THE HOME LAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 6

THE HOME LAND

(From Our Special Correspondent.) SCOTLAND, July 10. Sir Alexander Grant, Bart., a member of the firm of Messrs M’Vitie and Price, biscuit manufacturers, Edinburgh, has given a second munificent gift of £lOO,OOO to the Scottish National Library. These princely donations will, it is hoped, enable the trustees to proceed with the necessary additions to the library, it being proposed to extend the old Advocates’ Library on the George IV bridge side. The two great libraries in the capital—the National and the Carnegie—will then practically face one another. The freedom of Edinburgh was conferred upon Sir Alexander Grant in 1923, in 1924 he was created a baronet, and the following year he received the honorary degree of LL.D, from Edinburgh University.

The delegates to the World’s Dairy Congress have spent several days in Scotland. They were welcomed to the capital by Major Walter Elliot, M.P., under-Secretary of State for Scotland, who delivered an address dealing with the practice of faring north of the Tweed. Dr Gerald Leighton, of the Scottish Board of Health, spoke of the nutritive value of milk and the results of tests on school children. The leading facts as stated by him have already been given in this column. The investigations covered a period of seven months, and Dr Leighton mentioned that it had been decided to continue the tests over another similar period. Mr A. C. Magee described the operation of the newlyconstituted Milk Agency, Limited. A civic reception was given in the Usher Hall in the evening, when Lord Provost Sir Alexander Stevenson welcomed the delegates, and a musical programme was submitted. On Friday the members of the congress proceeded to Glasgow, making a tour of the Trossachs en route. In the evening they attended a reception given by the Corporation in the City Chambers. Lord Provost Sii’ David Mason welcomed the visitors. Returning thanks on behalf of the delegates, Mr Renwick W. Dunlop, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, said the congress had brought increased friendship and goodwill between all sections of their people. It had been their experience and their belief that a fine spirit of international understanding and goodwill, which would have far--reaching results, had been developed by the delegates of over 40 nations represented at the congress. On Saturday the delegates spent a most profitable and enjoyable day in the west of Scotland. Motoring from Glasgow they proceeded to the dairy school for Scotland at Holmes Farm, Kilmarnock, and were welcomed by Principal Paterson, of the West of Scotland Agricultural College. Divided up into four parties, they saw’ in turn' the various activities of the college as carried on for the present at Holmes Farm—dairy school, research department, poultry station and school, apiary, field experiments, etc. The company then proceeded to Auchencruive, near Ayr, the estate presented to the college by Mr John M. Hannah, 0.8. E., of Girvan Mains, Girvan. Here they were entertained to luncheon by the governors of the college. Mr J. Harling Turner, Cessnock Castle, Galston, chairman of the governors, addressed the delegates, mentioning that all the activities of the college, with the exception of the college itself, were to be shifted from Kilmarnock to Auchencruive. The governors hoped to have the new’ buildings completed in 1931. Mr G. R. Whitley, vice-president of the British Daily Farmers’ Association, in acknowledging the welcome, said it was a great pleasure to come to Scotland and see what had been done and what was going to be done on behalf of agriculture. It made him realise that they would have to get “ a move on ” at Reading if they were to keep up their end with Scotland. He was glad to have been told by Mr Turner that the governors of the college were going to tackle the problem of training girls in domestic science as well as in dairying, poultrybreeding, beekeeping, and other cognate subjects. No matter how* skilful or accomplished a woman might be in regard to these things, if she went out i to the colonies and could not cook ’her husband’s dinner she would be very much at a discount. The company afterwards saw some of the best Ayrshire cattle in the vicinity. A visit was paid to the Burns Monument, the banks of the Doon, and the poet’s birthplace at Alloway.

The controversy on the Church Union question continues. At a meeting of the United Free Church Presbytery of Edinburgh, when the basis and plan of union was under consideration, an important statement was made by the Very Rev. Principal Martin, D.D., one of the joint conveners of the Union Committee, with reference to a minority manifesto recently published. The principal said one more was to be added io the list of their Presbyterian separations. It was, lie declared, a melancholy offset to a consummation from ■which Scotland was anticipating so much. "He pointed out that the signatories to the manifesto said they proposed to “ continue the United Free Church of Scotland,” but that would be beyond their power. What the minority proposd, in short, was to create a new sect in Scotland. It'was a serious step to take, and he gravely misunderstood the temper of the people if thev would rail}’ to its support. The Rev; James Barr, 8.D., M.P., made a'spirited reply to the principal. Writing from

