SCOTTISH SOCIETIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 14

SCOTTISH SOCIETIES.

SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL.

"A BR AW BRICHT NICHT."

Anyone without Scots blood who was present at the Scottish gathering at the Town Hall last night must have been impressed, and perhaps even slightly envious, of the remarkable spirit of enthusiasm and good fellowship that prevailed throughout the evening. The gathering was oiie of the most brilliant

ever held at the Town, Hall, and was characterised not only by splendid organisation and attention to detail, but by the national spirit that ran through the large audience and united both young and old in a common bond. The function, organised by the combined Scottish Societies, in aid of the Mayor's Crippled Children's Fund, took the form of a social and conversazione, and the scene was one of rare gaiety and colour, numbers of the men being in Highland dress, and many of the ladies also wearing tartans Hung over their shoulders. A complete transformation 'of the Town Hall had been effected by members of the executive, and the effect obtained was most graceful and striking. Attractive framed posters of typical scenes in Scotland were hung from the gallery and the sides of the hall had been arranged to form inglenooks, each assigned to the various counties and duly labelled. In each inglenook a form was placed so that guests might fill in their names and county. Streamers in Scotland's colours, blue and white, fluttered from the gallery, and blue was also seen in tlio numerous twinkling lights, half concealed in the festoons of foliage, which radiated from the central lights to the corners of the liall. The most spectacular change of all had, however, been effected 011 the stage, which gave a very realistic impression of a crofter's cottage, with a tiny burn running under an old stone bridge at one side, and the gaunt Trossachs rearing up in the background. Higher tip was hung the Majestic Scottish Standard, its rampant lion gleaming in the dimmer light. The programme, which was interspersed with dances, was well calculated to appeal to the heart, and sentiment of anyone who was of Scottish ancestry, including as it did many of the favourits old dances, such as the- Highland scliottische, the Edinburgh quadrilles, the military two-step, the thistle waltz, and the eiglitsome reel. Individual items were contributed by Mesdames T. Massicks, J. Black, T. W. S. Elliot, A. Rattray, Hill, Misses Isobel Langlands, Gwen McNaugliton, Patricia McLeod, Jeffreys, Joyce Clark, and Messrs. Stewart Harvey, ' Alan McSkimming, McFarlane, Jack, Allen, Millar, Peters.

Lilt of Pipe Music. Perhaps the moat stirring spectacle of the evening was. the piping to the dais of the chairman, Mr. David McLaren, members of the executive, and a guest of honour, Mr. C. R. Petrie, M.P., for Hauraki. The swing and lilt of the pipe music,"which was provided by the Auckland Pipe Band, headed by three standard-bearers carrying the Union Jack, the Flag, and 4he St r Andrew's Standard, Was heard to great advantage as the kilted pipers escorted their chairman through the hall. Mr. McLaren was in full Highland dress, his plaid being the Mac Donald tartan.

Following the singing of the first verses of the National Anthem, the Aukl Hundredth and the Scottish National Anthem, Mr. McLaren, chairmare of the combined committees, extended a warm welcome to the audience and also read; a letter from the Hon. Peter Fraser, Minister for Education, whose duties, in Wellington prevented him from being present. Mr. C. R. Petrie, M.P., also made a brief speech, paying a tribute to the Scottish tradition that had upheld Scottish calibre all over the world. The guests then all joined in the grand march, music being provided by the pipers and the orchestra. Among those present were: Mrs. David McLaren, who wore sea green cloque and silver lame; Mrs. John Barbour, black georgette; Mrs. J. Younie, cherry diagonal striped crcpe; Mrs. J. Sinclair, midnight blue georgette; Mrs. A. McKenzie, black georgette; Mrs. J. Preston, black chiffon; Mrs. J. Meikle, black georgette; Mrs. N. T. Elliot, peach chiffon velvet; Mrs. J. K. Black, black embossed velvet; Mrs. J. Pirie,. cigar brown lace; Mrs. J. M. Deas, cameo pink crepe; Mrs. R. McLeod, violet crepe de chine; Mrs. A. Hyauiason, wine crepe suede and silver lame; Mrs. C. R. Petrie, mulberry crepe; Mrs. J. P. Lornie, saxe blue marocain; Mrs. G. Spicer, cream lace; Mrs'. J. Douglas, brown lace; Mrs. G. Bennett, geranium red crepe; Mrs. P. G. Wright, Gloucester green satin and gold lame; Mrs. T. Massicks, phlox pink cloque; Mrs. J. S. Black. Burgundy faille; Mrs. W. McLeish, pillar box red crepe and silver lame; Mrs. J. Sinclair, navy georgette; Mrs. G. T. Graham, black ring velvet; Mrs., J. W. Bissett, black Chantilly lace; Mrs. R. White, cerise flat crepe.; Mrs. W. Spence, navy marocain; Mrs. J. Kennedy, navy crepe de chine; Mrs. Holmes, floral marocain; Mrs. Frank Goodsir, ivory cloqiie; Mrs. H. Neilsen, black windswept satin; Mrs. J.' Shields, black ring velvet; Mrs. F. Brown, black georgette; Mrs. A. Rattray, white pebble crepe; Mrs. J. Allan, black Chantilly lace; Mrs. H. E. Low, dusky pink crepe; Mrs. J. Campbell, black o-eorgette; Mrs. A. Reid, tangerine marocain" Mrs. J. Finlay, black silk lace; Mrs. H. Sandham, vieux rose crepe de chine; Mrs. H. S. Harvey, geranium red crepe; Mrs. A. Donne, wine velvet; Mrs. L. Walker, black velvet. Mrs. Scott Allen, black satin; Mrs. P. Clark, black marocain; Mrs. W. T. Dickson, shell pink crepe de chine; Mrs. T. Young, black georgette; Mrs. J. Cruickshank, mousseline de soie and silver lame; Mrs. J. W. Bisset, black silk lace; Mrs. A. C. McDonell, black velvet; Mrs. A. Goldie, Marina blue georgette; Mrs. W. R. Fletcher, blackflat crepe; Mrs. A. Hammond, black ring velvet; Mrs. A. Martin, flame taffeta; Mrs. D. McCrone, peach cloque; Mrs. G. Kennedy, Burgundy angel skin; Mrs. H. W. Reid, black crepe de chine; ,Mrs. W. 11 Pirie,'brown and gold Chantiliy lace; Mrs. H. Brackenridge, ciel blue crepe de chine; Mrs. J. Machean, bottle green bengaline; Mrs. T. Frazer, black Chantilly lace; Miss M. Muir, black georgette; Miss G. M. Bruce, floral georgette; Miss B. Reid, delphinium blue crepe de chine; Miss J. Cameron, black souple satin; Jtfiss F. C. Sinclair, pervenche blue crepe de chine; Mi-ss Joan McLaien, lacquer red crepe suede; Miss M. Lock, black ring velvet; Miss L. Cress, floral silk voile; Miss Lucy MacDonakl, black Chantilly lace; Miss D. ; McDonald, prim-; rose lace; Miss J.'' Desmond; ivory souple satin ; and lace; Miss Jean Ovenden, apricot taffeta; :Miss E. Johnston, salmon faille; Miss J. Ovenden, nigger brown taffeta.