DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 11

DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

Tlie monthly social gathering of th^ Duneclin Burns Club was held in the Choral Hall m ihe 15th, the president (Mi J. J. Ramsay) presiding. The gatherings have come tc be looked forward to for some time past now, and each successive monthly :oncert is well attended, members knowing full -well that they are assured of a good evening of Scotch music. The Choral Hall last evening was consequently well filled, md all those taking part in the programme met wifrh a hearty reception. Scotch blood jS proverbially warm, and where national music is concerned the fact makes itself more than usually manifest. Piper Meiklejohn prefaced the concert programme proper with selections on the pipes, which were much appreciated ; and the chairman's remarks followed, in the course of which Mr Ramsay expressed the hope that there would be a large attendance at the annual meeting of the club on Friday night. Before dealing with the concert items, it may be mentioned that a number of nominations have already been received for office- I bearers for next year. Mr Alex. Thomson has been nominated for the position of president, and Messrs J. Arkle and W. Burnett for the positions of vice-presidents. Mr James Wallace has been nominated as treasurer, and Mr TV. Brown has very properly been put forward as j secretary. Mr Brown has occupied the post j of secretary to the club since its formation, and h<is earned out his duties so well that the clyib could scarcely do better than reappoint him. to an office he has held with conspicuous success foi sc long a period. The committee i so far nominated are Messrs John M'Kay, D. I M. Fea, W. C. M'Xee, \V. Wills, jun., Alex. [ Shgo, John Craig, John Main, John Auld, James Michie, and Francis Anuersson. The twelfth annual rcpoit, tc be submitted at the annual meet.ng, is as follows — i " Although there has been a sfoght fa!ling-off . in the subscriptions this year, the club has in j every other respect retained its prestige and kept up the usual high standard, whilst, good work has been done in the hrection oi fostering in this young land a love for nin grand old Scottish -music and literature, and imbuing tho | minds 01 our young co'omals with a veneration and regard for the- noble traditions of Scotland. This is the wor'i of the club, and we bope io poe it steadily maintained in the future. During the year we have, been favoured with several <>ble addresses, the speaker a*" cur anniversiay meeting (which wa:. more than usually successful) burg a young New Zealnnder of Scottish, decent— Mr J. C. Thomson, M.H.R. for AValhicc As of old. t'i? choi'i, under the able . liv.ders.hip of Mr \V. R. Don, has this year : loiideied v.i'nable service to the club, and we are under a deep debt of gratitude to tho ladies | and, gentleman v/Lft Ji&ve assisted us in the

musical part of jar entertainments during tho season ; and not least to Miss Wright, our accompanist, whose valuable services have conj tributed so materially to oin success. Piper I AJciklejohn has been rarely absent from his j post at our. monthly meetings, and we tiusfc i that he will still continue his good offices i thereat, and thai the stirring strains of Jiis j pipes may long be- the preludes to our monthly; • entertainments. We have to record our hearty thanks to the proprietors of the Weekly Scotsman and. to Miss Margaret Forgan, of Ldini burgh, for their annual gifts of heather, which! are much appreciated by the whole club. Your club has again this year interchanged visits with the Gaelic Society, and we trust the good! spirit of comradinhip will continue to exist between «heso kin-Sred societies. We have also been able to establish a bond of comradeship with our Scottish brethren of Canterbury, as represented by the Christchurch and Lyttelton branches jf the Scottish Society of New Zealand. Mi George Laurenson, M.H.R., president of the Lyttelton branch, was our guest at one of the monthly meetings, and we trust that some of rar >ffi !e-bearers ir membervi will contrive to return his visit *nd reciprocate th» friendly quid wis&es sc aptly and ably expresjed by Mr Laurenson." Returning to the subject >f the concert, iff may be classed among the best the club has given. Jhe part-singing by tht choir, under Mr W B. Don, was very good, and their two contributions — " The bonnie woods of Craigielee" (which was tung by special request) and ."Wae's me for Prince Charlie" — were admirably rendered. Trie Taieri Glee Parly figured conspicuously on the programme, no less than five items being set against their name. TLesa were . " For the sake c" somebody," " Scotland yet," '' Oh, gi'e my love brose and butter," "Cam' ye by Athol, ' and a Scottish fantasia, in all of wluch they acquitted themselves mo3f» creditably. So'.oii is were no*- numerous, but the selection of s'ligero war a judicirms one. Miss C. Campbell sang "Mary, of Argyle " very pleasingly, and Mr- A. Smith was encored for his rendering of "Quite English, ye Lmv;." Miss Fletcher was veiv successful in " /he land o' the leal," ond Mrs Lester was rquMly so in her singing' of " Highland lad " Mr Foreman was a great succ»ss as a comi<' linger, and mot with a do.ible encore. Twc reeifat.'on.'i were given during the evening — one by Mr "\V. Wallace, " Provcss hrodie of Pitrnarr'e." ir.tt the other by Mr W. D. M'Lean. R'-amn. O'Brien." Die latter was probably iK-Jii'led in the jrogmnme s a graceful comp!imr>v>f to the Irish brethren of the club, in rpcosn.'tioa of the close pioximity of it. Patrick's Day. Both recitations found much favom with tha audience, the lattat being pneoccd. Mr Alex. Thomson Rave an address during the coinse of the evening, taking Tor his subject some of the. more prominent phases of tho character of Burns. Mr. Thomson is always sure of % hearty reception at the Burns Club, it being a foregon conclusion that he will provo entertaining; bu!, apart from this, his popularity, ivith members is such that his presence on tho platform i=. always: welcome. The accompaniment luring the evening v/pre played by Misa Wright, and the hearty singing of "Auld langsvne " brought tha concert to a close, many of the members, miticularlv the voungei ones, remaining for the da.nee that followed.

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