THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 9154, 8 June 1893, Page 2

THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society for the election of office-bearers was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart street, last night. Mr Dugald M'Lachlan occupied the chair, and in a Gaelic address remarked that this was now the only purely Celtic society in the Southern Hemisphere. He referred to the muscular strength of the Highland race as manifested in " tugs-of-war' in which thoy had taken part, and to their moral and mental qualities, which under the influence of education fitted them for the exalted positions which some of them occupied in this and other lands. He further referred to the testimony of occasional visitors from other parts of the colony to the pleasure they had enjoyed in being present at some of the society's meetings in Dunedin, where they heard the old familiar tongue spoken and sung. The office-bearers elected for the ensuing year were :—Chief, Rev. Dr Stuart; president, Mr Dugald M'Lachlan} vice-presi-dents—Messrs Dan. Matheson and Dan. Munro; secretary, Mr W. Macleod; treasurer, Mr T. C. Matheson; piper, Mr John M'Kcchnic; librarian, Mr D. M'Millau; committee—Messrs N. M'Fadyen (bard), Hon. J. M'Kenzie, D. M'Quilken, J. M'Millan, John M'Donald (Palmerston), Charles Campbell, Roderick M'Kenzie, Simon M'Donald, Lachlan M'Donald, Colin M'Kenzie, Angus Matheson, George Ritchie, Malcolm M'Donald, Murdoch M'Ritchie, John M'Lennan, and I). C. M'Donald ; auditors—Messrs J. M'Millan and George Ritchie. v

The Secretary acknowledged the courtesy of the secretary of the Burns Club in sending letters of invitation to the president and secretary of the society to attend the next quarterly meeting of the Burns Club, and also in sending statistics; of the Gaelic, speaking population of Scotland at the last census. The secretary read the statistics referred to, which proved mo3t interesting. He also referred in terms of much regret to the death of Mrs M'lntosli, who had, till her removal io Christchurch, abouPa year ago, been at most of the meetings of the society, enlivening the proceedings by her expressive rendering of Gaelic songs. Mr William Hutchison, M.H.R., delivered a short valedictory address prior to his leaving for Wellington. In the concert which followed the singers were Mrs Campbell, Mrs Chisholm, and Miss C. M'Donald, Messrs Neil M'Fadyen, Lachlan M'Donald, Colin M'Kenzie, Alexander Ross, and D. Henderson. The pipes were efficiently played )>y Messrs J. Murray, .1. M'Kechnie. and Alexauder M'Rae. Mr Dan. Turner was elected a member of the society.

Before the meeting closed mention was made of the approaching annual gathering.