“THE FIERY CROSS”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26541, 16 August 1947, Page 9

“THE FIERY CROSS”

Sir, —Some complacent Dunedinites seem to think their city, as “ the home of Scots in New Zealand," should be the destination of the “ Fiery Cross.” Did they never hear of Waipu, the home of the Highlanders? Nearly 100 years ago a company of Highlanders, many of them evicted from their homes in the northern counties of Scotland, after spending some intervening years in Nova Scotia, built their own boats, sailed them round Cape Horn and across the Pacific, and settled at Waipu, some 60 miles north of Auckland. From there they spread over a wide area to Whangarei and surrounding districts (many of the leading citizens of that thriving town have Waipu names), to Auckland and southwards; and into every profession and Government department in the country, where you may always find them at the top. Some of them even reached Dunedin. In the North Auckland team that visited us last week the manager, Mr Murdoch, and the coach, Mr Finlayson, were Waipu descendants, as are many of the Macleans, McCraes, Macmillans, McKays and MacKenzies, Campbells and MacDonalds in responsible positions all over New Zealand. If you want to see a Highland gathering go to the Waipu sports on New Year’s Day. Somewhere in that district is surely a fitting destination for the “ Fiery Cross.” But most residents of Dunedin never heard of it, and when they do hear they are not interested.—l am, etc., Sassenach.