societies. Ae nicht he gaed up to a drawin', an' to his surprise his number wis drawn. His joy at his guid luck wis shortlived; for the secretary in a wee announced that, Mr. Scrimyger bein' in arrears wi' his subscriptions, the drawin' wad hae to be done ower again. Scrimyger wis awfu' angry at this, and he took it into his head that they drawin's wis illegal, an' gaed an' complained to the fiscal. He, decent man, looked into the case, an' then reported to Scrimyger that nae offence had been committed. And he was richt "-here Sandy took a notebook out of his pocket and referred to it" for ye'll see that in Wallingford v. Mutual Society* the Hoose o' Lords decided that they drawin's wis perfectly legal, though I see that, by section 12 o' the Buildin' Societies Act o' 1894, Herbert Gladstone made them illegal in a' buildin' societies registered efter the passin' o' that Act. After Scrimyger got this letter, he wis sittin' in the hoose yammerin' awa' aboot it, when his dochter Maggie, maybe aboot twa-score years o' age, said she wad tak' it aff his hauns, so he sell't it her. A guid lang while efter this, a man ca'ed Langmuir wis up at the drawin', and heard Maggie Scrimyger's name ca'ed as the winner. Langmuir wis an auld bachelor, and owned a bit property a' fa'in into ruins, an' it struck him if he could get mairrit to Maggie that her draw wad dae for repairin' his property that wisna' bondit in ony wey. So the next day he made up to Maggie, and in less than a week it wis gi'en oot that they were gettin' mairrit. An' no lang efter, they got mairrit. They hadna' been lang mairrit when Langmuir spoke to the guidwife aboot takin' up her advance frae the society and repairing the auld property. Pictur' his disappointment when Mistress Langmuir tell't him that the advance was no longer hers, as she had sell't it to the society for £20, thinkin' that wis the best thing to dae, seein' she wis gettin' mairrit, and that a' the siller had been spent on her trousseau an' ither expenses incidental to a waddin'. But, wad ye believe it," concluded Sandy, "the mairrage turned oot a happy yin in the end, efter a'." W. P. M. B. Literature. A SYSTEM OF CONVEYANCING compiled by the Juridical Society It is perhaps a little unfortunate that the first volume of the sixth edition of the Juridical Society's Styles should appear *5 L. R. App. 696, 8th June, 1880. at this time, following upon the recent publication of the "Scots Style Book." The "Juridical Styles" has, however, through its own merits, won a position for itself, which is certain to be maintained by the present edition. Two special features which mark this edition may be referred to. In the first place, the plan, which has characterised former editions, of dividing the work into two parts one dealing with heritable rights and the other with moveable rights has been departed from, the work being now continuous. Though this plan may save some occasional repetition, it may be questioned if in this form the work will be so convenient for reference as it was under the former system of division. In the second place, the introductory matter to the various titles has been either shortened or omitted. That this matter is more properly dealt with in the text-books is an ample warrant for the course followed. Obituary. At Mossbank, Kirn, on 8th July, Mr. Charles Macdonald Williamson, senior partner of Williamson & Bell, solicitors, Glasgow. The deceased, who was best known as Colonel Williamson-from his connection with the Volunteer forceswas born in Glasgow in 1848. Through his mother he was connected with the leading families in the Highlands, and traced his descent to Somerled, Thane of Argyll, who married a daughter of the King of the Isles. He was educated at Glasgow Collegiate School and at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. In 1872 he joined the Faculty of Procurators, having previously obtained a legal training in the office of Messrs. Dick & Stevenson. Thereafter he began business in partnership with the late Mr. Bell, under the firm of Messrs. Williamson & Bell. The firm soon formed an influential connection, and built up a large and flourishing business. Though engaged in an exacting profession, Colonel Williamson, like many other busy men, was able to devote no inconsiderable part of his time to public affairs. It was by his work in the Volunteer force that Colonel Williamson won his chief distinction. When a mere lad he joined the 19th L.R.V. as a private, and gradually worked himself up until he attained the rank of Colonel-Commandant of the Glasgow Highlanders. During his thirty-four years' connection with this regiment he did splendid service for the corps, alike in respect of the details of business and on the parade ground. He took an active part in every movement which had for its object the due recognition of the Volunteers as an essential part of the defensive forces of the country, and he lost no opportunity of giving expression to the views he held on the subject. Colonel Williamson's name appeared on the first list of officers who received the Volunteer decoration, and in August, 1902, he was awarded the Coronation medal. Colonel Williamson was twice married. He leaves three sons by his first wife, a daughter of the late Sir John Watson of Earnock; and he is survived by his second wife, a daughter of the late DeputyInspector-General Hoggan, R.N. At Skelmorlie, on 13th July, Mr. William Shaw, writer, Glasgow, of the firm of Messrs. Borland, King, & Shaw. Mr. Shaw, whose death occurred with startling suddenness, was one of the best-known and most highly esteemed lawyers in the west of Scotland. He was born in Paisley in 1853. Having lost his father in childhood, he in his early years worked in the Underwood Mills, Paisley. With a determination to improve his position, he taught himself shorthand, which in these days was not so well known or generally practised as it is now, and, having attained some proficiency, he privately trained young lads in the evening. To obtain a University training for the youngest son, the family came to Glasgow, and Mr. Shaw entered the office of Messrs. Wright, Johnston, & Mackenzie, where he chose the litigious work of the profession, and acted for a time as Mr. T. G. Wright's private clerk. He then succeeded Mr. Ure, the present Solicitor-General, in the office of Messrs. Roberton & Ross, now represented by Messrs. Mackenzie, Roberton, & Cross. There he had full charge of their process work, including the litigations of the Glasgow Clyde Trust. On the death of Mr. Robert Ross, Mr. Shaw became, in 1881, a junior partner of the firm of Messrs. Borland & King, whose business career had been phenomenally rapid. Now all three partners of that period have died-Mr. King in 1899, Mr. Borland in 