COMPLETION OF THE GLENGARRY MEMORIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2293, 10 February 1898, Page 23

COMPLETION OF THE GLENGARRY MEMORIAL.

At fche final meeting of the Glengarry Memorial Committee, Dr Gordon Macdosald spoke as follows :—: —

We have met to place the copestone ou our labours. In giving it the final touch I may as well shortly rehearse its history. Twelve mouths ago Mr John Macdonald, of Dunedin, and Mr Duncan Macdonald, of Hindon, u^ged me to try and get the Macdonalds of the district lo erect a suitable memorial over the grave of Glengarry in the Southern Cemetery. This led to my making Equities into the genuineness of the claim and tile inviting of a tew Macdonslds, with other HighlanderSj to collect the necessary funds. lam very pleased to state that the committee appointed consisted entirely of Macdonalds, and that they have succeeded remarkably well in their self-imposed and patriotic task. Tfieir names are: Duncan Macdonald, sheep-farmer, Hindon ; John -Macdonald, hotelkeeper, Duuedin ; D. C Blacdonald, coal merchant, Dunedin ; Captain •Norman Macdonald, Bluff ; Simon Macdocald, blecksmith, Dunedin; A. A. Macdonald, farmer, Gore ; John Macdonald, merchant, Palmerston ; Hugh Micionald, commercial traveller, Dunedin ; Lachlan Macdouald, ship carpenter, Port Chalmers; Archibald Macdonald, merchant;, Lawrence; James Hacdonald, merchant, Oamaru ; and Dr Gordon Macdonald, Dunedin. It would bs invidious to make distinctions, so I have simply to »ay boat each did his parb to the Iwsfc of his ability. The subscription sheets which I have published show who collected aud who gave the money. The question may at once be asked, why trouble ourseives about one so long dead ? Well, to some this question io difficult of answer, but it ia characteristic of our raca to remember the dead by means of lasting memorials. Human nature is an exceedingly complex composition. To some the preaenfc seems the ouly consideration, to others the ' future, and to others the past ; some are faddists, some sentimentalist*, some entfcu- ] eiaate, some opportunist*, some malter-of-factists, and some nothing-at-alHsts. Whilst human nature therefore remains tbe curiou3 and complex composition we find it, so long must we be prepared to meet all sorts and conditions ot men. Many of us here, probAbly »11 of us, think it proper to do somethiug by which we are reminded of the d«ad. We are not singular in that respect, as tbe majority of mankind do something of the same bind. The individual to ba commemorated may be a parent or a relative, a companion oc " a lover, a hero or a saint — it does nob matter who ; but that there is some such sentiment implanted in our breasts is a matter of everyday observation. "Oh!" but I hear some one ■ say, "it is quite a different matter to commemorate the death of a parent, a hero, or a saint to commemorating the death of a man we never knew and who never performed any great national or humanitarian work." No, I thiuk there is no difference. It is the same unexplainable something which prompts us to all thoce acts. What leads us to erect statues, paint windows, raise mounds or cairns to persons whom we never saw ? Ifc is something in our natures — call ifc the higher self, if you like, — and I believe that something to be a good something. Well, it was this something — give it what name you please, religion, patriotism, sentimentaliam— which prompted us to erect this memorial over the grave of Glengarry. We did not know him, possibly none of us ever saw him, had no sweet convetse with him, nor auy human relation of any kind further than a common nationality and a cooimon humanity. Nevertheless I believe gome good impulse has been influencing us, and I believe we have done well. Suppose now I were to aek each of you this moment what it was that led you to lend your assistance to this matter, I am confident the answer in each case would be, " I don't kaow." That is just ifc. We cannot of fcen< inaes explain what it is that impels us to certain lines of action. In the meantime, therefore, we may console ourselves with the thought that we do not know exactly how these impulses come about, bnb somehow they come. It becomes us, therefore, in the firs!; place to heartily thank all those kind friends who contributed the funds. Now I am particularly pleased to state that all classes and sects in the community lent us a helping hand, and that in it? elf shows the hearts of the people to be right. We had some thoughts afc the start of confining it entirely to Macdonalds, then to Highlanders only, then to Scotsmen only, and so on until at la«t we could not tell who was a Macdocald, who a Highlauder, or who a Scotsman. We sometimes poke fun at and sometimes deride each other because of our names and nationality. This is due to ignorance aad the prcjtidice it begets. As a matter of fact; you rarely meeS one hailing from the British Isles who is a pure Celt, or a pure Saxon. War, religion, matrimonial and commercial exigencies have so mixed the people that any person of any name can only be a small fraction of what is racially represented by that name. Again, there are many Macdonalds who do not bear the name Mscdonald. For example, the following people are Macdonftlds or offshoots from them, viz. : Robertsons, Martins, Darrochs, M'lano, M'Alisters, M'lnnes, M'Keans, M'Keachans, M'K«cherans, M'Lardys, and several othera. Besides those how many Macdonald women are married to others than Macdonalds ? And, agaiD, how miny persons in/bygone times found it expedient to call themselves Macdonalds who had no earthly claim to the name ? Wfcen one comes to ponder over all these thinga, and afc the same time read up the hisiory of Scotland or any other corner of the earth, one soon sees how useless and foolish it is to be exclusive or pretend to be the salt of the earth. We found it utterly impossible to tell who was who, aad so we decided to collect from all willing to give. The memorial is now erected, and we sincerely trust it may last for agps, and carry its story to generations yob uuborn. Possibly the antiquarian of the future may be puzzling his brains to decipher the Gaelic inscription we have placed upon it. Who knows bat what a thousand years hence it may bs as great an object of interest to the people of that day as the Runic characters of our ancestors are to us of to-day. It may be the means of exciting the curiosity of a new " Old Mortality " or a juvenile " Hugh Miller." Indeed, it opens a limitless vista to the imagination, and though it may be a trifle to us, it may be an object of great interest in the distant future. Of such apparent trifles ia life made up. Did auy of the people who preceded us in the dim past dream of how we of to-day phould interest ourselves over their monumenbs, hieraglyphics, and inscriptions ? What did the ancient JSgyptiane, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Sntons suppose that we would think of their ? No doubt the faculty of imagination

