Caledonian Social

Southland Times, Issue 15016, 9 August 1901, Page 2

Caledonian Social

The social, concert and dance held under , the .uitipiees of th« Caledonian. Society ol .Southland was held yescerdiiy evening in i Ashley"** hall, the attendance being rathei i meagre. Prior to the opening hour Pipci \ViUon played several items on the pipes, j which appealed to the hearts of those whe 3 wen- of Scottish nationality. After a r capital spread, served in " Kingslaad's' i best style, had been done full justice to, the i president of the Society, Mr W. Martin, iv | a brief address, apologised for the absence ) of Mrs Blue, (who was to hare been one of : the vocalists) owing to an attack of in- • ilueiiza. He also explained that the limited , attendance was without doubt due partly to i the prevalence of that malady and partly to [ the tact that the gathering had not been marie an annual one, a circumstance he i much regretted. He also apologised for the absence of tho Pipe Band, who had gone i north to attend tho funeral of the late Sir -John MeKenzie, chieftain of the Gaelic Society of Otago. He paid a high tribute to the memory of the deceased gentleman, and said he was sure he voiced the feelings , of those present when he sympathised with th# family in their sad bereavement. The first item on the concert programme was n selection, by Mr John McGregors orchestra, which was rendered in a manner that earned the approbation of those present. They contributed another selection at a later stage which wasequally well receive;!. Mr J.Murray gave efficient renderings of " Willie brewed a peck o' inaut" and "A gude New Year," for which he was warmly applauded. Miss Smith was in excellent voice and contributed " Bonnie Scotland" and " (Jang doon the burn, Davie, lad," for which she recehed nndeniable encores. Mr Laming oang " Annie Laurie," his interpretation of the well known balla<l tickling the risible faculties of the audience, and at the conclusion he was loudly applauded. Miss Macaliater's rendering or "The .Scottish Blue Bells " met with warm approval and, the audience insisting on an encore, ahe repeated the last verse. The weU-known Scottish comic, Mr George McAlpine gave a comic song and was recalled, when, by request, he contributed " The wee thing that jaggit them a'," and created a deal of amusement. Colonel Thomson, on being called on for an address, said the state of hishealth would not permit of hits acquiescing, and, further, he had not come prepared to speak. Mx .}. A. Mitchell was called on and made a few well-chosen remarks. In answer to the chairman's statement, and speaking on behalf of some previous presidents of the Society, he could say that the reason an annual social was not held was on the score of economy, hence tho " neat egg " that they now possessed. This eoneludodtbe concert. 1 The datico which followed was well attended and was entered into with true Scottish , heartiness and much enjoyed. The eutertainmeni was thor-mghly homely, those 1 present being in tho brightest o! apirite, ; and evidently enjoyed themselves. The hall wa3 tastefully decorated with flags, bunting and shields. Miss J. Gilchrisl played the accompaniments in an efficient manner.