VICTORIAN SCOTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23703, 10 January 1939, Page 4

VICTORIAN SCOTS

TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND SOUTHLAND’S WARM WELCOME (Special to Dailv Times) a INVERCARGILL, Jan. 9. A civic reception wad tendered in Invercargill to-day, to a party of members of the Victorian Scottish Union, which arrived at Bluff by the Maunganui yesterday to begin a tour of New Zealand. Extending a welcome to the visitors, the Mayor (Mr J. said that jn their tour of the Southern Lakes they would see what might justly be claimed to be the finest combination of mountain, lake and forest scenery in the world. “In these critical and disturbing times, with Europe like a powder magazine and Pacific problems looming on the horizon, it is well that communities with common interests, common ideals and a common heritage should come to know one another better thus leading to a better understanding, closer association and the furtherance of our mutual interests, said Mr Hanan. “You come here ostensibly for pleasure, but a visit of this nature is of great educational value. Our contact with you encourages the diffusion of mutual knowledge. We are linked by sentimental ties, perhaps stronger and more deep-rooted than our economic and social relationships. It is significant in this regard that you are here today as Australians, yet you all, with one exception, claim to be Scots as well. We claim to be New Zealanders, yet the names of our streets'will conjure up memories to many of you of Scotland. In Dunedin you will find many of the streets named after the streets of Edinburgh. You will fee] among your ain folk in Southland and Otago, for about two-thirds of the people in this southern part of the Dominion are of Scottish descent. I trust that you will enjoy your stay here, and that your tour throughout the country will be one continuous pleasure, that you will find many things of interest, and that when you return to your own homes you will carry with you pleasant recollections of your stay among us” « Welcoming the visitors on- behalf ot the St. Andrew's Scottish Society, Mr N. L. Watson referred to the propensity of Scots for forming Scottish societies, and said they would find in Southland and Otago that the old traditions had been fostered. “ You will find open hearts and a warm welcome everywhere so long as you wear the tartan, he said. ; Replying on behalf of the party. Mrs Annie ‘ Sto'ckan said that so far they had had a wonderful time. “This is my first visit here. I thought Loch Lomond was lovely, but it is not in it with Milford Sound,” she said, “ These high mountains with their forests and waterfalls tumbling down just thrilled me, I thank you very much for your welcome, and.l can see we are in for a real guid time.” This afternoon the’ visitors were taken for a trip to Seaward Bush and were the guests of the'City Council at afternoon tea. The Mayor and councillors accompanied the party on the trip. To-night they were the guests of the St. Andrew’s Scottish Society, and to-morrow they will leave for Queenstown.