and the desire to leave traces of their existence w»s as keen in them as ib can possibly be with us. This little memorial, then, may, for aughfc we know, be a connecting link full of infcere&t between the years 1897 and 2897, and, if so, we have done something to interest poßtewty as well as commemorate the resting place of the head of aa ancient and distinguished Scottish house, and n political and social system which did yeoman service iv its day. Patriotism is one of the beafc qualities in the cibzen of any State, aad I rejoice to think and reflect upon the ftcb that Scotsmen as a rule are an intensely patriotic people. That portion of fche Scottish people commonly called Highlanders have, iv my opinion, a double portion of that national virtue. Those of them dwelling In this new Scotland of the south are nothing behind the old stock in thoir national traits. Though their ancient and beautiful language is rapidly becoming a dead tongue, i thj spirit of their fathers is as vital 83 ever. Thouyh the chiefs in souae instances ia fche latter days v>ere not all fco their people that they should be, sfciil one rarely hears of a High- i ladder decrying his chief or belittling his country. J They had aad sJll have theic grievancis, bu'i j there never was a system without grievances in J the history of the world. Yet no stranger need dare disparage their kin or country. They have their failings, bufc they possess many virtues. Happy is the colony, therefore, which has a fair sprinkling of such people amo-igsfc its population. They canuot keep fche raca puce ; indeed, ifc would bs folly to attempt it, for the greater the mixture of go.'d raceg in any count! y the bertwr for that State. There is, however, such a thing as "atavism," and so fche Celtic fire and enthusiasm is da'ly to be noticed iv the so-ealJod " canny Scot " and Saxon. Where did this mettle come from ? It earns by "afctvism" from some near or distant Celtic crots in the breed of fche Saxon. I would counsel all Sojtsmen — and here I may remark that Highlanders are the purest of Scotsmen — never fco forgtrfc the traditioas of their country. History repeats itself, and one day even in this remote corner of the earth the bravery p-nd independence of your aticestors will be required of you or of your successors. While referring to this, I may mention that there are 3500 Maca ia Stones' " Directory of Obsgo." From tha same book I fiad that fully half the population of the province bear distinctly Celtic names. This is encouraging, and, as the BHfcihh Celts are reputed fco be prolific, we may b*) absolutely certain that the C.4fcic element iv Otago — and, indeed, iv New Zealand —will never become exfcinefc. It i<s a siugular coincidence that afc the titue vvo in New ZeaKnd were trying to commemorate aud txalfc the name of Glengarry, one of our countrymen in London should be tryiug to debase that historic name in the British Isles. You all know that Mr Andrew Lang has reaenfcly published a book traducing oae of the ancestors of the house of Gl&ogarry. Several persons in j Duuedin have mentioned the coincidence to i me, and to all interested in the matter I have ] simply to say that I know very little about) fche j pros and cons of the question, bufc what little j information I have been able to gather from j correspondebce and press notices in the Home j papers goss to show fcha 4 ; Mr Lang's conclusioua are based upon matters of conjecture. He has i been assailed ia the Scottish press on all bands, showing that the inferences he draws are erroneous. Ifc is an easy matter for a writer to aasail the character of one long dead, bufc it is a poor game to attack the defenceless dead. Again if wo as a whole or as individuals were to be ostracised because of the misdeeds of our ancestors ife is absolutely certain that no man living coald pass unscathed. Our Glengarry was as good a man and exemplary a citizen as any man of his day and generation. He was unfortunate iv losing his wealth and patrimony, bufc ifc will be a bad day for the race and the world when men ace to be dVified only for their wealth and position. I aai convinced we have done a gracious act; in erecting this memorial, and that

