HIGHLANDERS’ LAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 14635, 3 August 1911, Page 3

HIGHLANDERS’ LAMENT

AND GAELIC TRIBUTES. The Gaelic Society Jiokl a meeting last night to pay true Highland tributes to' the memory of th© lat© Mr William MacLeod, the society’s secretary, whose work and enthusiasm for promoting tho interests of Gaels, and keeping green in the far country the traditions of the land of dim shielings on tho heathery hills, will long be remembered by tho Highlanders of Otago. Chief Dugald McPherson presided, and bad associated with him on the platform tho Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, a chieftain of the society, and the Rev. D. Maclonnan, the society’s chaplain. Tho Oddfellows’ Hall in Stuart street was crowded, many of tho audience being Highland folk from upland and valley farms in this province. Throughout the short proceedings there was the note of sadness at the absence of one who was respected by all who knew him. The Chief read poetic, tributes in Gaelic from the society’s bards, Mrs Colville, of Lawrence, and Air A. 0. Robertson. Tho Chief also made a few remarks about the loss the society had sustained by the death of Air MacLeod. A beautiful Gaelic tribute to the me.mory of the late secretary was paid by the Rev. 1). Afacletman, who was kind enough 1o translate it for the reporters. Amongst the Highlanders' of Dunedin Mr AfacLeod had been tho flowcir of the forest, tho cedar amongst tho fir trees, the, top grain of the wheat, and the. chief pinion of the wing —these, being proverbial Gaelic expressions. The Chaplain also referred to two more Highlanders who had passed to Yonder—.Messrs Donald Alaepherson and John Al'Pherson, the latter being a brother of tho chief. These had been amongst the loading Highlanders of Dunedin, whose places would in _ all probability never be filled in the society in our time. “Wo shall go te them, but they will not return to us.” Pipe-major M'Kechnio played a lament, ‘ The Flowers of the Forest,’ whilst tho audience stood. The meeting then closed. Air J. ALLaehlan has been appointed secretary, .and Air T. W. Alunro has been elected treasurer.