THE GARLIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2513, 14 May 1902, Page 46

THE GARLIC SOCIETY.

Tits annrail meeting oi'the Dunedin Gaelic Bodefiy waa held in. the Stuart street OddttUvwd Hall on. the- 7th ios*., when; Mr Dugald ltliachliui, & lifi*- member, presided, and. there )Jfh +■ good attendance ot memhsrs. The following: were elected^ office-bearers foe 1902: CSliirf, Mr DugaMM^Eteraon; chieftain v, Pif«— ■«■! j Bousriclc Mickenzie anil J. Turner; twunrcer, Mr IT. M'Millan.; secretary, Mr W. KadLe4&* conmrittee — D/rs- Gordon Macdonaid md X. ifPhersort, Major J. M. Jamieson, Capbam IL M'CaH-nm, and" Messrs J. F. M. Fraser, 3. WDpniia, G. IKteftie, T. W. Munro, M. IfDonaM, C. M'Konziei. D. Munrcn J. Stewart, <f. Cbiriiolra, Roderick M'Kenzie, J. Henderian, J. Miuexurar, If. M'Lschl>n, D. M'Lenu»n, It. M'Dcmald, B. M'Donali D*. Munro, uri.! John Mmcdbnald, William. M'Kenzie, John IfTtviah, W. Willuunsan, Jp.mea Gow, A. ihair, W. Charters,, J. Kennedy', D. M. Fe», 1 7. Msthessn, D. A. M'lrachlan, D. Murray, uid D. Mackenzie ; auditors — Messrs D. Munio, jxpi., and D. M'Pherson.; bards — Messrs N. tf'Fadyen, Dugald Ferguson, and Andrew KinrceiL;, pipers — Pipe-majora M'Kechnie and Gtrav r Mesar» J. Murray, J. li'Kecknie, jun., kid. J. MTiear. The monthly' meeidng was- the^r opened, when i&er» wafr it very !»Tg^ attendance. The ChairWan. (Mr. D. M'Lachlan) addxessed the meeting in .Gaelic, and, in. the course of his remarks, referred to Gaelic as the sweetest of lunguages. The first language spoken was Gaelic, in the. Garden of Eden. They had met fehat evenrag in. grief and in gladness, anomalous- as it might sound', for they were sorry (over the- loss of the late chief (Sir John M'Kcnpie)j but glad that there was in the society lone who would be a worthy successor. [Physically, the- new chief was a man. of weight, fiot o,uite as much, bo as Me Seddon. perhaps, but a. good second to him. Mr M'Pherson was fa> be installed in the office of chief, the highest ponour that could be bestowed by his country' fnen ire thia part of the colony. Time was whin. tile Highland chiefs, were wont- to light beacon. Brea in. times of danger. The chiefs duty Would be to similarly give the warning to his Highland clansmen, who would rally round, juid, shoulder to shoulder, meet anyone or anything. He had installed! Dr. Stuart and Sir John M'Kenzie, and now he had* the honour jM installing Mr Dugald M'Pherson, and he hoped, that gentleman, would remain chief till fee; (the speaker) was- laid in his grave. The aiew, chief wouiot be well supported by Mr DBoderitk ITKenzie and Mr J. Turner, both good Gaelic speakers and scholars. He- then presented Chief M'Pheraon. with, the gs-vel of effioe, whick will be- followed' by » M'Pherson. Jtartan badge at a iuture meeting. . Mr JuneH- Stewart, froia Melbourne, having: Erven s selection, on the bagpipes, the new Chief, in returning thanks, said he felft it an honour indeed to be elected chief of the Gaelic Society of New Zealand. It was an honour KJ<l 2.iso «• poaition. that bore with, it a con.jnderable amount of respojisib^lity. He hoped it would hz in. hia power to- ill the position, ■with some measure of credit, not only to him»els but also to the preraier society of New Zealand, and that he mig'it worthily follow dir the steps ot the- i-lnefs who had gore. It liad been -vritli consiJorr-'olc reluctance that he allowed himself to be ncmhiated, and it was only his strong: affection fox the old society, that hsd induced lr-m. to take the position of chief. Tit had heard it said" that when the late Sir Jolin M'Keuzie was siectcd cluef, it was icr x-ol.tn.al perpescs. He might say, with cai'.'^ii"', t^at iliat ivr? net the caae. — Hr il'l^achiaa gaid^ if tkg aaieotuiS sasud

