SCOTLAND.
The Duke of Argyll is working some "home diggings" near Inverary, where, two years since, while the land was being drained, a rich ore of nickel was discovered. At the present time many hundred tons of the valuable ore are collected in barrels ready for exportation. The Duke has refused 301. a ton for it.
During the month of December, the rain-gauge showed that less rain fell in Scotland than had fallen in any corresponding month for many years ; but January has been rainy almost beyond that of any previous January in the memory of man. In the vale of Strathmore the low lands are greatly flooded, and there is too much reason to fear that much of the sown wheat has been materially damaged. In the counties of Perth and Forfar large fields of turnips are under water, and will be to a great extent destroyed.
A collision on the Hamilton branch of the Caledonian Railway somewhat resembles that at Oxford. There had been a slip of earth from the heavy rain; and the trains both way could use only a single line. But it had been directed that every train should be preceded by a pilot-engine : this was ne- glected one morning, and a passenger-train fell foul of a mineral-train coming in an opposite direction. Fortunately, the speed of the trains was not great, and the passengers escaped with bruises.
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