THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2288, 6 January 1898, Page 15

THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Gaelic Society v?as held on Monday in the Oddfellows' HaU, Stuait street. There was a crowded audience, and Mr D. Munvo occupied the chair. Th« Chairman welcomed to the platform Mr Rode« rick M'Keczie, M.H R., Mr J. Muir (Burn! Club), and Mr A. Sinclair (Hawke'a Baj Highland Society), who happened to be preeenb as visitors. A telegram from the chiel '(the Hon. John M'Kenzie) was read, express* ing his regret afc being unable to be present, but wishing the members a successful meeting, and each and all of them a happy New Year. The Chairman delivered & short address, in which he referred to the advanced positions to which Highlanders sometimes attained, instancing particularly the career of a schoolfellow of his own, Dr D. J. MAuley, who in. the Home country reached fche, summit of hia profession s.s a medical man a!; & comparatively early age. Mr A. Sinclair conveyed the greetings ot Hawke's Bay Highland Society to the meeting 1 , thanked the audience for the friendly reception he had mot with, and assured them should any fro?a this society visit Hawke's Bay their kind* ness would be reciprocated. Mr Du&ald M'Lachxan spoke iv Gaelic. Havmg given expression to the usual compl* meuts of the season, he ret'trwd to the demise of several Highlanders of note during the pasfe year, i specially Mr Charles Reid, the fiuat president of the society and one oC it 3 founders. Mr Roderick M'Kenzib, M.H R., who was rec«ived with applause, congratulated tha society on the large number of Highlanders present. The society was doing a good work in keeping the Highlanders together, and ha hoped they would continue to prosper ou tbe lia<?s they had laid. down. They lived io oue of the be;t — if not the very beet — lar>ds in th« world. — (A Voice : " Except the Highlands ") No, rot excepting even the Highlands ; and ha hoped they would continue to meet periodically as they were doing, and thus keep up the traditions of the old land in the new. Should he visit-Dunedinatuny tim-p, nothing would give him more pleasure than to attend the meeting of tha society ; and should they visit the West Coast, individually or collectively, he would be delighted to see them.

Mr A. Cameren opened the concert with "A' ghlennn's au robh mi og," and also sang " Dutbaich Mhic Leoid " Miss Annie MD j)i»'d contributed " Rotheaay B*y," Mrs J. M'Donald "A quid New Year," Mrs R. M. 'Donald " The Macgregora' gathering," Mrs Campbell "Thug mi gaol," Mr D. Mathesoa "An teid thu le*mm a ribbinn og," and Me Milcolm M'Donald •' A nochd gur faoin mo chadal dhomh." Mr Jamea Muir (Burns Club) eang " The dainty bit plan," and gave an effective recitation of "When Jock and I were young." A violia and pianoforte duet, " The Highland Wreath," was executed by Mrs Roderick M'Donald and Mrs James M'Donald. Ifa J. M'Donald also played the accompaniments. Masters R. M'Kechnie, R. Clark, and H. M'Donald aanced the Highland fling, and the pipes were played by Pipe-major M'Kechnie, Mr J. Murray, »nd Mr A. Duncan.