CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 5

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF OTAGO.

1912 : JUBILEE YEAR A RETROSPECT. The present year 1912 will be the jubilee of the Caledonian Society of Otago, and snch an important event will no doubt in due time be celebrated in a fitting manner. Fifty years in the life of a new community bring many changes and developments, and the too few of the old identities who are still among us, in reviewing thei past, must regard with almost awed surprise the changes which have gradually converted a humble village into a city equipped with all the amenities of a high civilisation. Scotsmen, while perhaps the most übiquitous race on the earth, are also the most patriotic; they never forget the land of their birth, however humble may have been their heritage therein. Wherever they wander, whether under the burning suns of India, or on the snows of Canada, Caledonian societies, Gaelic societies, inglesides, and Burns clubs are proof of their yearning affection for the land of their birth. The Scotsman who founded these aspirations developed to the fullest extent, and as an outcome thereof the Caledonian Society of Otago was established in 1862, and was the first Scottish Society in New Zealand. It was ushered into existence without any pomp or ostentation, and the first gathering in thd old Provincial saleyard—of which there is only a traditional record—was probably carried out under somewhat die couraging circumstances. The first authentic gathering was held on the Grange Estate, at the north end—the property of the late Mr John Hyde Harris, a Superintendent of the province, one of the early presidents of the society—and on what is now a thickly-populated residential area of the city. The society at that time had the use of the Northern Reserve, under special grant, upon which was erected the present grandstand, a solid piece of architecture designed by the late Mr John Millar, F.S.A., the first city engineer, whose somewhat puzzling motto, “ Socundo euro,” still adorns the earlier lamp posts. On this ground some of the most successful gatherings of tho society were held, and some of the most redoubtable athletes who have ever graced the arena competed there. At every gathering there was also seen the well-known figures of the pioneers of the settlement, nearly all of whom are now only a memory of the past. In the early 70’s the society purchased land at South Dunedin, and in 1875 the grandstand was removed from the Northern Reserve to its present position. The land was low-lying, and a large amount had to be expended in filling and draining, in forming an up-to-date cycle track, and in improving the amenities by planting trees and shrubs. This has been accomplished at the expenditure of a large amount of money, and the society now owns one of the best-equipped sports grounds in the Dominion, and which in time will become one of the show places of the city. Has the Caledonian Society justified its establishment ? is a question that might at this stage of its existence be asked, and the answer should be in the affirmative. The objects which the founders had in view at ifs establishment were : (1) Benevolence.—To be promoted bycontributing to the funds or such chan, table institutions as the society may determine, by giving information and advice to newly-arrived immigrants, and by affording for special cases of destitution such temporary relief as tn> the society may appear practicable or expedient. (2) Education. —To bo promoted by assisting in the education of youths by establishing scholarships, or in such other manner and under such conditions as may be approved by the society. (3) Literature, —To be promoted by procuring and disseminating informa tion regarding the poetry, history, and archaeology ox Scotland, and generally by rewarding literary merit in such manner as the society may deem desir able. (4) Customs and Accomplishments.—

To be promoted by offering prizes for excellence in the performance of national feats, games, and exercises to he exhibited at the gatherings of the society. Taken in inverse order, the fourth object is that on which the society must now mainly rely in replying to the question. In tne 50 years of its existence the society has endeavoured to promote not only the Scottish sports wtiich it was originally intended to perpetuate in this new country, but also to give encouragement to all kinds of athletics and sports. As an example of this, when cycling was the vogue in athletics, the society spent nearly £IOOO in forming an up-to-date cycle track, which experts have pronounced to be one of the best and safest in Australasia. The prize money has been kept up to a high standard of value, usually running up to between £4OO and £SOO, and during the society’s existence at least £20,000 has been paid away in prize money, while the other expenses of the gatherings hjave (avelarged £l2ot—a total expenditure of £6OOO. Of late years the society’s sports meetings have not met with the encouragement from the citizens of Dunedin that they deserve. This arises from reasons which are patent to its office-bearers, but which they find it difficult to combat. Some pessimists tell us that the physique of the young people of New Zealand is deteriorating; this is falsified by the experience of the Caledonian Society. In the early days the entrants were mainly immigrants from the Old Country; they are now nearly all the product of the Dominion, and it is found that the runner of to-day makes as good time, the ball and hammer are thrown with as sinewy an arm, and the wrestling arena displays as much skill and muscle as did the entrants of the 60’s and 70’s. It is regrettable perhaps that some of the old-time sports —vaulting with the pole and jumping events—do not find favour with the present generation, and that the fields for the walking events are not what they were at the old-time gatherings. The promotion of Scottish literature is one of the objects of the society which has not been encouraged as it should, and the reasons are probably to be found in the altered conditions and tastes of the community, and not to apathy on the part of the society. In the early days of the society, it possessed a bard, John Barr, of Craigilee, whose poetry (of no mean order) is unknown to the present generation. Prizes were offered in the early days under this head, and produced few competitors, John Barr and Thomas Bracken being the only competitors and prizewinners.

The promotion of education is one of the objects of the society in which it takes a pridie. Before the days of technical schools, and when high and grammar schools were a luxury, even for the children of well-to-do parents, continuation schools were unknown. Although the founders of the Otago settlement estab lished a splendid educational system, upon which is indeed based that of the Dominion, young people were from the force of circumstances compelled to leave school before their education was completed. The Caledonian Society stepped into the breach, and established night schools, which were conducted by teachers whose names have become household words in Otago, and many young people received a finish to their education which better equipped them for the battle of life. At meetings of the society, successful men of the community have not hesitated to publicly express their indebtedness to the Caledonian Society’s night schools for much of the success which had attended them. The e.-tablisment of technical schools, subsidised by the Government, did away with the necessity for the society’s continuation schools, and they were abandoned. All credit is due to the officers of the society who conceived them, and to the self-sacrificing teachers who so ably conducted them. The Caledonian Society was established under a provincial ordinance, which was afterwards validated by an act of the 11 ouse of Representatives. What lies in the womb of the future for the society it is difficult to forecast, and it is probable that by a process, of evolution it will develop on other lines, and possibly it may enter into new spheres of usefulness by amalgamation with other societies. It bis 'become so welded with the life of th( co that even If it

Joses its “old identity” it must still continue. It ia almost a civic institution, and it is impossible to conceive of a Danedin without its Caledonian Society. Its future lies with the citizens of Dunedin.