the House of Commons, he shows “ that the Church of Scotland is still the Church by law established,, and by the State invested with special privileges all its own.” Mr Barr says that “it is in dealing with the proposal of a continuing church that the principal reaches the climax of violent intolerance.” Steps are to be taken to secure its complete disappearance. “He will,” says Mr Barr, “ take name and funds and everything, and leave not a wrack behind. . . In his eyes we are Seceders —a new sect. He will prevent us using even the name. Surely intolerance could not further go.” There is no instance in history, Mr Barr says, of any endeavour on the part ot the most intolerant majority to deprive a remanet Church of its title or its claim. He then concludes. “ Many things were done in 1900 that all would now gladly forget; but never once was it proposed to rob the Free Church of their name, or to dispute their right to claim that they were steadfastly adhering to ■what they believed to be the principles of their Church. That such a proposal should be made now is proof positive of the character of the dominant spirit in our church and the fierce vendetta raging against the minority. Let Principal Martin go forward with his threat to blot out the very name and being of the United Free Church of Scotland, as the Union policy is going to blot out some of the finest pages in our country’s story. We will maintain the name; we will re-write the story. You may persecute; you cannot crush, you cannot extinguish.” I am inclined to believe that when the full strength of the minority party in the country is known the leaders in the two Churches —the Established Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland—will get a great surprise. Fine speeches have been made by the leaders, but there has been a decided lack of enthusiasm among church members. Mr Barr, as an ecclesiastic, is one of the most trusted men in Scotland. His sincerity is recognised everywhere— except perhaps by the Union leaders.

An extensive building scheme is foreshadowed in Edinburgh. It is proposed to make a considerable extension to the Scottish National Library, and as it is important that this should be immediately adjacent to the existing accommodation it will inevitably involve the transfer of the present Sheriff Court House in George IV Bridge to another site. Sir John Lamb, permanent Undersecretary of State for Scotland, in the course of a letter to the county clerk of Midlothian, says that the intention is to demolish the existing Calton Gaol buildings and to erect on the site new buildings to be used in the main for Government offices, but with provision for a new Sheriff Court House. Mr A. Grierson, the Town Clerk, in a report submitted by him to the Town Council, states that while it may be desirable that the new library building should be in proximity to the former Advocates’ Library, it is a matter of considerable importance that the new Sheriff Court House should be adjacent to the Law Counts and Parliament square. can be no doubt that an out-of-the-wav site like that of the Calton Gaol will not be convenient, and is likelv to be objected to on that account. He submitted that a further attempt should oe made to obtain a site not far removed from Parliament square. The Town Council approved of the suggestions contained in the Town Clerk’s report. Eight members were appointed as representatives on the Sheriff Court House Committee. Since the new gaol at Laughton was opened some years ago the Calton Gaol has been very little used. As natives of Edinburgh will remember, it is picturesquely situated on the rockv prominence under the Calton Hill, anil overlooking the eastern entrance to the Waverly station, with an approach from VVaterloo place. Many notable executions have been carried out in the Calton Gaol, and the bodies were buried within its precincts. If the building scheme igone on with, these may be raised and reinterred in some graveyard, as was the case when there was an extension of the Law Courts at the foot of the Saltmarket in Glasgow.

The. New Zealand bowlers, who are on tour in the Home Land, had a right hearty welcome at Perth when they engaged in a friendly game with six rinks drawn from the members of the Perthshire Bowling Association. It was an out-and-out victory for New Zealand oj T 152 points to 88. So complete was the beating that I am tempted to give the individual rinks and the figures: No. 1 rink.—Perth: A. Smith, Rev. A. Wylie' Smith, A. P. Powrie, James Fenton (skip), 15; New Zealand: W Smith, T. Marker, G. Adetes, J. Grant (skip), 27. N®. 2 rink.—Perth: J. Shankland, Rev. R. S. V. Logie, D. Ferguson, P. Menzies (skip), 12; New Zealand: J. Lorimer, H. S. Hill, M. Suhan, J. Hutchison (skip), 25. No 3 rink.—Perth: William Kemp, F. M. Turnbull, J. Douglas, J. Emslie (skip), 14; New Zealand: J. W. Hardley, W. Hardley, J. Pieterson, J. Sole (skip), 22. No. 4 rink.—Perth: S. Thomson, J. A. Crow, William Gardiner, William Asher (skip), 15; New Zealand: J. A. M'Kinnon, T. W. Rose, A. Coutts, A. J. Parker (skip), 22. No. 5 rink.—Perth: T. R. Murray, R. Bell, T. Christie, William Graham (skip), 14; New Zealand: J- Frame, W. C. Arey, J. H. Thomson, T. Horton (skip), 31. No. 6 rink.— Perth: W. J. Mackenzie. R. Hamilton, F. Delbridge, W. Goodall (skip), 18; New Zealand: W. Putt, L. Armstrong, F. Moffatt, W._Dce (skip), 25: The most friendly spirit was manifest throughout. Perthshire did its best, but

the men of the distant Dominion played splendidly as soon as they got the lie of the green. On their arrival at Inverness the New Zealand bowlers received a civic welcome, and they visited the historic battlefield of Culloden on the invitation of the Town Council. ' They subsequently played six rinks, representing the Inverness and Northern Counties Bowling Associations, on the green of the Inverness Chib. An interesting contest resulted in a win for the North of Scotland by 28 shots, the respective scores , being 133 and 103.

