THE GARLIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2237, 14 January 1897, Page 11

THE GARLIC SOCIETY.

| I The monthly meeting and the New Year 1 social of the Gaelic Society of New .Zealand ( was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart atrfceb, oti the 6oh. The Hon. J. M'Kcnzia (chief) presided, nnd there wafe a large attendance. Mr 0. M'Eeciinie, jun., having played a inarch on thefbagpipes, and Ihe Hon. Secsktatit (Me W. MacLeod) having read the minutes of the previous meeting, Tbo Chaisman greeted the gafchericg in Gaelic, wiahiag all present a Happy New Year. He then went on to state that it; gave him very grtat pleasure to be present that evening. Durirg the year past a number of those who took part in previous gatherings of the society had been removed D 7 death, aud while it was to be. regretted that thje ranks of the older mwabevß wars thus being thinned, it was gr«itifyiug to find a steadily increasing number [ joining the society. La.sb year there had been an increase rather than a diminution in the membership. It was highly gratifying to find so many Highlanders in ♦mis colony taking such, an interent in the mother tongue, which I was one of the main objects of the society. : Owing to th« public position he held in the ] colony he had uofc beeuabla to attend the meetings of the society as frequently an he could have wished; but ho would bo able to duvote more time to its interests when his time would expire as a Minister of the Crown. Some people might ask what was the good of such a society, but those present would agree with him j when he said !t had m»ny advantages, for it .| enabled them to corns into contact with one another, to learn where they-had coma from, j and to foster their love of the mother country 1 —a lovo which was characteristic of Highlanders , -wherever they went. — (Applause.) Then, again, it wa3 desirable that theyehould impress on the young the importance of knowing the history and the traditions of the race from which they had descended. He did not think they had anything to be ashamed of in the Highland race. Wherever they had gone Highlanders had been able to take their place. If they read the history of Great Britain they would see that wherever there was hard fighting —Alma, Balaclava, Lucknow —there Highlanders were to be found. Then, again, amongst the great statesmen of the world Highlanders were to be found. Even the father of the great Gladstone was said to have been born in Ross-shire. Then again, as to churchmen, it had been said that a better Presbyterian minister could not be got than a Highland minister.— (Laughter.) Many would say that they had no right to praise themselves in that way, but they had every reason to be proud of their race. Highlanders had ever been noted for their loyalty to their chief. After the battle of Culloden, the Macintosh was a fugitive, and notwithstanding that a high price was offered by the British Government for his capture, he was guarded by his own clan for two years. And in like manner Prince Charlie was' never betrayed although a reward of £30,000 was offered for him either dead or alive. In speaking of the loyalty of Highlanders for their chiefs, he recalled the remarks of a lady who w&s uotiviug on the subject, au'l who expressed tho belief chat the Saviour made a great mistake in not haviug 12 HighlAn.let-: for His A postles. If he had she said Ihv-ra vov.ld have been no Judas lecariot, or if there were there would have been another Highlander behind him to put an e»id to him with his d'ulc. •—(Laughter and app!fwe ) So loog fes tho Gaelic Society existed he ho jul they w^m.l not allow it to 'k- in-dt 1 machine. —(Hear, he.'.'- * _\U _Ti3h'an<'' p.rs f r c<n strong-minded men r.i heV. 0; <vl-w. <? their own, Although a r•• •*''< me;.., held f n.\ .(l sw.

