THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 25

THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

NEW YEAR GATHERING.

The New Year oeilidlh and concert of the Gaelic Society of New Zealand was held in the Art Gallery Hall on the 2nd, when there was the usual large audience. The chief of the 'Gaelic Society (Mr Dugald M'Pherson) presided, and there were also on the platform Mr Roderick Mackenzie, Mr Thosv Mackenzie, M.P., Dr Stenhouse, (Burns dub), Rev. D. Maclennan, M.A., Mr Wm. .MacLeod, Mr" R. Ohifih'olm (Caledonian Society), Messrs Neil "M'Eadyen, I Donald' Munro, Colin M'Kenzie, Donald: M'Phteuson, and Charles Maodonald (a new arrival, and late piper to , Sir 'Donald Currie). -A first-rate "musical programme was presented during -the evening. Songs were ' rendered- by, Messrs _;M'Fadyen,< 'D. ■ Robertson, P*. Firkin, M.'Gregor,'" Davidson, j and R. R. Donaldson,', also Mrs Johnson, I Miss M'dallum, and Mrs Macrae ChambeT- j lens Mr ' Jock Willis, of Fullers'" Vaudeville Company, contributed* some coznie> -eongs,and was awarded! lie very highest applause. Dancing by the MasteH) M'JCenzie (2) a clarionet, solo, by 3S£r -^Van. a duefr' ; and chorjas^by Messrs Kennedy and , FfasrieWand eev^rali^itemfl by. the chow,' j^oade xrp an -interesting :programme*t, ' Exchieftain .'Colin.'M'Kerizie-Jrag /uueicabdirec-.. tor, *■„ and \- Miss \M'OaJlumi tvfhile Pipe^major^-J^^e^nie'uitdeitook; the. responsibilities ofjpape'-major." "^ ,„" ' ' Tfihe (3haixman,'^prior,-to miking" s afewremarite, - apologised --"for ' the. "lateness in making " a start. iFuiihißr, he ' would . not 1 answer for the advertised, programme being strictly adhered!, to/ He did not. purpose giving an address, 'but would read* to" those fpresent extracts from Scottish newspapers I .^dealing with the-feill held in Glasgow,- and | i in which special reference was 'made to the i i contributions* made' to th© movement bythe Gaelic Society of -"New Zealand. A lettet was also read Jcom Mr T. Campbell, of Invernell," referring "to the splendid success obtained at .the same ( feill, ' arid" j stating that a sum ' of £8000 had' been obtained, of which! amount " The friends across the seas ". stall was responsible for £400, whil© a further £100 was expected. The writer extended to the New Zealand , Gaelic Society the, thanks of his society for its practical help. A letter from Lieut. Henderson, bearing on, the same matter, was also read. La '^oncliuslon the chairman wished all present & bright and prosipearous new year. Mr Thomae Maokenzie, M.P., m the opening part of a brief but telling address, referred to the recent deaths of Mr Lachlatf M'Donald, of Port Chalmers, and Mr Simon M'Donald, of Dunedin, wh6 had been associated) with them in their gathefIngs fpr many years. The former gentle^ man had done a great deal of genuine work during the early days of the society. He had occupied resnonsible and honour* able positions in Port' Chalmers, where his name was honoured. He had left behind him a name -which any man might, be proud of. Mr Stimon M'Donald had been known to- the speaker ever since 1862. He was an Inverness man, and nadi fre-_ quently attended the society's gatherings. No more kindly or generous man took part in the history of any country. The fact that such men had associated them-

seiv6e- wfth tt© - s^fcie?y Justified" ife cxi* tence. ~ Anyone attending the funeral of Mr M'Donald must have been impressed with the large and representative cortege, His "Burial was marked by Highland^ honours, -clansmen and pipers being present io pay fhe last tribute :of respect. Ths speaker also referred to the passing away^ of Mrs. Hay, of Romahapa, whose funeral, 1 , took place on December--.?! (Tuesday), Shi w«s a -woman -who bks been a mother i^ Israel, a woman- whose actions had' beeft appreciated by* hundreds of ■ people ,wh<| jiad been influenced by her own good life,' The speaker referred to _ the incidents coni nected wth Mrs Hay.'s arrival in- New Zea< land, the struggle, for -life in* a -new coun^r. try, and the subsequent prospering and \ rearing of a family that was a credit to tha community, some -of the members no\f, holding notable positions throughout OtagoV It- was a good thing that -fch« "Soottishl people had such a country as New Zealand* to migrate to, and it was a still bettef | thing for New Zealand that such peopla; had come' to populate' it.. He hoped they" would "join with, him in" wishing peace to ' their ashes and honour to their memories. Mr R. Chisholni. on behalf of the Cale* donian Society, expressed % his, apprecia* tion of the kindness shown, 'in extending an invitation to be present. -He was for; some time. a : member of the Gaelic Societ.v: and although he might not be a member, at the ; present time he .was a Scotsman.t o tha backbone," and a Highlander at that. .T^ie : presence of. the- Southland Pipe Band at.thatf day's Caledonian gathering had served to ", remind him -of the fact that Scotland wast a countey. with a great history. It' Was tha pipes that- were _in a'litfge measure re< s.ponsible for -thatt"hjst6ry, -for'itfWas the" inspirations they/gaye that made the brave Highland soldiers in days gone by fight/ their way successfully _through.<the tiiickesfe', of fights and carry their flag gloriously]' I with them. ! The Rev. Mr Maolennan also made si I few remarks, referring to the Various GaeKo • names of New Tear's Eve andi them 1 derivations. He recited Gaelic rhymes .used in youthful processions by way of celebrating the New Year. ' ' The gathering broke «P with the singing 1 of. 'Auld lang syne."