THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 34

THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

ANNUAL GATHERING.

The ■ Gaelic Society of New Zealaaid's annual gathering, concert and ball, was held in the Choral Hall on' Friday ev&ning, when there was a good attendance, despite * the extremely bad weather. During the early parb of the proceedings Mr Dugald M'Pherson (chief of the society) occupied the oha/.-, seats on the platform being ako occupied by Messrs R. Mackenzie, W. MacLeod (secretary), Colin M'Kenzie, Dugald M'Lachlan'; Donald M'Pherson, W. Thomson, A. Stevenson (chief of the Highland Society at Invercargill) ', and the Rev. D. MacMnnan. v ' The Chairman expressed his regret that the inclemency of the weather had affected the attendance, as he f&lt sure that otherVtvise the hall would - have bee-n crowded. ■.Assail would notice by the programme, the . society was that/ evening to hold its twenty'fourth annual conoert and ball, and as the ' fust of these gatherings was held when the was but 12 months old, it followed that the. Gaelic ~ Society of New Zealand ' had completed the first quarter of a century of its existence, being, in faci, now in its twenty-sixth year. They should, as a society, therefore, be strong and able to give a good account of themselves. The society's membership kept up to about the same mark as of late, and in this respect they f&lt they were not_making quit© the progress they would like to be making in the way of increasing their membership. He hardly knew the reason, but apparently all Highlanders who raig-ht, did not come forward to support a society so deserving 1 of their support. As far as the finances of the society were concerned, they started the year past with a' credit balance of £98, and at the end of the year they had £102 odd to their credit. — (Arsplauso.) Tha society might therefore ciaim to fa© in aprosperous condition, though there was a email sum to come out of the above amount, to go towards the Mackinnon memorial fund. In regard ro the Dunedin Hospital Extension Fund, ho vvouid not himself bs satisfied unless they had a cot in the new Hospital building called the Gaelic Society's Cot. — (Applause.) vTt meant that they must raise £100 between now and the opening of the new section of the Hospital, and he thought this was a matter in which h© could fairly ask the m>anibsrs of the sceiely to assist. They had only to put their shoulders to the wheel and the thing would be accomplished. They had a long and excellent programme before them, and ho would not. detain them longer by a speech. H« extended a hearty welcome to visitors and members of kindred societies. — (Applause.) The Chief of the Southland Highland society (Mr A. St&venf-on), called on to say a few words, thanked the chairman and those present very heartily for the invitation cordially extended the society he represented. Mr Rodciick Mackenzie, president of the Caledonian Society and chieftain of the Gaelic Society, thanked the chairman on behalf of the society over which he was president, remarking that he had a much longer connection with the Gaelic Society. He endorsed the chairman, s remarks as to the desirability of establishing a cot in the Hospital on behalf of the society. The. Rev. W. Thomson, introduced by the Chairman as a new recruit to th© society's ranks, assured those present that he was a recruit from the centre of the Highlands, and made some remarks about the relation of the Highlands to the Britdsh Empire that quite met with the approval of the audience, though rot historically above suspicion. Mr D. M'Lachlan, in the course of a short address in Gaelic, referred to the advantages now possessed by the Highlanders in Dunedin of hearing preaching in their mother tongue, and he expressed the hope that they would rally round the minister and support the church where these services wore conducted as well as the Gaelic services. He said he had been himself 40 years in the colony, and could speak the Gaelic now as fluently as when he left his native town. — (Applause.) The Rev. D. Maclennan said" he was dolighted to find the people in Dunedin taking such interest in Highland affairs. He hoped shortly to have the opportunity of doing something in the way of education in Gaelic, which would, he believed, meet with approval.— (Applause.) He described humorously the various peculiar customs

connected with baptism, weddings, and funerals a century ago in Scotland. As the evening advanced the hall was well filled. A very excellent programme was submitted, and mot with much appreciation. The society's pipers opened the concept, the society's choir rendered the choruies " Cruachn Bcann " and " Horo mo nighean douii choideaeh " ; vocal so!os were rendered by Mrs Harvey (" Highland lad"'), Mrs R "M'Donald ("Thainjg an Gille dubh 'ri raoir do 'n bhaile so"), Miss M'Callum ("'Bonnie hills of Scotland 1 '), Mrs Carmichael ("Cam ye by Athol"), Miss A. Richardson (-Pretty pond lilies"). Mr James Jago ('^Standard on the Braes o' Mar" and "Scotland yet"), Mr Do Maus ("I am M'Ncil, a ploughman bold" and "Edinburgh Toon"). Mr Cook ("Sing me 1o sleep"), Mr Firkin (''Day by day"), by Mr W. M'Kenzie, and by Mr Neil M'Fadyen (the last-named contributing the Gaelic songs ''Tha mi 'n duil" and " S'toigh learn a Ghaelig"). My D. M'Kechnie danced a seaunLriubhas in clever style. Mr J. M'Keehnie, jun., gave a Highland fling, and Messrs J. M'Kechnie, jun., D. M'Kechnie, A. Stewart, and R. Popham gave a Highland reel. Chieftain Colin Mackenzie acted as musical director, Mr James Nelson led the choir, and Miss L. Reeve was accompanist. " Auld lang syne." as usual, concluded the programme. * Tr"» concert concluded, ihe hall, which had been most tastefully decorated, was cleared for dancing, a lavee number of couples being present. Messrs C. Mackenzie and D. M'Kechnie acted as M.G. s. Mr D. Donald's band supplied the music, and Miss Murray was responsible for the catering. . „ The society's annual report was, in the main, as follows : — "In presenting the twenty-fourth annual report of the society, your committee has pleasure in recording the unabated energy which has characterised the proceedings throughout the year. The monthly meetings were regularly held and uniformly well-at-tsnded, the entertainments consisting of speeches, vocal and instrumental music, and occasional Highland dances, and, being of a high order of merit, could not fail to yield both pleasure and profit to the members. At one of these Mr William Thomson delivered a lecture on "The Influence of the Highlanders on the Making of the Empire," which was published in extenso in the Otago Witness. Two of the monthly meetings took the form of ceilidhs, in aid of most worthy objects— one being the Early Settlers' Building Fund (to which it added £12), and the other for the erection of a memorial to Quinten Mackinnon, who was the discoverer of Mackinnon's Pass to the West Coast, and lost his life in connection -with Ms work as an explorer. At the latter ceilidh a brilliant lecture was delivered by Mr Thoma-s Mackenzie, M.H.R., F.R.G.S., on 'The West Coast Explorations.' The lecture resulted in the net sum of £16 being realised for the intended object. This, with £10 promised by the Otago Rugby Union and several donations, make up the amount now available to £26.

