A SCOTTISH WELCOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23706, 13 January 1939, Page 11

A SCOTTISH WELCOME

AUSTRALIAN VISITORS ENTERTAINED A REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING PRAISE FOR SCENIC BEAUTIES To the skirl of the bagpipes a party of 19 Australian tourists filed into the Tudor Hall of the Savoy last night to attend a reception arranged in their honour by the Council of the Dunedin Scottish Societies and the local Australian Society, For the visitors it was a memorable evening, the nature of the entertainment provided being such as to create a great deal of enthusiasm. The leader of the party is Dr F. Naegeli, of South Australia, who was loud in his praise for the scenic attractions of Otago and Southland which the party had encountered since disembarking at Bluff last Sunday. Travelling with the Australian tourists is Miss C. A. McMillan, of Nova Scotia, who was present at last night’s reception. Joint chairmen were Messrs James Caldwell (president of the Council of Scottish Societies) and A. A. Paape (president of the local Australian Society) . Other guests at the official table Included the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs A* H. Allen), Mrs H. A. Newall f president of the women’s section of the Australian Society), and Mr James Douglas (secretary of the Caledonian Society). Included in the large gathering were representatives of all the local Scottish societies. A Warm Welcome Extending a welcome to the visitors Mr Caldwell said that Dunedin had long looked forward to the visit from the Australian Scottish Union, and the Council of Scottish Societies had been only too pleased to co-operate with the Tourist Department in completing the necessary arrangements. There were eight Scottish societies operating successfully in Dunedin and the council took every opportunity of extending the hand of friendship to visitors from overseas. “What Palestine is to the Jews Victoria is to the Australians,” stated Mr A. A. Paape, adding his expression of welcome to, the : visitors. On behalf of the Australian Society Mr Paape expressed the hope that the visitors Would return to the Commonwealth with pleasant memories of their visit to the Edinburgh of the South. The Mayor’s Address “l am very pleased to be associated to-night with the Australian Society and the Scottish Societies of Dunedin,” said the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), extending a warm welcome to the tourists. Dunedin was always delighted to entertain visitors from the Commonwealth for it was a city that clung to the Scottish traditions. Ks name, he informed the visitors, was derived from the Gaelic expression which meant “side.of. a hill.” The city was one of the most beautiful anywhere, and though by no means the largest in the Dominion, it. was an ideal town for anyone Wishing to make a home. Australia could boast of its' scenic attractions, but the South Island had more beauty in its confines than any other place of a similar area. Fine ’ Spirit of Kinship On behalf of the visitors, Dr Naegeli, who confessed that he was bom in Switzerland, said that during the last 12 ’years he had a “dinkum Aussie.” The spirit of kinship which existed between the Scottish people was really wonderful, he had found; and, though he could not claim to belong to any clan, he was proud to be associated with such friendly people. “I have learned, he said, that whenever two ..Scotsmen meet, they soon find a Scottish society.” Dr Naegeli went on to praise a the scenic beauties of the small part of the country he had seen, and likened Lake Wakatipu to Lake Lucerne, in Switzerland. , ~ „ . Mrs A. Stockan. of Melbourne, also expressed thanks on behalf of the visitors. • Entertainment Programme The following contributed to the entertainment programme;.:—Highland dances. Misses Nancy and Norma Stewart; duets, Messrs Finnic and McKinley; recitations, Mr Harry Russell; songs. Miss Jess McMillan; ballet numbers (song and dance), Misses P. M.. N. M. and Y, M. Moody; songs 'Mr Arthur Macdonald; recitations, Mrs John Hamer; violin solos. Miss Julia Holmes. . The accompaniments were played by Mr S. Bringans, and the official piper was Mr Gordon Crichton, of the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band.