THE GAELIC SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 78

THE GAELIC SOCIETY-

The monthly meeting. of the Gaelic Society *as held on Wednesday in the Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart street. The Chief (Mr Dugald JM'Pherson) presided, and the seating capacity ' Df the hall was taxed to accommodate the large ' immber of members and friends present. The ' Chief reminded the audience that that was ' the final meeting of the financial year; that next meeting would be one for the receipt of members' subscriptions and the election of office-bearers, in addition to the ordinary musical programme. Many of those present would ba pleased to learn that the preliminary Steps had been taken by Chalmers Church to give a call to the Rev. D. M'Lennan, of Waipu, ■who, in addition to his high qualifications as a Presbyterian minister, was, he understood, 9 prime Gaelic scholar, whose advent in Dnntciir would ba of great value to any wishing to study the language or to improve their acquaintance with it. Since their last meeting the executive of the society had been favoured with a% invitation to the annual meeting oi :the Early Settlers' Association, where they 3iad the honour of being presented to his Excellency the Governor, who evinced a warm interest in the Gaelic tongue and the various 'dialects of the Celtic tongue. The treasurer ,(Mr Donald M'Pherson) handed over the proceeds of the recent Ceilidh to the Early Settlers' Association for its building fund, and at the . same time the surviving members of the Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney, and Shetland Society donated the balance of its funds ior the same object. The Chief 'had much pleasure in accepting for the society a book ■presented to the library by Captain D. M'Callum (Port Chalmers), entitled " The Martial Music of the Clans," by " Fionn" — a ■»en-named well known in Gaelic literature.

She best thanks of the society were tendered to Captain M'Callum for the gift. Mr Dugald "M'Lachlan (Purakanui), who was in splendid form, gave an eloquent Gaelic address. There ■were 300 odd languages now in print, but none equalled the Gaelic in beauty and pathos. iLooking at the map, the British Isles were Tint a small country, but that part oalled the Highlands of Scotland was a mere spec — a cabbage garden, as it were, — but when he reflected on the great men to whom it gave birth he was prcrad to belong to it. To think of Sir Colin Campbell, Chinese Gordon, Dr LivingBtone, General Sir Hector Macdonald, and a host of others who shed lustre on the Empire, rra* enough to make every Highlander do all in his power to keep tip the honour of his

country. Mr M'Lachlan -wound up with an appropriate verse from Duncan Ban's " Beinn Doran."

Mr M'Vickar (late of Napier), being present, was cordially welcomed to the platform, and delivered a short speech anent the Hawke's Bay Highland Society, of which he was one of the founders. Another was Mr Simon Chisholm, whom he was glad to see present.

There was a good programme of Gaelic and Scotch songs gone through, Mr Neil M'Fadyen (one of the society's bards) leading off with an original Gaelic song in honour of the society. Being encored, he responded with a song of 40 verses on the Crimean war and the gallant deeds of the Highlanders in that campaign. When modern bards can memorise such pieces, it is not difficult to believe that Ossian's poems were handed down from time immemorial by a people whose only literary pastime was the singing of poetry. Mr M'Fadyen also sang " Duthaich Mhicleoid." Mrs Campbell sang " Abercronibie" ; Mrs It. M'Donaid, " When the kye comes hame" (the .composition, the Chief remarked, of the Ettrick Shepherd, whose grandson had just been elected president of the Burns Club); Mr X,.. R. -Donaldson sang " The Standard on the Braes of Mar" ; Mr Robert Rae, " The Laird o' Cockpen" ; Miss M'Callum, " Mary of Argyle" ; and Miss Frew, " Tiocb Lomond." The choir contributed three Gaelic selections strengthened by violin and pianoforte accompaniments, the accompanists for the evening being Miss Reeve, Miss Agnes Nelson, and Mr Fraser Hutton. Pipe-major M'Fadyen played the pipes with his usual verve. In the course of the meeting the chief presented Mrs Campbell with a silver-mounted umbrella in the name of the society, duly inscribed with Gaelic and English. This lady was one of the oldest members, and had rendered efficient service in Gaelic singing for many years. Mr Donald M'Pherson responded on her behalf, and thanked the society for the gift, which she shoul dcherish all her days. Mr M'Pherson also gave a Gaelic reading. Messrs M'Kellar, R. Campbell, and E. Cameron were elected members.

A horror came to me one night— A spectre blear and old— "Your name?" I cried, in wild affright. It said, "I am -a cold." "B«gone!" I cried, "your clammy touch" I will no more endure!" And straight it vanished at the sight Of Woods' Great Pefpekmint Cuke.