town he returned to the " the "Vale," latterly residing at Jamestown. When in Ayr he often saw Burns's sister, and in after years he regretted he did not take the opportunity of speaking to her about her celebrated brother. He had a wonderful memory, and could sing scores of the old Scots songs. He was proud of having heard "the great Templeton " sing. In his youth he served his "time to the trade of block-cutting in the Wee Fiel', Bonhill, working alongside Joseph Wilson, of Kilmarnock musical fame. When a boy in the calico printing factory, he was often placed up on his "maister's" table to sing to the workmen. In later years he was in great demand at benefit concerts, giving his services ungrudgingly. He had a profound veneration for Burns, and was never more at home than when worshipping at the shrine of the Immortal Bard. He held the office of Hon. President of the Vale Glencairn Burns Club from its formation, nearly twenty years ago, and was one of the most regular attenders at the monthly meetings. He never missed an anniversary until he was ninety-two years of age. Though no great speaker, he was splendid at "a grace "-not a conventional utterance, but an old-fashioned reverential thanksgiving which would have done credit to any member of the cloth. The Burns cult in the "Vale" will seldom look upon his like again.

PROPOSED REMOVAL OF THE HIGHLAND

MARY MEMORIAL IN GREENOCK.

O

N 10th May, 1917, appeared an article in the Glasgow Herald containing details of an extension of the shipbuilding yard of Messrs Caird & Co., which necessitated the removal of the old West Parish Church and the adjoining graveyard in which rest the remains of Highland Mary. Quoting from that article we learn that the proposed area of extension runs both east and west of the present yard. One view is that it reaches eastward to Brymner Street, taking in the West Harbour, and southward to a line drawn from this street through Shaw, Dalrymple, and Crawfurd Streets to Laird Street on the west. This, leaving out the area of the harbour (72 acres in extent), would give an extension of roughly 770 yards by 70. The district is thickly built upon, the bulk of it old property consisting of bonded warehouses, grain and other stores, dwellings that are approaching their day of condemnation, and various shops and offices with a more or less maritime connection. A sugar refinery in the vicinity seems unlikely to stand against the encroachment of the more aggressive industry, an inconsiderable portion of the electrical station in Hunter Place may have to make way for the line of progress, and tenants of neighbouring workshops of joiners, sail-makers, anchor-makers, &c., to find places of business elsewhere. The introduction of a fitting-out basin and an adequate graving dock would seem to be essential to designs on the lines suggested.

To whatever form or extent the scheme may eventually come, the authorities and chief business men will not fail to give encouragement and co-operation. The superior, we understand, heartily supports the scheme. Negotiations are in progress with the Corporation, the Harbour Trust, and other bodies and persons affected, and we should

expect that, with a single exception, these are proceeding with the minimum of friction.

It is not many months since the announcement of

the association of the great Belfast company, Harland & Wolff, with the firm of Caird & Co. This Greenock shipyard was practically established by the late Mr James Tennant Caird. On his death in 1888, the business devolved upon his four sons-Mr Patrick T. Caird, Mr Arthur Caird, Dr Robert Caird, and Mr William Caird, of whom the two

first-named survive. While according to arrangement between parties these gentlemen remained as directors of the reconstituted company, Mr J. W. Kempster was transferred from the Belfast yard as managing director at Greenock.

The one tangible body of opposition emerges from what may be called the domain of sentiment. The area occupied by the Old West Kirk and the graveyard are wanted for the shipyard, which now so impinges upon the sacred precincts that to-day the vast hull of a P. and O. steamer overshadows the whole length of the church buildings on their eastern side. This opposition is being raised principally by a number of lairholders, church officials, and members of the Burns cult, and is to some extent being organised at each of these sources. Preliminary to other action, opinion of counsel has been asked as to the legality of interfering with the historic building and kirkyard for such a purpose. The shipbuilding firm offers to rebuild. the church (as it now stands) on a site farther west, and to convey thence also the dust and memorial stones or tablets of Highland Mary and others to whom is attached a specially sentimental or historical importance. The following letter from Messrs Caird & Co., shipbuilders, Greenock, to the Rev. Adam Currie, minister of Old West Kirk, was submitted to a meeting of trustees a week or two ago:

Owing to the pressing necessity which has arisen for the increase of merchant shipping, and consequently for the rapid construction of ships, it has become imperative to enlarge our shipbuilding yard, which, owing to insufficient depth, prevents the construction of the larger class of steamers now called for. The principal cause of our being restricted is due to the fact that the North Parish Church and the old churchyard surrounding it lie between the west part of our yard and the other property which belongs to us fronting Crawfurd Street, so that it appears that the only way in which we can effect the requisite extension will be by our coming to an arrangement for the removal of the church and churchyard to another site. To enable this proposal to be considered, we would mention that in proceeding with such a scheme we would be agreeable to provide another site to which the church

and graveyard could, with all care and reverence, be transferred. . . We would undertake at our own expense to take down the church with the utmost care, and, so far as practicable, to re-erect it stone by stone, so that when again erected it may be the identical church, its windows, ornaments, mural tablets, vaults, &c., being carefully set aside and replaced in their exact positions, and the whole work to be carried out as expeditiously as possible, under proper supervision, to the entire satisfaction and in the interest of the congregation and of the Presbytery.... We should further endeavour in every way also to meet you in regard to any loss you might be occasioned by disturbance or otherwise. Apart from the considerations mentioned, we feel it must be recognised that the matter is one affecting not only the prosperity of Greenock, but is also one of national importance, especially owing to the unfortunate position in which the country now finds itself in regard to shipping."

The trustees unanimously decided not to entertain the proposal.

That is the only proposal which has as yet been made public, and it formed the basis of the discussion which took place at the annual meeting of the Burns Federation in September last. The Greenock delegates, however, left the impression that it had been withdrawn, and no other had taken its place.

We understand that the question has been brought before the Presbytery, and that certain lairholders are taking steps to defend their threatened rights. Meanwhile the Federation has appointed a Vigilance Committee to watch the development of events.

We have pleasure in laying before our readers an epitome of a lecture delivered by Mr J. Fraser Paton to the members of the Greenock Burns Clubs on 20th September last, which deals with the historical associations of the old church and churchyard, and which appeared in the Glasgow Herald the following day :

"It is supposed to have been the first Protestant church built in Scotland after the Reformation. One authority says that it is perhaps the only Protestant church in Scotland that has been honoured with a Royal Charter and confirmed in the privileges of the same by a special Act of Parliament. It was one of the earliest