PIPERS FORGATHER

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 23

PIPERS FORGATHER

SMOKE SOCIAL. The pipe bands' contest was held yesterday, and it was fitting that at its conclusion the traditional Scottish hospitality should be extended to the visiting bands from tha south—namely, Invercargill, Wyndham, and Balclutha, whose enthusiasm alone had made possible the representation of the pipas at the present bands' contest. About 200 people were present at a smoke social tendered to the visitors by the Otago Executive of the Pipers' and Dancers' Association of New Zealand in tha Early Settlers' Hall. Mr David Young, in the unavoidable absence of the president, Mr Dugald M'Pherson, occupied the chair, and, in proposing the toast of " The Visiting Bands," coupled with tho names of their pipe-majors, said that whan the contest was mooted he had every hope that the northern bands at Wellington., Masterton, Christchurch, Auckland, and Napier would be able to participate, but it was eventually left to these four bands from Otago and Southland to try conclusions in the first pipe band contest ha had witnessed in Dunedin. Ho was especially pleased to sec some of the bands with young players entering, and was sure the experience would bo a valuable ono to them. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Pipe-majors Wilson (Invercargill), Sutherland (Wyndham), and Ramsay (Balclutha), and Drum-majors M'Dougall, Begbie, and Johnston replied on behalf of their respective bands. Other toasils honoured were: " Tho Winning Band," proposed by Mr A. Campbell, who incorporated in tho toast tho names of Pipe-major Grant and Drum-major Gilchrist of tho Dunedin Highland Pipe Band and replied to by those gentlemen, and "The Judge," proposed by Mr Thomas Fairbairn, and acknowledged by Mr George Munro. The proceedings were varied by several musical items, contributed by Messrs M'Kenzie, Brown, Searle, and Pobb (songs), Messrs Morrison and Cameron (recitations), and Mr A. Gray, the original pipe-major of the Dunedin Band, violin solo. The evening concluded in timehonoured fashion with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne."