LONDON GAELIC SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17629, 5 December 1922, Page 9

LONDON GAELIC SOCIETY.

A NEW ZEALANDER HONOURED.

(from OCR OWN COitRESPONDENT.) LONDOX, October 33. Mr Neil Mackenzie Forbe3 (Wanganui) wa9 tlio chiei gatest last week at a dinner party representing the Gaelio Society and the majority of tho Scottish Societies in Londom. Mr lon Macpherson, Minister of Pensions, as chief of the Gaelic Society of London, presided.

Mr M&cphenon, in. proposing Mr Forbca'e heal til, said that assembly of good Highlanders welcomed hiia not only se & distinguished representative of a great Do-' minion, but also for his own distinguished qualities. New Zealnnd would alwaya have an attraction for Highlanders, for ancestors oi his own were amongst tho first to Bettlo there. lie hoped! and believed that Air i'orbes, during jus sojourn, had enjoyed tho glories and beauties of ilia countiy from which ho had sprung. He u.sked ilr .Forbes to convey to their Kinsmen iu iN'ew Zealand not only their efieclion and esteem of himself, but also their deep regard and consideration lor their fellow Ucela and the hope that they would continue to maintain tho friendly and powerful traditions of their r&oe.

Sir Murdoch Macdonald, M.P., supporting the toast, said Mr Forbca's forbears around Invernesa-shire wero a century ago one ol the most important families in Sootland, and he was proud that tho guest of the evening was carrying on tho traditions of his race, with credit to himself and the Highland people, in the Antipodes. Mr T. it. Maclean, hon. secretary of tho Gaelic Society, said that as one who had toured Now Zealand recently ho knew well Mr Forbes typified) Highland tradition, sentiment, and hospitality, and maintained those high standards of public and eocial service set by his forbears. He was glad to lieaj of tho hearty welcomo that was accorded to him everywhere he went during hi» two months' tour of Scotland. * Mr Forbea, whose health was drunk with Highland honours, said he was profoundly impressed with the kindness and goodwill shown by everybody during his tour, and he assured all Scots and Higlilanders of a real Highland welcome when they came to New Zealand. Ha had attendsd the Northern meetings at Inverness and the HighlaiJti games at Aboyno, Cowal, and Oban, aud the most wonderful to his mind were those at Inverness, where the organisation, of which ho had considerable experience in bis adopted country, was unequalled. Lieut.-Col. Campbell Galbrailh, proposing "Our Overseas Brethren," said ihyo not only remembered their kinsmen overseas, but alas thoso who lay at rest in the field® of battlo in Flanders, France, Mesopotamia, and elsewhere, who would return to Lochaber no more. This countiy was poorer by emigration, but the Empire waa tlio greater for their leaving. Dr. Oumming Grant supported tho toast, and Mr P. M. Slaokay (lata of Otago) replied. Mr Roderick Macleod, president of the Gaelio Society, and Mr .A. H. Bain also spoke in highly complimentary tenns of tho guest. Pipers of the ftjndon Scottish and the Scots Guards played selections and Gaelio eongs were sung during tho evening.