• pardon the interruption, he wo old like to say tfcat he had himself interviewed. Sir John. M'Kenzie sh rfcly after Dr Stuart had died, said had requested Sir- John to come forward; for the position of chief. Sir John had been reluctant to do so, but had latterly consented on his (the speaker's) representations. Mr M'Pherson, conijnning, said all would [be gled to hear this. At anyrate lie (Mr i M'Pherson) could guarantee he did. not belong ■to any politics. Perhaps h? ought to ba ashamed of it, but he took no interest in politics at all — (laughter) — nor in municipal politics even. Whatever he* could do for the society and for Hjghl_uidmen he would always be glad to do. He legretted he could not ! make a speech m Gaelic. He could, under- \ stand a grea-i deal of it, anil, on account of his i attending tlie ineatings, he was becoming more j pioficient and better acquainted with his i mother tongue. — (Hear, hear). He was pleased I to see such a full mesting, and hoped laTg«r I gatherings would always ba a regular thing •' at the ordinary meeting. They would en- | deavour to make the meetings as attractive as possible. He thanked them again for electing him to the position:. — (Applause). Chieftain Roderick Mackenzie spoke a few words in. Gaelic. The Chairman then entreated subscriptions to a. fund, for the banefii of the widow of Malcolmn M'PhersoK, who was dxowned in the wreck of the ill-fated Ciau. During the evening £11 13s was- collected iv> tke- room, and this will be transmitted, to Wellington immediately. , A lengthy, programme of songs, etc., followed, amongst toe items being " Tir a mhaori fa-da thall" (land of the Maori far away) by Mr 2T. M'Fadyen ; " Hojco no nigheaar donan bhpidheach' " by Mrs K. M'Dor.a-ld ; duet, " Jed ■fee- mi guikr chrodii gun aighean" by Mrs Lister and! Miss, Campbell ; " The Highlandman's toast" by. Mr R. R. Donaldson ; *' March of the: Cameron men " by Mr D. M. Fea; " The Rowan tree " by Miss M. Cot.micnael-; Gaelic song by Me N. M'Padyen. Pipe selections, were played by Piper J. Stewart (Melbourne). and. Pipe-mp.jor M'Kechnie. Several dances also took place at intervals during the proceedings. Lady M'Kenzie was elected a life member.

17sovs ; second licrse to receive 2sovs from the stakes. Pedigree and performances, must accompany each noniniittion. No weight under 11.0. Distance, one Elile. Nonrination. IDs. necGt>tn.nce 7«. 7. WINTER OATS- EEAISTJICAP, of ITsovs ; second- horse to receiver 2sov«> from, tlie stakes. Distance, sis furlongs. Nominationi on 10?, sccept.Mea 7s. Handicaps for this race will be declared immediately after the Shorts Handicap is run. ■ Dates of Nominations, Acceptances, &c. NOMINATIONS for all events on the pro-gia-mme will be lecelved up till SATURDAY, May 17. HANDICAPS will appear on THURSDAY, May 22. ACCEPTANCES will hs received for all events, except the Winter Oats Handicap, up till, and not later than, THURSDAY, May 29, 1902. It is imperative that all entries be accompanied by the necessary amount of entrance money ; failirg "-o handicaps will not appear. AUstakes paid in full. Hurdle and fiat races will be run under the New Zealand Rules of Racing. Trotting rarcs will bo run under the rules of the New Zealand Trottir.g Association. , JAMES L. WILSON, 14m Secretary. I