CONCERT AND SOCIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 236, 5 October 1936, Page 10

CONCERT AND SOCIAL

The Scottish Societies of Auckland on Saturday evening combined in a valedictory concert 011 the eve of the closing and demolition of the Scots' Hall, Symonds Street, the building of which by the late Mr. W. Mennie had originally been intended to be devoted to Scottish interests. As the building was opened 011 Burns' Night, January 25, 1922, by a concert given by the Auckland St. Andrew's Society, of which Air. Mennie was then president, the closing concert had been conceded to the society. The president of the Auckland St. Andrew's Society, Mr. David McLaren, presided. The president, accompanied by past presidents, Messrs. J. AV. Bissett and J. Howie, with the vice-presidents, Alessrs. D. Taylor, C. Brash, G. G. Spicer and J. Barbour, was piped into the hall and on to the dais, by Pipe Major D. Ferguson.

A, further welcome and piping in to the chiefs and chieftains and officers of kindred Scottish societies was given to representatives of the Gaelic Society, Devonport Caledonians, Scottish Regimental Association, New Lynn St. Andrew's and Sandringliam Caledonian Society, who \yere represented by Messrs. J. McLeod, H. ,F. AV. Aleikle, M. Bruce, J. Mac Donald and Stanley George. After the singing of the National Anthem the president, Air. D. McLaren, extended a hearty welcome to the assembly and in his address outlined the history and associations of the hall. The programme proceeded with the Auckland and District Highland Pipe Band playing a lament, march and strathspey. This was followed by items by Air. AV. Gemmell (songs), Madame Bella Kussell (songs), Miss AVynne James (elocution), Miss Jean Menzies

(songs), Miss Owen McNaughton (Highland dancing), Mrs. A. Rattray (songs), Mr. Copeland (songs). The accompanist was Mrs. Andrew Dollar in the absence by illness of the societies' honorary accompanist, Miss L. Braithwaite. Supper was then served by the ladies' auxiliary under the direction ot Mrs. Black and Mesdanies McLaren, Bissett, Barbour, McKain, Muirhead and Misses Douglas and Barbour. Thereafter to the strains of the Highland Pipe Band Scottish dances and reels were entered into with enthusiasm under the able master of ceremonies, Captain Harrison Lee. The piece of sculpture by R. 0. Gross in the Scots' Hall, depicting Robert Burns, has been donated to the president, Mr. David McLaren, to retain for the Auckland St. Andrew's Society.