, TilTen, and Henderson, solicitors. Air Henderson was chairman of the Bei~ ’ ’ and Borders Branch of the League of Nation--- Union, and was press representative of the Law Journal at the Geneva Conference last \ ear. He took an active part in every movement calculated to improve the conditions in the old border town.