The Gaelic Society.

Otago Witness, Issue 181, 6 August 1886, Page 14

The Gaelic Society.

The New Zealand Gaelic Society held their fifth annual gathering in the Lyceum Hall on Friday evening, and secured a very large attendance of members and their friends. A number of the men were in full Highland costume, and many of the ladies appropriately completed their evening toilette with a plaid scarf worn crosswise over the shoulder, helping to give the gathering a characteristic appearance. Some members of the Highland Rifles were also present in uniform. After tea had been concluded,

The Chairman (Rev. Dr Stuart) delivered a short address, in which ho expressed regret at the small share he was able to take in the society's work. But as they knew, he felt bound to give all his time to the church and education— two objects upon which he had set his heart in his earliest years, and which he hoped to die serving to the best of his power. — (Applause.) After alluding to the good work done by the vice-president and secretary of the society, he went on to speak of Gaelic literature and Gaelic songs, which latter could not, he believed, be matched by any poetic literature in the world, and he was glad to see the society intended to do something to cultivate a taste in this direction. He should like to see the beginning of a Gaelic library containing a collection of the best Celtic literature placed wibhin the reach of young people, and he was sure if a start were made the authorities of the university would be willing to provide a home for the books. Theso works, it must be remembered, were numerous — the Irish particularly had devoted themselves- to researches in Celtic literature, and the Germans had also done much. Another method of doing good which he strongly recommended to the society would be by the founding of a scholarship for general knowledge and Celtic literature. (Applause.) The Secretary (Mr W.Macleod) then read the annual report, which stated that at no previous thrie had the society been in so prosperous a condition. Various meetings for social purposes &c, had been held during the year and had been uniformly well attended. Two calls had been made upon the society for the disbursement of money for benevolent objects and in this way about £20 had been spent. There was still a credit balance left of £20 Is Bd, which had, however, been considered too small to commence the purchase of a Gaelic library. This had been in a great measure compensated for by the presentation of magazines and books to the society from private sources, which had enabled members to keep up their acquaintance with Celtic subjeots. They were not a political society, but they believed, in Highlanders being alive to everything

that was going on in the political world round them, and it was gratifying to them to learn that the newly enfranchised Crofters had displayed sufficient unity and strength to obtain the election of all their candidates that went to the poll, with one exception. It was to be regretted that the measure of land reform granted was not all that could be wished, but as a prelude to further reforms, it was an earnest that the Crofters by energy and unanimity would outliv the oppression and tyranny to which they had so long been subjected. The report closed with an appeal to all Highlanders to join the society and give it their steady support. The report was then read in Gaelic by Mr M'Millast, after which Mr John M'Donald moved its adoption, also in Gaelic.

Dr Gillies seconded the motion, and referring' to the chairman's remarks upon Celtic literature, said he had perhaps as good a collection of Gaelic works as there was in the colony. He should present these books to th,e society to form the nucleus of a library, and asked them to do all they could to increase it from that nucleus. —(Applause.) In conclusion, he said he did not know what the society would do 'without their chairman, and called for three cheers for Dr .Stuart.

This closed the oratorical part of the proceedings, and the lighter portion of the entertainment followed. There was a lengthy programme of Highland songs, Highland dances, Highland teeftations, &c, which were uniformly well performed and keenly enjoyed by the audience. A number of lady and gentlemen vocalists gave their services, and there were dancers young and old, the performance of the Masters M'Kechuie being very clever indeed. The hall was afterwards cleared, and a very enjoyable ball followed the concert.