THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 11

THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

A large number of Highlanders and their friends met on the 2nd in the Oddfellows Hall, Stuart street, to grace the monthly meeting of the Gaelic !>ocioty. Ihe chief (Mr D-ugakl M'Pher.^on) occupied the chuir, and intimated that the committee had decided to hold a grand -ceilidh on j the first Wednesday of the New Year, and ! arrangements were in progress to make it ! a success. Contributions of Highland heather had been received from the Rev. Mr Martin (Ohan), who ne\er forgot the Gaelic Society in this respect since his visit to Dunedin some years ago : and from Mivj Jessie Maclaehlan, who also sont a letter. from which the members would be pleased to hear that she had quite recovered from her illness and was again about to resume her professional entertainment*. — (Applause.) Ex-chief M'lntosh, of the Chriut-t-hurch Scottish Society, had also sent tufta of heather gathered in many parts of the Ilighbnd«, including the sacred Island of lona. These various {rifts would be distributed at the foithcominj? -ceilidh. The Dr Kennedy portrait fund had been raised to £3 2^. and with any early further additions would be reunited Home shortly. The chief had much pleasure in welcoming to the meeting Dr W. Clmholm Maedonald, a son of the late Mr Simon Macdonald, who had long boon one of the most esteemed j

members and office-bearers of the society. Dr Macdonaid hajd been in Cape Colony for some years, .and wae now back in Dunedin for a few months' stay, with his good lady — a Dutch woman, Mrho was also most heartily welcomed to-the meeting. A letter of apoloary was read from the Rev. D. Mac-lenna-n, M.A., for unavoidable absence. He thanked the society for having from time to time advertised the Gaelic services which he had conducted monthly in Chalmers Church. Although removing to Edendale, he would like, if possible, to be present at the New Year Ceilidh. * The Chief, in connection with this^ letter, regretted very much that Mr MacJennan "wae leaving Dunedin, for fehe sdke of the many Highlanders who had enjoyed his ministrations, .but -he w&s not ,going so- very far away tha^ he could not still ■ occasionally give them a. Gaelic sermon. — (Applause. \ Dr Macdonald being asked to speak, said he would, at some future meeting, give the society an account of some South African matters, but meantime contented himself with narrating some incidents relating to the social conditions of life in the . South African colonies. The Dutch had a strong affection for the Scotch, which freely resulted in inter-

j marriage, and thus the country was being } " settled down " after the war. Dr Mac- . Donald's remarks were much appreciated, and his future promised speech on the land of his adoption will be looked forward to with pleasure. Pipe selections were given throughout the evening ■ 'by Pipe-majors M'iSechnie and M^allum. Miss Reeve contributed pianoforte selections- .Misses Isa. and Polly Frame, dressed in Highland garb, danced " seantruis," and Master Dan and Colin M'Kenzie, all in splendid style. Little Miss Hughina Chieholm sang " Mo ; run geal dileas," Mr Angus M'Lean " Eileau an fraoich," Mr A. C. Robertson "Ho ro mo r nighean doun bhoidheach,"^''-Cumha Mac,- ! gri«eir } " and "In green Caledonia " ; JPipe- f major M'Callum, "My wither --ment my auld breeks," ■ " Come under" ma* plaidie," and Burns's poem, "To Mary inJleaven"^ . ; Mr Dan Matheson sang "A'u teid thu learn a ribhennog," Mr Dan Matheson, jun., " Ged tha mi gun chrodh gun aighean," and Mr_>. James Turner " Gu mv slan'a chi mi."' Mr Turner also gave a ceoitation.. Shortly before the usual time of closing his Worship the Mayor came into the meeting, and was welcomed with hearty cheers. Being asked

to say a few words, ho expressed the pleasure he felt in being present and seeing so large a -meeting. Unfortunately, the council meetings had t alway6 been on the same night as those of the society, hence his inability to .be present oftener. JBp wae very much a Highlander, and was proud of hia Celtic lineage. The Chief, in honour of \\\s Wqrshinj prolonged the meeting, and "to show him what the society could do, tha Misses Frame and the Masters M'Kenzia danced the Highland Fling and sword daricr respectively, and a number of Gaelic and other songs were rendered.

A sunfish was washed ashor^loif— rt«s-~~ Awatuna Beach, Greymouth, a few days - ago. It measures from head to tail itfit 6in, depth of body sft 6in. width of body, 2ft, and length from the tips of the fine, which are horizontally situated near the tail, lift 6in. The weight of the fish is estimated, to be about two tons and a-half, and some idea cf the size of the monster may be gathered when- it js .stated that it required the power of tw&. draught horses to drag it a few feet on boards.. ■