GAELIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2057, 27 July 1893, Page 14

GAELIC SOCIETY.

The twelfth annualgathering, concert, and ball of the Gaelic Society of New Zealand was held in the Garrison Hall on Friday evening, and attracted a large attendance. The Rev. Dr Stuart (chief of the society) presided, and among others who occupied seats on the platform were Mr Dugald M'Lachlan (president), the Hon. J. Maogregor (M.L.C), the Rev. J. Ryley, the Rev. G. Barclay, the Mayor (Mr C. Haynes), Messrs R. Chisholm. A. J. Burns, J. M'Donald (Palmerston), W. M'Leod, R. Brown, and A. Grant. The proceedings having been opened with the grand march, in which several pipers, headed by Mr J. M'Eechnie (the society's piper), took part, Mr W. M'Leod (hon. secretary) read letters of apology from Mr W. Hutchison (M.H.R.), the Hon. T. Fergus (M.H.R.), and Mr J. F. M. Fraser. The former gentleman wrote from Wellington as follows :— Thinking of the annual meeting of the Gaelic Society, I feel of how much enjoyment my absence deprives me. Even the monthly meetings, which come with the regularity of the moon and the stars, are a great treat. When my friend, Mr Dugald M'Lachlan, makes a speech everyone is prepared for a good time of it. But the annual meeting is the crown and culmination of the year's proceedings. Dr Stuart will be theregrand old. Highlander and true Christian man every inch of him,— and when the Celt sings songs and makes speeches and blows his very soul into the pipes, the heartiness of those who know the Gaelic tongue might even kindle a soul under the rib 3of the masher— that most blast and unfortunate of mortals. Long may the Gaelic Society flourish, bringing with it a reminiscence of the free open air of the mountain and the glen, once gay with tartan and redolent of heather and peat reek; better still, a reminiscence of men and women good, braye, and true, who served their generation according to the will of God, and are examples to their descendants to follow a like honourable career. Accept my warmest wishes for a successful annual meeting. Mr Fraser regretted' that illness, which had confined him to his bed for six days, prevented him from being present. The Chairman then addressed the meeting. He thanked the society very heartily for reelecting him as chief, and said he deeply regretted that his age and almost innumerable engagements in his own romantic city prevented him from giving the attention to the Gaelic Sooiety which he would like. However, he possessed one distinction of which he was somewhat proud,. and that was that he was a member of the Celtic Society of his own university 54 years ago— (applause) —and he was so enthusiastic a Highlander, and especially so enthusiastic about that language of which Mackenzie, the historian, said that it was spoken in Eden— (laughter and applause),— that he used to have dreams— all young men had dreams— (laughter)— and one of his dreams was that if God spared him, he would collect and edit the songs of the Perthshire Highlands. He belonged to a race which was fond of songs and which was a master of singing ; but alas ! the disruption came, breaking off all ties, and he was carried to that country England, which a Scotsman rarely, if ever, left after he had once gone there.— (Laughter.) That dispelled his dreams, and the. .songs of the Perthshire Highlands were not yet edited; hat who knew but that the Highlanders who were growing up might one day. give their attention to them ?