While on their annual excursion the members of the Scottish Estate Factors Society visited the Douglas Castle demesne of the Earl of Home, where they saw a fine variety of farm stock. There is a herd of Ayrshire cows, all of which have been bred on the farm. Grade A (tuberculin tested) milk is produced and distributed locally. The average yield of 12 cows, several of which have only completed one lactation, is 921| gallons. Much interest was manifested in the Highland cows with their cross calves. These animals are never housed, and live outside all the year round at an altitude of over 700 ft above sea level. There is also a fold of purebred Highland cows of high merit. They were seen in natural condition, with all the picturesque characteristics of the breed. The stock bull, An-t-Uramach, was made champion at the 1927 show of the Highland and Agricultural Scciety. Much pseful information is obtained at these excursions. Mr M'Laren, Lord Home’s factor, is an expert in stock breeding, and is particularly fond of Highland cattle, as is his lordship.

The revenue of the Clyde Navigation Trust for the past year is the highest that has ever been attained. It amounts to £1,083,657 9s lid, which is £68,980 Is 4d more than the revenue of the previous 12 months. The revenue was the highest by £947 Ss lid in the whole history of the trust. The previous highest revenue was for the year ended June 30, 1925. The two intervening years were both adversely affected by the general strike and the coal . strike. Twelve months ’ago the hope was expressed that the trust might be able to increase the revenue by £70,000, and now they are only a little over a £lOOO short of that. When the revenue of the Clyde Trust is soaring, and when the Clyde shipbuilding yards are well employed, the trade prospects in Glasgow and the. West of Scotland are always on the bright side.

Tn view of the improved conditions m England as regards foot-and-mouth disease, the Ministry of Agriculture in Northern Ireland has relaxed its restriction on the importation of live stock. The Ministry is now prepared to consider, application for the importation of pedigree cattle. Sheep and swine direct from farms in Scotland to farms in Northern Ii eland on certain conditions. Cattle, sheep, and swine from England and Wales are to be subject to detention in the Belfast quarantine station for a period of not less than three weeks. It is provided, too, that the animals had not for a period of three months prior to importation been in a district scheduled on account of foot-and-mouth disease. Northern Ireland in thus relaxing her restrictions will have a first call on the many animals waiting for exportation.

In 1925 Mr Harry George Younger presented to the Forestry Commission, subject to certain reservations, his estateof Benmore, Argyllshire, extending to about 10,000 acres, as a national gift for afforestation purposes, education in agriculture, as well as a national arboretum and botanic garden. The reservations in the main consisted of Benmore House and offices, policies, gardens, shrubberies, etc. Mr Younger has now made a further gift of the residue of his estate as specified to the same commission, reserving only for his private use Echford House, a small villa on the roadside, and certain fishing rights. The villages of Kilmun, Strone, and Blairmore will also remain under estate management. Benmore House, a fine mansion in the Scottish baronial style, will be used as a college for students in all branches of forestry. Owing to the convenience and accessibility of Benmore it is probable that the present forestry school at Beauly will be transferred there.

Lord Meston, of Agra and Dunottar, has been installed as Chancellor of Aberdeen University, of which he is a distinguished alumnus, in succession to the late Duke of Richmond and Gordon. Subsequently the Chancellor presided at two graduation ceremonies, one for the honorary and higher degrees and the ether for ordinary degrees. Addressins the students his Lordship begged of them that before setting their course for life to cast a glance over the map of their Empire, for there was still work for endeavour and achievement in cementing their commonwealth of nations.

Smallpox has broken out in Arbroath. The cases are said to be of an extremely mild type, and are confined to the working class districts of the town. This is the first outbreak of the kind in Arbroath for fully 20 years.

Mr J. Martin White, of Balruddery, near Dundee, ex-M.P. for Forfarshire, died with startling suddenness from heart failure on Saturday night. He was 71 years of age. Mr White was largely . Aerested in -education and a liberal I.V

patron of music. He is succeeded by Mr Oliver Martin White, who came of age in 1923. * * « The Transport Committee recom: mended that “no action ” be taken by the loivn Council of Edinburgh with re? gard to a letter from, the secretary of the Joint Committee of the Scottish Churches protesting against the facilities? being provided for tourist excursions or? Sundays. The “no action ” proposal wag defeated, and the Town Council resolved not to run charabancs before 2 o’clock on Sunday afternoons. This is regarded as a considerable concession to the Sab= bath observance party. * * * "Free” education in Dumbartonshire means a rate of 3s in the £. Th<? statement of income and expenditure of the Education Authority shows that the expenditure for next year will be somethingJjke £400,000, and that a deficiency of £177,000 will require to be raised by rates.. In Renfrewshire the education rate is to be 2s 71d in the £. It is estimated that £724,000 will be for educational purposes during the e». suing year.