MR ALLAN'S TRAVELS.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12681, 28 October 1909, Page 4

MR ALLAN'S TRAVELS.

Mr R. Allan-, of Drumclog, who is well known to the members of the Nelson Scottish Society, returned to New Zealand by the s.s. Rimutaka. He told the "Marlborough Express" folks :— He joined the s.s. Turakina on March 11th, and sailed for London .rounding Cape Horn on March 26th. A week later the vessel., touched at Monte Video, where a large ruimbeaof passengers were taken on board: The next stopping places were" Rio de Janiero aaid Teneriffe, and the vessel then steamed direct for London, which was reached on April 26th. Mr Allan stayed in London- for three or fern- days, , during which time he transacted a considerable quantity of biisiness and also visited some friends. Having attended to all his engagements he took the Scotch express 1 for Glasgow, where, upon arrival, he was met by his sister and her husband, with whom he stayed for several days. The next place visited was Edinburgh, where he saw a. .number of New Zealand students who were staying at the Waverley Hotel, opposite Sir Walter Scott's monument. Ho went up the Crinan Canal and then took the steamboat to Oban and viewed 100 vessels of the British squadron, which were anchored between the Kirrara and Mull Islands near Oban harbour. Ho •remained in Oban some days, du:i.ig which he was taken for a tour amongst the battleships. He visited LI. M.S. Queen, and inspected the 12---inch gun in liar turret. Proceeding from Oban, he travelled on north past Port Appin, to Ballahulich, and then to Port William, at the foot of Ben Nevis, an historical mountain, where he spent a night. Next morning he boarded the train for Bannavie, and from there he went to the great Caledonian Caual, where there were a great many tourists to be soon. The sights ho saw in those parts were decidedly interesting, inasmuch as they were relics of ancient history, and contained some of the old castles road of in Scottish history, which were the stronghold of Prince Charlie in 1745. Most of the mine of the old castles which were burned to the ground by the Duke of Cumberland were easily seen, the sight of which brought back to the onlooker the great wars which happened more tiia.ii a century ago. The next place visited was Inverness, whore .Mr Allan remained about two days before proceeding to Moy. At the latter phw he met a Mr Mclntosh, and stayed at Dalreach farm for a couple of days. On his way to the- farm ho was shown the old cas-tlo to which Prince Charles fled from Inverness in 1745. The building was the same as described in history, even to the historic anvil, which, although coat^. cd with rust, occupies its position at the front of the oastle. It will be remembered that when it became known that Prince Charles was in hiding at thafc castle a squad of soldiers were despatched to the castle to take him prisoner. A servant girl, hearing what was to bo done, ran to Dalreach" and informed Lady Mclntosh of the despatch of the troops. Lady Mclntosh gathered all tho male servants about the farm, and piovided thorn with bagpipes and old guns, and ordered them to lie in ambush in a dip in the ground close to the 'castle. The blacksmith, a man named Fraser, as soon as the troops were heard to be approaching, gave the command, and a series of blasts bust from the pipes and shots from the guns. He then roared at the top of his voice to the Oa.morons to attack and to the McDonalds to cut off the troops' retreat. The troops retreated at a great pace, and were buck in Inverness in half the time which they had taken' in coming from that town, believing that an enemy was ambushed. That was afterwards known as the famous Rout of Moy. „ Mr Allan's next trip was up the classic vale of the Yerrow, where he visited several sheep-farmers, and drove up the valley from the manse to St. Mary's Loch, famed in song and story. He drove down the valley to Circuit, and passed through the battlefield of Philliphangh, whore Montrose was defeated by General Loslie. Ho saw tho ol<l ruined house wlipfp the grcati African traveller Mnngo Park was born. He. saw a beautiful monument erected in honour of Sir Walter Scott at Selkirk, where Sir Walter was sheriff for many years, ilr Allan then went to Hunter's Quay, Holy Loch, the great yachting centre. He sailed through the Kyles of Bute, and visited Ar.ran, some five miles beyond Bute. He met the great Scottith singer Jessie McLachlan, who visited Blenheim over two 3'ears ago. Mr Allan also met an old Highlander there, McGiop, whose brother was--a shipmate of his in 1862 for Now Zealand. Ho left a farm near Milton to this brother, and he had letter:authorising his to get a statement of accounts from the trustee and to nscertain the value of the farm. Mr Allan then visited several places in Renfrewshire, and then went up to Glasgow, where he remained for about ' a fortnight visiting the art (galleries and the monuments in George's Square. He attended the Glasgow, Stonehouse, Avondale and East Kilbride shows, and the great Highland show at Stirling. The Tarms were beautifully managed, but were worked with oid-time machinery. The dairy stock were excellent, and the byre accommodation was first-class. The sheep were not equal to those neared in New Zealand, but the cattle, particularly the Polled Angus and Shorthorns, were superior to anything he had seen in the Dominion. Tho horses were an excellent lot, and better than the average run of horses in New Zealand.