At all events he was proud of the Highlands, and one thing .about the Highlanders which he often recalled was their mutual helpfulness. — (Applause.) Highlanders often had to leave their homes when they were boys, and in his own case he had, at 14 or 15, to stretoh out for the world. He made his habitation at Leven-by-the-Sqa, but when he opened his halls only one threepenny scholar turned up.— (Laughter.) Notwithstanding this, so soon as the Highlanders of the Kingdom of Fife knew that he had put his banner there, they interested themselves in him, and a "stioket" minister came all the way from Kirkcaldy, and brought with him golden rules for guidance in life, and one piece of counsel which he gave him (Dr Stuart) was with his first earnings to buy a reference Bible.— (Laughter.) He replied that he had a Bible, but it, not being a reference Bible, was in the minister's opinion not of great consequence. — (Laughter.) Two other men— Cameron men— waited upon him with offers of help; and when he went to Windsor, the only one Highlander there— a Queen's piper — often met and cheered him ; and glad he was, under the shadow of Windsor Castle, to meet that Highlander who had as true and noble a heart as ever beat in man. For his own reasons he was not to make a speech that evening, but he hoped, if God spared him, and if the society chose once more to put him in the honourable position he now occupied, to be able to give them, next year, a rousing and instructive speech. In the meantime there were speakers all round him who could put them in tune for song. He wished all prosperity to the society which was doing so much to keep the Highlands before the children, and to turn their attention to the bonnie hills of Scotland, and its heather, and spring?, and bonnie lasses.— (Applause.) The annual report, which was then submitted, was in the following terms :— Your committee, in submitting the twelfth annual report of the Gaelic Society of New Zealand, have much pleasure in stating that all the transactions of the pas,t year have been in every way as successful as those of its predecessors, and that the various objects for which the society exists have received due attention throughout the year. Tho annual gathering, concert, and ball, which commenced the year's proceedings, was held in the Garrison Hall on 29fch July last, and the brilliant assemblage which then filled the hall showed that the annual meeting of the society is looked forward to with pleasure by many Highlanders and others in the city and in all parts of Ofcago. This meeting was the largest hitherto held under the auspices of the society, and was a decided success both socially and financially., The usual number of monthly meetings was held in the Stuart street hall, and the proceedings consisted of speeches, readings, and recitations, in Gaelic and English, bearing mostly on Celtic subjects ; translations from English into Gaelic and vice versa ; dissertations on Gaelic poetry, pipe music, violin solos, step-dancing, &o. The large attendance at all the meetings demonstrated that they had lost none of their charm. As N many of the members hail from Port Chalmers, it was thought desirable to give an extra entertainment at the Port, where a most enjoyable evening was spent. At all the monthly meetings the violin presented to the society by Mr Shearer on the night of the last annual gathering has been an additional source of pleasure. With the Burns Club this society has maintained the' most friendly relations, and the interchange of deputations has added much zest .to a number of monthly meetings. To stimulate the Highland youth to proficiency in step-dancing and bagpipe music, the society offered two prize gold medals, of the value of two guineas each, for competition at the Caledonian Society's sports in January last, when Mr J. Lothian won the medal for pipe playing, and Master R. Clark that for dancing. The study of the Gaelic language and literature has been promoted by the liberal use of the books in the society's library, as well as by speaking the language as much as possible at the meetings ; and in this connection your committee are pleased to notice that monthly Gaelic services are still continued in Chalmers Church, and that the attendance is regular and the audience appreciative. Although this society strictly avoids politics, the members could not but be highly gratified when it became known that one of their number —Mr John Macgregorr-had been called by the Governor to a Beat in the Legislative Council, and the i society took the opportunity of expressing their satisfaction by -presenting Mr Macgregor with an illuminated address of congratulation. It has also been a pleasure to the society to see another valued member— Sir Robert Stoutreturned to the House of Representatives, although his parliamentary duties prevent his presence at this annual gathering, where otherwise he would be a most welcome speaker. Your committee record with sorrow the^ death of two worthy members of the society in the course of the year— viz., Mr Wm, M'Kenzie and Mr A. M. Sutherland. The latter who had been a member of committee, had taken a lively and intelligent interest in all the work of the society, and contributed to its success in every possible way. The society has also to mourn the death of Mrs M'lntosh, whose Gaelic singing was wont so