" The society has maintained the most friendly relations with all the kindred societies from i\apier to Invercargill, and mutual invita- ■ tions to special functions have bsen freely taken advantage of. Special mention may be made of the visit of your executive, to the annual meeting of the Early Settlers' Aseociation, where they had the honour of being presented to his Excellency Lord Plunket; and the visit of your representatives to the \anaiual meeting of the Highland Society of Southland, whose hospitality to them was truly Highland hospitality. A portrait of your late chief, Sir John il'Kenzie, was presented to the society, by a few of the members, and hung up in the hall*wbere the society's meetings are held. This, with the portrait of the previous chief {the Rev. Dr Stuart), presented by Mr Thomas Mackenzie, forms the neuclus of a portrait • gallery. Perhaps some conconsiderate and generous frieaids might follow it up with portraits of former chiefs and presidents to make the series complete, and thus keep alive their memories. In this connection a suggestion may be mentioned which was made by Mr William Hutchison, whose interest in the society is thankfully acknowledged—viz., that memoirs of the various chiefs and of other distinguished Highland pioneers I should be written and preserved. Mr Kenneth I Clarice presented a photograph of the monu- ! ment erected in Scotland to the late Sir j Hector Macdonald, which was appreciated | committees best thanks are due to I donors of Hooks. Further donations of books ; on Celtic subjects and old Gaelic Bibles will ; always be acceptable. Your committee would here emphasise the fact that never before have Highlanders or descendants of High- ; landers in Dunedin had such a grand oppor- | <tumty of acquiring the rudiments of the ! Gaelic language, or, where that is not necessary, of extending and retaining their know- | ledge of it as they now have. Chalmers j Presbyterian Church has secured the ministerial services of the Eev. Duncan Mac'ennan, M.A., who preaches a Gaelic sermon at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on the last Sabbath of j every month, and holds a Gaelic Bible class I on all Ihe remaining Sabbaths at 3- o'clock. It i is to be hoped that these uMque opportunities will be conscientious 1 y availed of by all who, | with even a partial knowledge of the language, can in the least benefit by them. The pleasure as well as profit they have already afforded to those of your committee who have attended cannot be overstated. It is further intended in the near future to form a beginner's class on week nights, as well as for the more advanced, for the study of the Gaelic grammar and literature. These will be under the tuition of the Eev. Mr Maclennan. "A letter was recently received from Mrs Grant, a renowned Gaelic scholar now resident in Sydney, suggesting the co-operation of all the Celtic societies of Australasia for the promotion of an occasional mod for comj petitions in Celtic literature, music, etc., such as take place in the Home Country. This should engage the attention of this and other New Ze?Jand societies with a view to some practical result.

" The members of the choir, a useful adjunct to the socisty (Mr T. TTelson, conductor), have teen most diligent in their attendance at the meetings and successful in their rendition of the Gaelic songs which they have studied, Miss Eeeve being their accomplished accompanist. At a recent function they presented Mrs Donald M'Pherson, one of their number, •who has also been a veritable mother to the young ladies of the choir, with a handsome silver tea servioe as a memento of their esteem for her. Another presentation (made by the society) during the year was to Mrs Campbell, whose Gaelic singing has for many years helped to enliven the meetings. "The members of the society ha\e had to mourn the departure of a few friends since last annual meeting. John M'Kenzie may be mentioned, although he died in Scotland, he having been long and intimately associated with the Highlanders in Dunedin; Mrs.M'Coll (of TVaitahuna) and Mrs Duncan M'Donald i,Hin.don}. This lafijr. was the -wife of our

respected fellow coinmitteeman, and was buried in the Northern Cemetery, Dunedin, many of tho members of ihe rociety attending her funeral. She wss a sister of Mrs Mary M'Kellar, the celebrated poetess, authoress, and translator m Gaelic of some volumes of Queen Victoria's reminiscences of the Highland. Mrs M'Donald was a frequent visitor at out- meetings,, and was esteemed by all who knew her."