SCOTTISH FAREWELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 57

SCOTTISH FAREWELL.

TO EXHIBITION BAND. MANY GLOWING TRIBUTES. An official farewell by the Scottish socie-' ties of Dunedin to the band of the 2nd Battalion of the 93rd Argyll and Suther-' j land Highlanders was held in the Early j Settlers’ Hall on Friday. The ball was , packed, Mr J. S. Douglas presiding over a / representative gathering, including the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. J Coates), the Mayor (Mr H. L. Taplev, j M.P ), and the president of the Exhibition directors (Mr Sutherland Ross). . i “It is only a few brief months ago that •' the members of the various Scottish societies met to extend a welcome to the Argyll and Sutherland Band,” said Mr Janies Brown, an ex-president of the Caledonian Society, who proposed the toast of “Our Guests.” “In years to come the people will recall the wonders of the Exhibition. but their pleasantest memory will be the music of the band that had been the brightest gem in the crown of the Exhibition.—(Applause.) They were now approaching the parting of the ways, as the Exhibition had nearly run its course, and the band would go home. This was the official farewell from the Scottish societies, and he hoped it was not good-bye. It might be Dunedin’s good fortune to meet again the bandsmen Their parting could not be more aptly expressed than in the words of the song, “Will yarno come back again ’’’—(Applause.) The toast was enthusiastically drunk after the orchestra had playtd the Argyll’s regimental march ‘The Garb of Old Gaul.” “Dunedin’s farewell to the 93rd Highlanders,” a bagpipe improvisation by Mr Kenneth Cameron, was played by Piper G. Yard ley. Captain Anderson replied on behalf of Mr F. J. Ricketts and the band, and in doing so thanked the gathering most sincerely for its cordiality. Unlike their last gathering this social was urged with. some sadness. “All of us have made friends,” said Captain Anderson, “and wo have appreciated the sincere friendship extended to us on all hands. It will nofc' cease with our departure-”—(“Hear, hear.”) 1 The band had appreciated (he ever-increas-ing daily attendances. Mr Ricketts had informed him that he would require two private secretaries to deal with all the qpr«. respondence he Had received. Whatever hospitality we may receive in the other cities and towns of the Dominion, which, we are about, to visit, I can assure you that the city of Dunedin and the people of Dunedin and our Scottish friends will ever retain pride of place in our affections.— (Applause.) When I get home to the Old Country I shall assuredlv tell them that the Sottish soieties of New Zealand are keeping the name of Scotland to the fore.”—(A iplause.) j The toast of “The Prime Minister” was proposed by Mr W. B. M'Ewan. “The Argyll and Sut.herlanders are no strangers to New Zealanders, and particularly to the Expeditionary Forces,” stated Mr Coates, in replv, after he had told a few stories about Scotsman. “The New Zealand Division has many recollections of the comrades who were fighting near them during the war. On many occasions we were fighting on their flank and on other occasions they were fighting on our flank. But on everv ncasion the relationship wag happy, and left with iio manv recollections that will last as long a« we live.” He recalled an incident on the Yprefrsection when the New Zealand Division had passed the Highlanders coming out of the trenches. They had come out. and / although they had carried out their duty they were prepared to go back at the next moment. Such was* the spirit of the Argyll and Sutherland Regiment. By their music the band had helped to knit the bonds of Empire even more s -cure in this country. Their playing of “God Save the King” had done much for the young generation, yet in wlmt war it could not he explained. The toast of the “Dunedin Pipe Band'* was proposed by the Mayor. Mr Fairbairn replied, and took opportunity to say “good-bye” to the band, whose members, by their music ami gentlemanly qualities, had won their way into the hearts of all. Other toasts honoured wore “The Scottish Societies” and “The Entertainers.” The singing of the National Anthem ami “Auld Lang Syne” concluded the farewell.