much to enliven the monthly ireetings. The committee disbursed over £20 in benevolence during the year, giving assistance in five cases by donations varying from £2 to £5, and subscribing six 'guineas to the Queensland relief fund. ' In recognition of valuable services rendered as as assistant secretary, Mr Neil M'Leod was presented with a handsome watch suitably inscribed. The treasurer's account, audited by Messrs John M'Millan and A. Matheson, showed at the beginning of the year a credit balance of £13, 18s lid. Since then the income has been £63 8s 7d, and the expenditure £50 7s b'd, leaving a credit balance in the bank of £37. In conclusion, the committee would thank the members who contributed so cordially to the support of the society during the year, as also all who assisted by their services at the monthly meetings, and would indulge the hope that the ensuing year will witness no diminution of their hitherto successful efforts. The Hon. J. Macgbegob,- in moving the adoption of the report, expressed his pleasure that one particular object for which the society had been instituted had received during the past year more attention than hitherto— and that was the fostering of Gaelic literature. Speaking as one of the founders, he could say that was pre-eminently an object of the society. He had on frequent occasions had to express his regret that sufficient attention had not been paid to that object, but he was glad to know it now received the importance in the society's proceedings which it deserved. The society had now a very fair library, and he was pleased to learn that good use had been made of it during the 12 months. He was glad also to see that proper consideration had been given to the rendering of pecuniary assistance to members of- the society who needed it, and that a considerable sum had been applied towards the relief of Highlanders who, through misfortune, required assistance. — (Applause.) When they could spare a portion of their funds for that purpose it showed more than anything else that the society was in a flourishing condition, and another thing, which would be acknowledged as a sign that it was in a healthy state, was that at the present moment the society had a credit balance at the bankers. He felt in-the position of a parent who had seen a puny child grow up to be a handsome and sturdy youth— a youth of whom anyone might feel proud— but he confessed that it was due more to the efforts of others than to his own exertions that the youlh had. attained such proportions as they now saw ; and he was sure they would agree with him that a great deal of the credit for _ this was owing to the members of the committee,

and especially to the president, Mr M'Lachlan. To them and to the gentlemen on the platform the great success attending the society was principally due, though a measure was due also to those who year after year attended the annual gathering; for it was the annual gathering, after all, that was the sign and symbol to the public of the success of the association.— (Applause.) Mr R. Chisholm, in seconding the motion, said he had no hesitation in asserting that the one fact that the society had expended last year one-third of its income in benevolence — the one principle of helping members in distress which was pnt praetioaUy before them by the society — ought to commend it to the best wishes and kindliest feeling of every person who had a drop of Highland blood running through his veins. — (Applause.) Mr Dugald M'Lachlan, who spoke to the report in Gaelic, emphasised the advantage that was possessed by Highlanders in meeting at these annual gathering under the auspices of the J society friends from all parts of the province, and pointed out that they could not enjoy this privilege were it not for the existence of the society. Mr John M 'Donald (Palmereton) also spoke in Gaelic. He gave the audience some Highland reminiscences, and denounced the tyranny exercised 'over Highlanders who had suffered expatriation in order to make room for sheep, deer, and game. The Mayor and Mr A. J. Burns also addressed the meeting, and the motion was then put and carried unanimously. The formal business of the evening having been concluded, a concert programme of no fewer than 27 items — a number which is too great for an ordinary programme and which is ridiculously excessive when a commencement is not made till after half-past 8 and when a ball is to follow— was proceeded with. Songs were contributed by Mrs J. M 'Donald, Mrs Reid, Misses Mary Morrison, Rose Blaney, and Agnes Cooper, Messrs Arthur Salvini, W. F. Young, H. T. Dickinson, B. Packer, A. Paterson, Neil M'Fadyen (bard), and Angus Matheson, the two last-mentioned performers giving Gaelic songs ; a five-some Highland reel was danced by Masters D. M'Donald, F. Clark, W. Smith, R. Popham, and R. M'Eechnie, and a reel was also executed by four Highlanders and four ladies, while Mr R. Thomson danced an Irish hornpipe, Mr J. D. S. Burt a seantreus, Mr D. M'Kechnie a sailor's hornpipe, and Messrs J. and D. M'Kechnie a double sword dance ; and Mr Dickinson rendered a cornet solo. The accompaniments were divided between Misses Morrison and Drumm and Mr G. R. West. The ball commenced shortly after the close of the concert, Mr Brigg's band supplying the music and Messrs G. Ritchie and Colin M'Kenzie acting as masters of ceremonies.