political opinions as he did tbeto were other j members who differed from him, And everyone ; should be allowed the fullest liberty in the > matter. He trusted that Any attempt to create ' discord in such a way would be immediately frubtrated. During the laat elections he had been asked to write to some of tho members of the society requesting them to use their , influence on behalf of certain candidate*, but he refused to do anything of the kind. — (Applause.) Mr M'Kenzie concluded by expressing the pleasure he felt at being chief of the society. He was going Home at a future j date, and that he could sty he was the chief of j the Gaelic Society of New Zealand was to him j the greatest honour. He would not detain I them longer, but on & future occasion he intended to deliver &n address (the m&teriftJft of which he had been collecting for some time past) on "The Highlands of Soofcland and Highlanders in general." — (Loud applause.) The programme wa3 then proceeded with. DuriDg the proceedings the Hod. J. G. Ward entered tho roon), and was received wjbh applause. Mr J. }?. M. FiJASER aud Dr GonttON MacI doxald delivered short addresses, which were lietoued to with interest. The Hon. J. G-. Ward expressed ths great pleasure he felt in being unexptrtoiSly asked to gay a few words at such a gathering. Some of the warmest friends ho had we;o countrymen of thoso preseot. It vte-n very {{retiiyiv.g indeed to J find tbat tho Sco?o«men in this community were prepared to me^t ytar by year, aud, by-sach eeaemblsges as the one that night, show a good example to every other nfctionnjity. He desired to take this opportunity of publicly expressing bio gratitude and heartfelt thunks to the I Scotch people in bis district for the loyal I m&nne? in which they had stuck to ' him undt**r the extrior<iin*?y cirounastances of the lacfc 12 mentr*. He trusted that in tho j interval that vrouid elapse before they mot > nezb year no difficulties greater than must j naturally occur would overtake their, »ndthafc j next year's gathering would he greater even ! than the one that; night. — (Appl<iU99.) ) The Chairman made feeling reference to the I dficease of tbo /ato Mr J. Mnrray Graham, the I con'*Bpondiug secretary of the Hmwke'a Bay j Highland Society, which would be greatly regretted by all who hud known him. He was as enthusiastic a Highlander as ever was bora, &cd had been ona o? the founders of the Hawkrt'a Bay Highland Society, Mr Graham { had coma to the colony some three years ago in illhcalrb, and it was to the credit of the society whoiie secretary he was that he had every attention ia bis 'sat hkseos that Highland friendship could supply. He vft\s nursed fco bhe last by * ! Highland wotn&ii, and the Kociety gave him a HighUnd funeral. The programme was an interesting one and was listened to with the very greatest pleasure, ihe sndieace denoting its approval by unstinted applause, M*s Campbell rendered a Gaelic 1 ftosg, Mr J. M'Slillan contributed a reading from Osniea, Mnatora Ola-tk and M'Donald dacced a Highland fling, the Burns Club choir sang "Hail to' the ohief" and "The flowers of tlie forest," Mr J. Turner rendered a Gaelic song, while Mr A. Gray played a choioe 'election cf Scottish airs on the violin. The Hon. J. G. Ward also contributed a vocal j number entitled " Thexn'a sure to be a row," I which evoked bo vociferous an encore thftfe he I W3B compelled to supplement it with another. "When the kya coma hame" waa sung very Rweetly by Miss Annie M'Donald, while Mr Brown's song " I'm a Scotchman bom" was so much appreciated th&b ho was honoured with an encore, siugmg in rewponse "Take care of the sbilliug you earn." Mr Duqald M'Lachlan gave a Gaelic speccu, in which he baid he was proud, fco ba preienti at that large meeting to uphold the language and traditions of tha Highlanders. He knew of no people numerically so few who had given to the world ao mauy men renowned in every walk of I life, and who bad distinguished themselves, I I especially in literature, divinity, and anna. ( I Much credit w&s due to tha offioe-'iievcers of tho ! aociety for tho manner in which they kept i% up, and he hoped ib would continue to prosper. — (Applause.) By way of closing the meeting the Chairman called for a few reruaiks from tha President (Mr D. C. M'Donald), who took occasion to thank the various biogers who had contributed to the enjoyment ai the »vening, »ud particularly to the Burns Club choir. The pipers were Messrs J. M'Kechnie, sen., J. Murray, A. Gray, aud A. Murray . After the concert a dance was held, and many participated in it with spirit.