THE RURKS CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10970, 26 January 1899, Page 6

THE RURKS CLUB.

The Auckland Burns Club met last evening in the Masonic Hall, Newton, to celebrate, according to their usual custom, the anniversary of the birth of him in whose remembrance the club was formed. It was not surprising that there should be a large gathering considering that, in addition to the important light in which the members regard the occasion, the programme contained the announcement, "Haggis and Bagpipes." Here and there among the festive gathering the rich Highland dress, eminently in keeping with the function, was visible.

Mr. George Fowlds, vice-president, presided, and opened the proceedings of the evening with a few appropriate words, in the course of which he said it was a long time since he had had the pleasure- of being with them. Since that time, however, he had had the opportunity of travelling round the world, and had visited the home of the poet. Speaking (if the change the innovators had wrought since the days of Burns, Mr. Fowlds said that he had driven out from Ayi in a molor-ca l ' to Burns' cottage. Though there was considerable change in the vicinity of Bums' birthplace, yet there was little altered in the cottage in which he first saw the light of day. It was now set apart as a museum of Burns relics, and a large number of the original copies of the poet's poems were displayed in glass eases. Close by was a monument erected in memory of the poet. Passing on to the individuality of Burns, the speaker said that the poet had believed in and had written of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. He (Mr. Fowlds) thought it was a fact that men were coming more and more to recognise the bond of brotherhood between them and the responsibility attaching to it. The world had been blessed and benefited by the light of Burns. Mr. Fowlds concluded by saying that after going through a good musical programme, they were to keep up the timehonoured custom of eating haggis, that chieftain o' the puddin' race." A number of pleasing musical selections, both vocal and instrumental, were then given, the performer? acquitting themselves most creditably, and being loudly applauded. Encores were frequently demanded and generously responded to. The concert over, the haggis, that dish which delights the hearts of Scotch people, was ushered in with the skirl of the pibroch, which was skilfully managed by Mr. Fotlieringham. The dish itself was prepared by Mrs. Moticur, who must thoroughly understand the art of preparing it, judging from j the way it was eaten and appreciated. After I the haggis and other refreshments had been partaken of, a dance was indulged in, which lasted till a fairly late hour, when the successful gathering came to a close.