DUNEDIN BURN'S CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14668, 30 October 1909, Page 9

DUNEDIN BURN'S CLUB

HALLOWEEN CONCERT, •In Dunedin Halloween concert has become something to bo looked forward to by all true Scotchmen, and never fails to draw a very large attendance of members of tho Burns Club and their friends. The- number that attended the concert last evening was quite as great as usual, tho Garrison Hall being pretty well filled in all parts, and the programme of song, danco, and story was fully oqual to anything that has been presented at previous annual gatherings. Tho president of the Burns Club (Mr Alexander Bain) occupied the chair, and there were with him on tho platform Messrs J. B. Thomson and Stevenson (vice-presidents) and jMr Dugald M'Pherson (chief of the Gaelic- Society), While, tho people wore (looking into the hall tho Dunedin Pipe Band played somo national music outside, and subsequently opened tho concert with a Scottish Eo)eo. tion, porfonncd in tho band's best style. Tho Burns choir, which appears to be getting stronger every year, noxt onteriTi t,loso I)rwellt witn to* l wrt "MR. Tho gathering of the clans." Mr Braik conducted, and, while there was a pre- ' ponderanec of ladies' voices, the item went really well. Tho Chairman then mado a few remarks. Ho said ho had thrco little parcels sent from Dumfriesshire, Lauderdale, and the Edinburgh Scotsman. Aa they knew,' purines was one 'of tho three shires that formed tho Scottish border land. The parcels contained heather, and tho one was from a lady, and addressed to the president of tho Dutiodin Bums Club, and inside was written the "words " Dumfries hoather.' He had often .been twitted with) all his, friend being ladies, and ho would not bo offended, no matter how often ha was told it.-(Laught«r.) The lady who sent the heather lived -in Edinburgh, and the gifts showed that there <y o ro hearts in tho far land from whioh thoy came beating m sympathy with their own. He wanted to set rid of this heather, and lie was going Jo present it to the chieftain of tho Highland clans, Mr Dugald M'Phcr6on. No doubt the titles of the famous lectures lately delivered in Dunedin by Mr Foster Fraser were still fresh in thoir momory, and they were at liberty to style his (Mr/flam's) address of that evening . fen minutes among tho witches," whioh in his opinion, was quite long enough for any rapeotablo man to remain i„ such company. Many would have read with pleasure- Burns's poem entitled "Halowoen, but it would take too long .for him to 6P oak of tho origin of Halloween. It was sufficient to say that it was a sort of Mini-religious festival. The chairman then went on to refer to supernatural nomas, the mother of the lot being the witch. According to Burns, witohes wore not at all particular as to their style of dress nor as to their mode of conveyance. They wore quite prepared to mlo upon a broomstick without tho aid of he divided skirt. Ho went on to refer briefly to supernatural, beings, such aa elves broomes, pixies, kelpies, hobgoblins, and fain«. and related a story of how a friend of hie (Willie) had actually declared hat Ik. had oomo across the last-named between Rieeartoii and Kuri Bush. He had forgotten to ask Willie tho brand of whisky ho drank, but if they were going to mo tho fairies again it must be before ualiona prohibition became an established fact.-(Laughter.) The next item,, a song by Mr W. H : Mackenzie, was then announced. This was Bluo bonnets," and its spirited rw dering secured for Mr Mackenzie an cnCol '°'„ . The standard on the braes o' mar being given. From this out scarcely a sing o penonner ma ]»rmittcd to escape ' without appearing a SCCO nd time, tho chairman* remark "If you are determined to eiicorn every item 'wo will be -h-ra Jl '»(?ht ■ lftwing no effect in checking the onthujuwrn ,>f the audience. "00, kail jam wa.s capitally sung by Mrs Monk-maii-Dcnirator. and her rendering of the »lcyebeat song" was equally acceptable. 1\ S , V-. 1 ' H i lrV!, y « an 2 "Charlie is ■n> darhng- w,t„ excellent effect, and A-n/'n» ~, £ucc « !Bf «' in " Angus > h M W t ""J J ° , by Atll0l >" «ung • . , , • , J -„ Dk ' ,;s <>". l'«d to be supplernonto. Lv-fiao .bring ta« me,": Jtr -. 'i. n. Mackenzie*, second eon(r Macgrsgor, gathering," m ,H with great "n r 'l hi''' W, D»bon alsoC Doll 11, i °f St .' r ''"S-" Mrs J. G 10, 11,<„,(,], suttenng from a sever*cold. amuswjf, and Mr J H . Brennan Sid «!'v«inou 3 nwrwuat with hih. recital of Mrs I)ug,„„ s Discovery," « pi eco 0 { Irish I. \. Mae*«me, and J. F. Gilbert, was ■ probably «,j lm ,, ia \ S ,, O(IMS of ey . ami anetrwr well-rendorcd part song was will ye ~o corns baolt again," the vonahsts being Mcsdames Harvey, Monk- - mM-Dwipskr, Messrs It, J anlM and A. ' Look. In commotion with Mr Jno. Andersons yiolm fob, thochairman raised a ' laugh by ic.nn,rfcn: S , just as Mr Anderson wa, s wappssnujj | n respond to tho m : core ' Mr Aixferron is much obliged to you forlorn- compliment, but .he does not. leal iuc!ii..-(l to como back again." The '" canting during f.!w evening was excellent particularly that by Miss Flora Bums. This yoliixj lid/a Highland fling was an ox- ' oepticnaJly gcod piece of dancing, and so ' was Irer clog waltz, which was eomowhat '' ft a novelty. Tho other da.nocrs were' Messrs Andnran, M'Donald, and the Misssg Iracw. Tin last, itsm was a part song by tie choir, and conwrt concluded with jta ijimfiii? of " Auld lang syne." Mr VVrtjnt played tho accompaniments.