BURNS CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 71

BURNS CLUB.

The Du'iedm Burns Club made a rev/ departuie on Fuday night, when they b-fld their annual meeting. Instead of conducting the business 111 the imial foimal mai nor, they made Lhe meeting a social o-e. The bi^mcs; tiansacted was fust liwued through, and those piecent then spent the re=t of the e\ emag in, lighter fashion Judging by the laige attendance, which was piobaKj six t rae» that of previous °nnu il meetings, the change seemed to be appreciated, and no doubt futuie meetings will be &111 ilaily conducted. The Piesident (Di Gordon Macdonald) moved* the adoption of the lepoit lalieady published), and thi,s was uiuiiiraoush' iigiced to. The election of officeis for the Ciisumg teim was then pioceeded with, and lcsultcd as follows — President, Mi W. M'Nee . dents, Mc co i 3R. Biown aid J. J Ramsay, secieia'ry. Mi V. Blown (le-elected) , treasuier, Mi J Moncueff ' ic-e'icted) , committee, Dr Gordon Macdom'd and Messrs James Michie, Jam:s "':i l b"c, James Muir, P. Sutherland, W O down, Kionci^ Anclei&oii, A. R. Monro'i, Eiicl W. M'Ki.ilav Dx" Macdopald, m handing o\ci the icins o' effico 03 picricJcrt to 1; s 'acce-so', spoLe bnel»\ He mmt.onccl tK it uimng h.-, teim of office the ciub had floiii -lied cxccc'hrgly T'us wps entnelv dr? to the ha-moiiKUs v. ay 111 which the o'Ecc bor.icis voihed. The object of the c'nb v ,!■? to > .^tiiu t 11 cl amu=e, aid the conceit! had n this dnect.c^ bee.i vciy succc-ful. He acknowledged the willirgnes3 of the best men and -woraen 111 their

rmd=t to E,ra'.t thf-r scivice c — a fart which showed tup club foil id favou." m the coinmnnity. Then platfoim gave musicians, cssiyiM.s an! sp'-akc^ an oppoi<i.init\ of sl-ow-u'o then- abilities aid thi« oppoitunity, 13 he had before, was widely accepted. It mi;ht be =arl then lange of subjects was hunted and parochial, but the cub was a Scott'fh one, ard purely Scotland, with its grfliid histoiv, provided plenty of subiects to choose from. Amusement of some sort was abso'utely necessary v\ eveiy community, and for the reaso.i that .a healthy and harmless entertainment was pro\ icle-1 by the Burrs Ciub he sincerely tiusted it would continue to flourish The Piesident-elc^t, in leplv, said he did not expect to fill the position with «uch ability as Dr Macdnnald had, but hp ivoald do his bpst, arrl he trusted at the erA of his teirn 01 office the cub would be found to ha\e prngiP2 q ed, ari not gone back. He moved a hearty \ote of thanks to Dr Gordon ilacdonal 1 for his services, and the audience, who seemed to pppreciate more th*ui ever Dr MacdonaM's enthusiasm and genial humour, carried the motion with acclamation. The musical progrnmrre was short and voiy enjoyable. The items generally were old favourites, and, necdles3 to =ay, the performeis ■were kmdly received. Miss Nellie Thomson E-rng ' A Scottish lament," Miss Fletcher " Doon the burn'," Mr Donaldson ' Where has Scotland found her fame--' " and Master Telfer " Scarlet and blue." The Methodist Central Mission orchestra played several selections, and the club's choir sang severpl of the popular songs. "Auld lang syne " brought the meeting to a close.