"SOOTS WHA HAE."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 77, 26 January 1914, Page 4

"SOOTS WHA HAE."

COPY IX BUIIN'S' WRITING. DISCOVERY AT WIIAXGAUEI. By Telegraph.—Press Association Wlmngarei, January 23. A laded sheet of manuscript, which, lias now been proved to be the original or a copy in the author's writing of "Scots Wlia llae," a work of the fam-, ous Socttish poet, Robert Kuriu, is ati present a treasured possession of one of tlio leading members of the Whangarei St. Andrew's Society. It appears that tho manuscript has for years past been in the keeping of an old •Scottish family in the district, but recently it came under the notice of Mr. O Gorman, a local resident, who has mado a special study of .Hums' mementoes in various museums at Home. Mr. 0 Gorman was particularly impressed by ; the handwriting, which bore a, very I strong resemblance to other uuthenti- , c.ited documents, and he was instrumental in having photos of the manuscript sent to the curator of the- Burns Museum at Ayr, in Scotland, for identifixation. A reply from that nouroo hag now eouie to hand. It states that-it is certain that the manuscript is genuine, (nit whether it is the original of "Scots Wlia llae," or a copy in Burns' l»ndwritiiig, cannot be ascertained. The letter states that it is known that the Scottish poet made several replicas of his poem, and adds that the Ayr Museum purchased one some vearg aco for the sum of £3OO. The local discovery lug naturally cteated wide interest in Caledonian circles, and some interest attaches to tirewords, "To My Sister-in-law," which are , written above the poem . . nature of this link with the past has 1 not been decided, but it is probable that ! the find will be forwarded to one of . the Home centres, where, its intrinsic 1 value will be considerable.