EARLY SCOTTISH COLLERIES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 51, 24 November 1926, Page 13

EARLY SCOTTISH COLLERIES

FIRST DISCOVERY OF COAL. It was on the East Lothian shore, .where within recent weeks miners on suike have been reported to be working the outcrops, that coal was first discovered in Scotland (says the . Ed iP bu A'^ t „„ n ti. e ce n y . Scotsman”). Early m the thirteenth cen turv on land between Pinkie and Preston pane owned by the monks of. Bum ermline, the inroads of the eca disclosed the presence of this valuable mineral, and the Dumfermline brethren, -assisted by the monks of Newbattle, ft is said, tit-ic the pioneers to whom the credit 's due for first working it. The coal heuth of Tranent appears to have been one of the earliest, if not the first colliery in Scotland and it is possible that the coal referred to in the Royal accounts of the time came from this source. At Dysart. Largo, and at Bonmngton. Linlithgow, collieries were operating during the nrteenth century, and in the century following many "water-coal hearts were sunk dlong the shores of the Forth. In most cases these early collieries < were operated by the landowners, but, m one instance coal workings at Cilmerton were leased in 1573 by James, fourth Lord Ross, to a villager named Heron, who contracted with the owner to work the coal on a profit-sharing basis. James VT.. history tells us, unsuccessfully tried to stop the" export of Scottish coal to countries other than England, fearing that the supply would “decay." That the pedant monarch was in error time has proved. The "decay” we know only too well has not been in the commodity.

HUTT CHORAL SOCIETY One of the happiest institutions in the! Hutt Valley lor the encouragement of choral music is the Hutt Choral Society, which has done good work lor the past four years and is reserving of' greater support in a private way than it has in the past -eceived. Last evening’s concert was an entire success. It consisted of a wet -selected number of part songs, including the beautiful “O Peaceful Night M r ;, man) and “0 Pleasures of the 1 lams (Handel), which were most harmoniously expressed by the choir. Another old favourite was the humorous catch, "You Stole My Love” (Macfarrcu), which is always ' popular. In the first part, Mrs. A. E. Burge, a clear and sweet-toned soprano, sang with nice effect “Happy Song,” and was recalled. Miss L. Mackay sang "Morning Song” and was accorded a good reception. Mr. K. S. Allwright the Wellington baritone (now resident nt the Hutt), sung Alfred Hill’s fine dramatic song, “Waiata Maori. No better song on a Maori theme has over been written than this spacious number, which embodies in ordered sequence the emotional spirit of the Maori. It is a great song, and Mr. Allwright treated it most artistically. / Mr. E. W. Robbins sang “Sea Gipsy’ in good style. The second part of the programme consisted of Frederic Cowen’s melodious cantata, “St. John’s Eve,” a subject based on the traditional romanticism associated with that magical evening in Nordic countries. The choir did excellent service, and the solo and concerted work of Mrs. A. E. Burge, Miss Mackay, Messrs. E. W. Bobbins and R. S Allwmlit was of a high order of merit. The concert was given under the musical direction of Mr. Robert Parker, and was in its way notable as it is understood that it was the ’ final appearance of Wellington s doyen of conductors as musical director of the society. The accompaniments were played by Mrs. S. M. Hobbs, '<iss B. Hart, and Mr. B. Forman.