SCOTS BANQUET

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 65, 14 September 1925, Page 11

SCOTS BANQUET

-AN ENJOYABLE EVENING

HONOUR TO A HAQ(jis.

It is generally known that Scots always turn' out in force to their gatherings, whether they be of a social or of an athletic nature. It was no wonder, then, that the banquet heid in the Wellington Caledonian So.dcty's Hall on Saturday evening, to celebrate the occasion of the. ainalga mation: of the old Scottish, and Caledonian ■ Societies \ into ono body, known as the Wellington Caledonian Society, was well patronised by th« local Scots. ' Highland lads and lassies turned out in good numbers, paid, bearing an unmistakable '.'Air' Scotch " rf atmosphere,the banquet WiW a big success..: . Chief ton' Hamilton Nimmo presided, ' and others present Included tho Mayor (Mr. C. J. 'B. Norwood), Lady Luke, Mr. G.: Mitchell, and Mr. A. b. Sievwright. ; Among tho apologies for absence received were those ,fr~>m His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Charles ; Fergusson,, the Prime -Minister (the Hon. ,T. G. Coates), arid Sir John Luke, M;P. , After the loyal toast had. been' hon-: cured, ■ Chieftain Nimmo addresed the gathering. It .gave" him; great pleasure, he said, tb know that, the. long sought-for amalgamation ; of the Scottish and Caledonian Societies had been brought about. The function . was an epoch-making one in the history of Wellington Scots. Thei chiet'tain considered^ that, with loyal'sup;port the. Wellington Caledonian * Society: w6uld.be one. second la' none in the' Dominion.;;. He was sorry that Captain .M' Arthur was not ...'present, for it was largely, through his and Mr.: George Louchiin 's'-.efforts .;.' that ■ Ihe amalgamation: y/as: brought about. There Yfere. four essentials; to success,' said Sir Harry.-.Lauderj^and .they, would have to be observed if the society was, to be a success.; ;-.,- They ivere: God, work,; enthusiasm, an d a kindly feeling to your neighbour over ;tiie garden 'fence, v-,. 1.;;.' .; ;

' Mr. Duncan, of the Bullor ; Celbdonian Society, said that ho thought 'that the amalgamation of the two societies was a very great tiling for 'the Scotch,folk, of; Wellington. There should. haye been no need for 'any amalgamation though, for in the firstplace ; ticre shbujd/ nevnr, have' *been two societies iv. Wellington. He(; ■ '\y.aa '- sure that such .class ;■■'■■ distinct ion that there ; used, to. be .xwas . never taught in-the history of (Scotlaud. ! . ;"It; is' a,,'jgr'pat- pleasure to mo," said Mr, G. ,Mitch;eU, ';to. know that the long fued;; between 1 the two societies is ended." ."• Mr*-. /.'Mitchell then touphed on Scotland'« part in tho Great War.; He' had always realised; the wonderful characteristics' of tho fine Scqtchnien: in the field. They ahraj'sr hail ■ clung together. As. far as New Zealand was concerned the early. Scotch immigrants were r tlie best settlers;,she'ever had.. , ...'(The'; Mayor; said ■; he was . delighted to.see so many present.- He hoped that the amalgamation would .bo moat suceessfn],'and ho folt» sure, that it should be, abenefit not enly to tfiie ;ftcotch people in Wellington, but 'throughout■the.:Domini6h'.' /Ho,want-, <?& to ,see in 'Wellington a building, that.would be a credit ib.the Scotch people; a building would fly the Scotch flag, and one: that Scotch people would be',able 'to' point' to ' with ■pride.',' •, "■ ■■ ■;■'■ , .;'f\': '.-'■; '.'..;■ ■'_;■ ":••'.■ : During the ;the steaming hot /haggis was proudly . borne round tho hall to the strains of the:pipes. Robert. Burn,'s.? ode to tho'haggis was then '■ delivered by a braw- Scot, after which'it was sampled. ■ ' \ In an interval the irl'Vill I}'1}' Shield, for, harrier running, ;waa presented to the; captain of the Scottish harrier team, Mr. F; Sily,er, by Chieftain 1 Nimnio: . Mr. A, :i3. , Sioywright re-; plied on behilf „pf■ the Scottish Haf.^ rier Club, and : the winning teani;> Musical items wore rendered^ and a pleasant, gathering was concluded [..with a.dance. '"•■.-.:'.' •.''•■'■■.. .'. '"'■. ■'■■■ : : .■ ' ;