1903, and, last of the trio, Mr. Shaw. They were all reckoned able lawyers. On the retiral from Glasgow of Mr. Donald M'Phee, in 1890, Mr. Shaw was appointed fiscal of the Police Courts of Glasgow, and for three years he acted as such under Stipendiary Gemmel. The judge and fiscal appeared to suit one another, and many professional men think that that department of criminal procedure in Glasgow was never better manned than during the fiscalship of Mr. Shaw. His general professional work gradually increased, and he was under the necessity of resigning office, his successor being Dr. George Neilson, the present esteemed occupant. On the resignation of Mr. James Mackenzie as the first lecturer on Mercantile Law in Glasgow University, Mr. Shaw obtained the appointment, and for several years he proved a very industrious and efficient teacher. Indeed, his class had become the popular one of the Law Faculty, attended, as it was, by young accountants as well as law clerks. Mr. Shaw spared no pains, and was enthusiastic as a teacher; indeed, it is no secret that his personal influence secured a handsome partial endowment of what should be a permanent professorship of law. The professional brethren with whom Mr. Shaw daily came in contact held him in high respect, he being always a courteous opponent and eminently fair-minded. In his pleadings before the local Sheriffs he was convincingly earnest, and was trusted by the Court. He had attracted a large circle of clients and friends, who appreciated his methods and business capacity. Mr. Shaw became a member of the Glasgow Faculty of Procurators in June, 1887, and served for a term in the Council. He is survived by his widow, a daughter of the late Mr. T. G. Wright (remembered by an older generation as a leader of the Glasgow bar), and two daughters. At Banff, on 16th July, Mr. Alexander Watt, solicitor, aged sixty-four. Mr. Watt, who was a native of Macduff and a brother of Mr. George Watt, K.C., was one of the best-known and most prominent legal practitioners in Banffshire. He held many important appointments, such as clerk of lieutenancy of the county, local law agent for the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, and for the Countess of Seafield, and he was for many years Conservative agent for the county. He was also for several years factor on the estate of Troup, and a prominent member of Banffshire County Council, taking a leading part in its discussions, and for several terms he was a useful member of Banff Town Council and School Board. At Edinburgh, on 24th July, Mr. Marcus J. Brown, S.S.C., of Messrs. M. J. Brown, Son, & Co., Edinburgh and Musselburgh. Born at Musselburgh in 1858, Mr. Brown was educated at the Musselburgh Institution, and, after training for the legal profession and attending the law classes at Edinburgh University, he was admitted a law agent in 1885, in which year he also joined the S.S.C. Society. A shrewd man of business, he soon acquired a large practice in the Sheriff Courts, and it was not unusual to find him successfully arguing cases before the Sheriff with prominent counsel opposed to him. In the Court of Session, also, he had an extensive practice, and in the other branches of legal work he was regarded as a man of wide knowledge and experience. Though a keen business man, Mr. Brown found it possible to give some time to golf and other forms of sport. A Musselburgh man, he made the most of his opportunities of acquiring early in life a knowledge of the Royal and ancient game, and twenty years ago he had possibly no superior amongst the amateurs of his native town. As a member of the Royal Musselburgh Club, he was one of the most consistent winners of their cherished old silver cup. He was one of the players in the first amateur golf championship held at St. Andrews in 1886, when he was beaten by Mr. H. S. C. Everard in the second round. Notes from Edinburgh. PARLIAMENT HOUSE, 31st July, 1907. THE beginning of the month saw the return, after his short sojourn in France, of the Lord President, who resumed his T duties in good health; and, curiously enough, his lordship had the resumption of work broken gently to him in a very unexpected manner. Of five cases put out in the roll, one was settled, while in the remaining four no appearance was made by or for the appellants or reclaimers, which resulted in their appeals and reclaiming notes being dismissed. It is not uncommon to find a "rot" set in among the cases put out for hearing, but the one in question was on a wholesale scale, and the First Division thus cleared off two days' work between ten and eleven o'clock. A few days like that in both First and Second Divisions would see a goodly hole knocked in the respective rolls, which, as they stand, can afford a large reduction in the number of cases. Officially the supplementary appellate Court, instituted by the recent Act of Sederunt, goes by the designation of the Extra Division," but unofficially and generally practitioners talk of it only as the "Third Division," which may or may not suggest that, in importance, it is inferior to the Second Division, which, again, is, rightly or wrongly, supposed to be next in importance to the First Division. Popular ideas are, it is well known, held as to the relative merits of the two permanent Divisions, the First being regarded as the premier tribunal, whose judgments are more sought after than those of the Second Division, and the number of causes marked to the former as compared with those taken before the latter indicates what is the popular belief. Whatever be the ideas entertained as to the two Divisions named, it ought to be borne in mind that the Extra Division represents a happy blending of the intellectual forces of both, it being composed of two First Division judges, with one judge from the Second Division. The Extra Division sat during the two weeks ending on 13th July, and the impression made in the rolls as the result of its labours is therefore but slight. Practitioners were in doubt as to whether formal and incidental motions were to be made, when necessary, before that Division, and it was generally understood that no motions whatever were to be enrolled in that Court, but that these should be taken before the Division, First or Second, as the case might be, to which the causes belonged. Doubts have been removed as to this matter of procedure by the publication now and then in the rolls of single bills," under the heading "Extra Division"; and as motions have been made before, and granted by, that Division, it is clear that, where cases have been disposed of by that tribunal, all subsequent motions must be taken before it so long as it is sitting. If it be not sitting, we may assume that it will not be incompetent to enrol motions in the Division |