ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 197, 19 August 1913, Page 2

ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY.

TEW YEARS' WORK. THE PKIYSrDKXT-S ADDRESS, At ti meeting; of the St. Andrew's Society, -held in the Choral Hall last evening, to celebrate the anniversary of Sir Walter Scott, the president (Mr. M. McLean) reviewed at some length the progress of the organisation during the ton years of its existence. There, was a large attendance of members and others interested, and the president's remarks Mere heard with much interest. Mr. AtcLcnn mentioned that of late the membership had showed n tendency to decrease, rather than to increase. It was a little difficult, be said, to account for the L.ck of interest displayed !>v Scottish people resident in Auckland iii Ihe work ut the society. It. lias been spid by sdmeuae litat the entertainments 1 were not so good us in previous years. but he-did not believe that this was the case. He was afraid that the ideals of the members were not high enough. When the society was established it was intended Lhat the members should endeavour to achieve something other than the entertainment of one another. The speaker expressed the opinion that the rules of l!ir society should he amended in order to makp it possible to do something in the direction of assisting new- arrivals from Scotland who might be in need of help. He thought, also that the society should take steps towards perpetuating the memory of Scotland's great men. In order to do this it would be necessary to do something more practical than the holding of an annivcrsafv eniertaimr.ent in their honour. ]|p hoped that a move would lip made shortly to have a. statue erected in Auckland in remembrance of Robert Burns, and he was confident, that the Scottish population of Auckland would combine in order that the memorial might be worthy of the oreat poet. (Applause.)

Those, -who assisted in the musical programme, were: —MLss A. Bruce and Messrs. C. Hunter, <.'. B. Coney, the S-U. Andrew's dancing class, and the members of tbe band. (Mrs. Xeavex. was accompanist.