fche lesson ifc convejs is an excellent one. There are two citizftns of Dunedin to whom we are much indebted for the interest they exhibited iv Glengarry long before we began ous task. They are Mr Nolan aud Mr Jas. M'lndoe. Mr Noiaa wrote a beautiful poaru ou the grave of GJen^arry when ifc was lone &nd neglected ; dow he may return in his poetic fancy and see ifc teuderiy cared for, aud telling its owa story. Possibly the new conditions, and the motives which originated them may stir his muse, or some other muse, afresh, snd so again perpetuate the name of Glengarry. Mr M'lndoe defended Glengarry ia the local press when his name was being traduced. I may mention that Mr M'lndoe is one of fche "oldesfc identities" in Ofcago, aud ia familiar with the whole history of the Glengarry family. We have also fco think Mr Jas. Hislop, architect, for his general supervision of fche structure, and Mr Ales. Duguid, the contractor, for tho workmanlike manner in which he has carried out his coutract. The design was an idea cf my own, and ib carries its owu story, as is shown by tho Gaelic words inscribsd upon the various blocks. Before concluding, let me iutimate fco all patriotic Highlanders and Scotsmen generally who may read this that I have le^t a door open for them to add a stone to this " cairn "if they have not already done so. On the block representing the " castle " ace three unoccupied slabs, the toui'th one being engaged with the inscription. They are all there by design. One is iutended for the Glengarry coat of arms, oue for our national emblem the " thistle," and the third for a tufb or wreath of heath as the badge of the family. The sculptor tells me the whole can be cut out for the sum of £12. Now here is an opportunity for at»jone willing to do the whole oc a pare. Finally, let me thaak each of you for your loyal and patriotic help in this matter. No doubt the story of what you have done will travel far aad wide. It will interest the lonely Highland shepherd in the back blocks of Australia, fche patriotic Scot doing his duty on the burning plains cf India and Africa, and the hardy pioneer in the back woods of the two Americas. Who can say what memories it may recall or deeds ifc may incite ? To many in the dear old j land from which wo hail ifc will be gladsome I news, and the world round where Scots forI gather the touching word* of Sir Walter Scott will frequently be repeated. It's "welcome Glengarry, thy clansmen's fast friend " ; It's "welcome to joys that shall naer have an end " The halls of great Odin are open to thee. 0 " welcome Glengarry, the gallant and free."

One twenty-fifth parb of the world's coalfields is British.

Messrs Talbot aud Beanke (old members) and Mr Thomas Bailey, of Westport (in the room of Mr Colvin), were elected unopposed at the meeting of the Nelson Education Board. There were only the three candidates for the three vacancies.

The late Sic W. A Mackinnon has bequeathed the residue of his estats, estimated, atter payment of the duties, at over £16,000, to the R jyal Society for the furtherance of uatur*l and physical science and for tbe furtherance of original repeal ch and iuyebligabioa iv pathology by priaos and scholarships.