FROM NORTH OF TWEED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 79

FROM NORTH OF TWEED.

A LETTER TO OVERSEAS SCOTS.

By

Robert S. Angus.

EDINBURGH, August 7. I wonder if the rest of the world is as tired of the Calton site controversy as some of us are who live nearer it? It might have been expected that in view of the Government undertaking to do nothing before Parliament resumes three months hence discussion would cease in order that a little quiet thinking might be done. But our daily papers are filled with the letters of indignant correspondents. Differing in every other particular, they agree in denouncing the Government. I have a little sympathy with the chief object of attack, Mr Lansbury, the Chief Commissioner of Works, who merely adopted the policy of his predecessor. He was prepared to accept the adverse verdict of the Fine Arts Commission as conclusive in regard to the Government architect’s plans, but naturally thought that when the Town Council took a more favourable view it was expressing the public mind, and that he was justified in carrying the scheme to the point of having the plans completed, subject always to the final approval of the municipal authorities. He has at least the satisfaction of observing that his critics are divided as to what they want. Some of them demand that the site should be reserved for the Sheriff Court; others that it should be used for the National Library; while a third lot insist that the ground should be left vacant. Much might be said both for and against all these proposals, and the alternative of putting either the court or the library on the present site of the police office in the High street has its attractions. It is obvious that no ideal solution, still less one that will please everybody, is possible, and delay is better than a blunder. The Cockburn Association, the self-appointed guardian of our amenities, has been criticised for its inactivity, but it has now decided to call a public meeting next month for the formation of a national committee. I predict with some confidence that its meetings will be lively. HOW MONEY GOES. Now that Parliament is prorogued the Government is giving out some particulars of its first year’s administration so far as Scotland is concerned. If the spending of money is the best test it has some claims to credit. On land settlement the outlay has been almost £250,000, nearly double the previous year’s total; land drainage expenditure has also doubled; money for piers and harbours has been multiplied by about 20 as compared with the Unionist administration, and debt to the amount of £237,000 has been cancelled. Much more doubtful is the claim for credit on account of the relaxation in the conditions on which poor law relief is granted; the result has been a heavy increase in rates and a still further lowering of the inducement to seek employment, which, it must be admitted, does not become easier to find. THE ST. HILDA PROBLEM.

I have a slight suspicion that someone is drawing the long bow about the evacuation of the St. Hilda group of islands. According to one account the sheep on Boreray are practically wild animals; most of them have never seen the face of man or dog; they have never been shorn, and their speed in flight from their captors is great. All that is easily believed. But when it is added that the sheep are so fierce that they turn round on the dogs and bite them one becomes a little sceptical. If the word had been “ butt ” the story would have been more credible. I remember a sheep which would charge any dog that attempted to interfere with it; but it had been reared as a pet lamb, and thought itself an authorised occupant of the kitchen hearth. There are estimated to be over 1000 sheep on the St. Hilda Islands, and though their condition may be poor their sale should go some way towards paying for the removal of the 36 inhabitants. Most of them are to be settled in Morven, where thev are to be employed by the Forestry Commission.

THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE. Animated scenes were witnessed on the Clyde this week, when 1600 members of the Order of Scots Clans in America arrived on what promises to become an annual visit to the home land. But for the prevalence of unemployment on the other side of the Atlantic the party would have numbered over 2000. The guests were welcomed by Sir Harry Lauder (who celebrated his sixtieth birthday on Tuesday), and by delegations from the various Highland associations in the West of Scotland. The oldest visitor was Mrs Elizabeth Lindsay, a native of Edinburgh, who at the age of 77, is returning to the city in order to spend a holiday w’ith her son. Practically all the tourists have gone to stay with friends, so that they are in no danger of being strangers in a strange land. ROVER SCOUTS’ MOOT.'

Rover. Scouts, to the number of 1400, from all parts of the world, are holding a moot —the first in Scotland—at Auchengillan, near Glasgow. They had a visit from Lord Baden-Powell, who addressed them in his characteristically commonsense vein, urging the value of character and individuality- in an age when the imitativeness of the herd instinct is strong. Sir lan Colquhoun, of Luss, who is always foremost in any movement to promote the welfare of .youth, suggested that the four dividing C’s—creed, country, colour, and custom —could be converted into a unifying force for the peace of the world. WALTER SCOTT’S FINANCE. I am sorry that Mr Donald Carswell thinks it necessary to keep up the controversy—begun by his book on Sir Walter—in-, regard to Scott’s financial position and the antecedents of Lady Scott. Who cares anyhow about these matters on which the'whole truth can probably never be known? But one interesting revelation has come out of the correspondence. It has generally been supposed that Scott’s financial interest in the Ballantyne firm "was unknown till the crash came in 1826. It is now pointed out that as early as 1820 the Scotsman —which as an ardent Radical journal in those days had not much use for the Tory Sir Walter—referred to him as “ a principal partner in this firm." In this conneetion I may mention' that the site of

the Jermyn street hotel in which Scott lived for three weeks when passing through London on his way home to die at Abbotsford, is to be marked by a tablet provided by Mr Henry G. L. Ring. The London County Council refused to provide the memorial, on the ground that it does not mark sites, but only buildings, with an historical interest; private generosity has supplied the necessary funds. SIR JAMES URQUHART. I was shocked on opening my morning paper the other day to read of the sudden death of Sir James Urquhart, formerly Lord Provost of Dundee and the first occupant of that office to serve two threeyear terms in succession. That fact alone is enough to show the esteem in which he was held by his municipal colleagues and by the community. He attained the civic chair at the unusually early age of 44, and retired 16 years ago when he was 50, although he remained active in many other departments of public work. How a young professional man —he was a solicitor—could afford time for the Lord Provostship was a puzzle to his friends. His term was remarkable for the inauguration, of the Caird Hall, of which the King" laid the foundation stone in 1914. Sir James carried his dignity with an easy geniality, and leaves troops of friends to mourn his premature death. WOMAN’S SWIMMING FEAT.

Miss Violet Anderson, an Edinburgh girl of 21 swam the Forth from Kinghorn to Gullane—almost its broadest part—in Bhr 21 min, being two hours better than the performance of Miss Mercedes Gleitze last year. Strong currents make the swimming of the Forth a difficult feat, and I am told that it has been performed only three times. As will be inferred, Miss Anderson was fortunate in having almost ideal conditions. In view of the part which they are new taking in many forms of sport, it is appropriate that they should set about the formation of a Scottish ■women’s amateur athletic association. A meeting for the purpose will be held, in Glasgow next week.