THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 46

THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society, fax <&» election of office-bearers, was held on the 3rd inst'. in tha Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart ttrcafc During the election Mr William Hotchiaoai M.H.It,, occupied the chair, and at its conclusion was awarded a vote of thanks fox the businesslike manner in which he conducted She I proceedings. It was understood that the principal offioef, with two or threo exception*, were to bs rolling one 8, those who had previously occupied them declining nomination. There was, however, s> spirited contest for tbe presidentship, resulting, as will be sesn, in the following list of office* bearers for the ongoing year: — Chief, Hon, Jehn M'Kezirie, Minister for Lands ; president, Mr D, O. M 'Donald; vioe-presideats, Messrs Malcolm M'Donald and D. M'Lennan ; aecre« tary, Mr Wm. MacLeod ; treasurer, Mr George Ritchie; pipera— Pip e-major M'Keahnie, Messrs John Murray and John M'Eeehnie, jcm. ; bard, Mr Neil M'Fndyen ; librarian, Mr James Turner ; committee— Means D Munro, T. C. Matheson, Laohlan M'Donald, D. M'Quilkan sen., John M'Milhn, D. Matlwsoa, Roderick M'Kenz'e, Simon M'Douald, John M'Donald (P*lmer»ton), Colin M'Ksnzie, John Stewart (Saddle Bill), Murdoch M 'Ritchie, T. Munro, John M'Lennan, D. M'Aulay, John M'Kensie, John Blaok (Otaki*), and Duncan Btewarß. A special vote of thanks was un-uiimoasJy passed to the retiring treasurer, Mr T. C. Mathewn, for his long, valuable, and efficient services rendered to the society, Tbe election over, the ordinary monthly meeting was constituted, ' the prcsident-eleor, Mr D. C. M'Donald, tutricg the.cbulr. Mi: Dugald M'Lachlan having given a short speech installing Mr M 'Donald in his office, tho latter, in Gaelio, of which be has a ready command, thanked the society for the honour conferred npon him. He highly appreciated it, and would do all in his power to deserve their eootinued confidence. Dr SrßNHOusa delivered an interesting address on "Patriotism." Ib had become a new-fangled idea to depreciate this quality of hnm«in nature and to assert th*t a man should not love his own country more than any other. The Romans taught as a better lesson than that, for, next to- the gods, they gave country the firtt place in their affections, and this was tho source of their tuccess in their best days. Tbip, too, w*.i the motive power in the straggles of Scotland and Siritaertand for the maintenanoa of their independence. Ha had gathered from some Home newspaper correspondence tliaG charges were being made in some of the British, regiments which, if allowed to bo carried into effect, would obliterate the Scottish character of those regiments. He referred specially to the "Scots Greys," which had hitherto been mounted on grey steeds. It was now proposed to mount them on ordinary homes, ostensibly, to give them a better chance of avoiding the bullefci of the enemy in an engagement — white' horses being, it w»s- alleged, better marks for the rifle than those of any other colonr, — but he (the speaker) believed it was merely for the purpoie of effacing whatever there was of Scottish prestige about them. It was the duty of similar societies to this, both at Home aud in the colonies, to protest ag»in»fc such changes bdng made. The tpeeoh wu received with gre&t applause. Later in the evening Mr D. M'Lennan (Waitaki) proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring of&cs-bearers, who had so well conducted. . the society's affairs during the paat year, and also to the *ingeri, who had made the meetings so enjoyable. The concert, which consisted, as usual, oE Gaelic sod Boglinh sougs, was a saoces'efullj carried through. Mrs Campbell sang " Nighe'an a chaal duian," Mrs J. M'Donald "Jessie's dream," " Awfully awful," and "Peek-a-boo," Miss C. M'Donald "Fa : ll! ill I o 1", Mha Annie M 'Donald "Ho! ro 1 mo nighean dorm bhoidheaoh," Mr Noil M'Donald " Air fensgav* soilleir," Mr James M'Donald "Cogadh no sith," Mr William Leokie " Bonnie wood tf Craigie lea," Mr William Guyiner '' Clara J' Mr Robert Clark "Thick and thin," and Mr Dan Matheaon "A ghleann's an d'robh mi og>." Pipe-major M-Keohnie supplied the national music -