DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 61

DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Burnt Club was bold in the City Hall on the 20th inst. r and was largely attended. Mr J. B. Thomson, president, occupied tha chair, and in the course of a few introductory remarks said they had present a gentleman from tha Burns Club at Invorcargill, and he did not need to ask tho Duntdin Burns Club to giva him a hearty welcome. He referred to Mr R. Gilmour. The principal item on the programme was the address on "Tannahill" by Mr Gilrnour, who gavi a sketch of the poet's life, commenting on several of tho incidents therein by the way_. The address wasalso illustrated by the introduction at interval! of four of Taonah ill's songs — viz , " Jessie, the flower o' Dunblane," " Loudon's bonnte woods and braes," "0 are ye sleepin', Maggie?" and " Bonnie woods o' Craigielee,"— each of which the speaker introduced with a few remark*, critical and laudatory. He urged at the conchmon the cultivation in the homa of a taste for the pure enjoyment to be obcained from the songs of Tannahill as a counter attraction to the baser allurements to which the youth of the colony were exposed. The lecture was listened to with, much interest from start to close, and a few touches of humour were much appreciated. Mr GHniour was rewarded with frequent applause during tho course of his address, and with a heartily accorded vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr Burns, at its close. The mover characterised tho night's entertainment, including the musical programme, as one of the best the club had enjoyed, and ho^ed the link of brotherhood between the Dunedin and Invereargill cluba forged by Mr Gilmour's visit would be a parmauont bond of friendship, to the mutual advantage of both club 3. During the evening songs were given by Mr Torranca, Miss Mary Cooper, Mr Sutherland, Mr M'Donald and Mrs Stevenson. The choir, under the baton of Mr J. B. Fergusson, gave " Hail to the chief," "The bonnie woods o' Craigielee," "Will ye no come back again," and '.' Af ton Water "j ami Mrs J. Hood and Mr A. Wright the duet "Thou art ffone awa' frae me, Mary," and Miss Cooper and Mr Cooper the duet " O wert thou ia the cauld blast?" Mrs J. Todd acted as accompanist, Piper A. Gray supplied pipe music, and the hearty singing of "Auld Lang Syne closed the concert, after which a short danc* took place.