THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14000, 5 September 1907, Page 9

THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Tlio monthly mooting of the Gaelics Society was hold last night in the Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart street.. The chief (Mr Dugald M'Phcrson) occupied tho cihair. and, in opening tho meoting, remarked! tint in connoction with':tho " leill' 1 ,: to bo . held in 9 Glasgow for the' advancement of Gaelic education, „Mr ltodisriok Mackenzie and himself had eich sent .a contribution of New Zealand grass treo or lancewood (pscudo-Panax orassiiolium) to Lieutenant Henderson, to bo' distributed: to various .stalls, and.the . Bociety had voted a .sum for "the purohasn of New Zealand greenstone. charms, representing Maori art, sueli as, canoes, axes, meres, etc. Tliero was bamg scut Homo for the same. object also the sgian dubh, manufactured: by Mr J. Hendry, of Mosgiel, a unique piece of workmanship, Maori oarved and silver-mounted. It . was to to hoped that these would fetch good prices at tho feill. The only item ,of interest that ho (tho- speaker) had to mention was the marriage' that' afternoon .of Mr Donald Jf'Kechnie (ono of the - society's pipers) to Miss .Nellie M'Leod.. Piper M'Keclmie had been a valuable member of' their bagpipe fraternity, • and ho had no doubt all the members wished him all happiness and prosperity in tho new sphere of life into wliioh lie hud entered. Mr lioderiok Mac-, Itanrie (chieftain) followed with a speech in tho same strain of eulogy on 'Mi M'Kechnie, who, he was sorry to say, would not now bo resident in Dunedin, as his home would be in Wyndham. Ho, would' oarry away with him .;the best thanhs'of the society for his past services, and its 'best -wishes for Iris future happiness, of which the' union of the two clans of M'Kechnio and M'Lccd was the best possible augury.—(Applause.) The Rev. Duncan Maclennan, M.A. delivered a' short, speech, in whicli he thanked tho Highlanders and othcirs who turned out in such .numbers to 'his recent lecture, and for the support they thus gave to the object he had in view. He also reminded the members of the Gaelio oloss,. which was conducted every Monday evening. On last class, night part of the proceedings s'as a debate in Gaelio 011 the rival merits of town and country life. The Gaelic papers' read on the subject rare remarkably good, although prepared 1 by pupils'ivho knew comparatively little Gaelio when they first attended tlie olass. He (tho speaker) was delighted to be present to hear Mr M'Fadyen (the society's bard) and to see tho young Highlanders danco the Highland (ling, ths sword dance, aud seahntruibhas. ' The last-mentioned, he added, was a historio dance, recalling tho time when Highlanders were permitted to discard tho . awkwaid lowland " trews" and resume tho native garb. The music expressed tho contcuipt with which the " old trews" were regarded and the sense of relief with which the kilt was donned once more. The concert was contributed by a willing band of Highland and Scotch singers. Mr Neil M'Fadjcu sang "The Marquis of Lome," and, in Gaelic, " Tha mi 'n duil" and " Thig tri nigh-can gun iaruidli." Miss M'C&llum. sang "Ho' ro mo nighean donn choidheach "■ and " Cruachon Bcann," Mrs Lister "John Highlandman" and "Mary o! Algyle," Mr M'Kinnon 11 A ghrugach dhoiin," Mr E, It.- Donaldson "The battle of Stirling" and " I hc-ar the pipers calling," and Mr Ml/sod his Gaelic translation of "When the kye conies hamc." Master Colin M'Kenzie danced the sword dance and the Highland fling; and' Master Donald M'Kenzie sc-auntreus.