A SCOTTISH NIGHT

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 24 January 1925, Page 6

A SCOTTISH NIGHT

THE BURNS ANNIVERSARY. ST. ANDREW’S SOCIETY CELEBRATION. Not a vacant seat was left in the Victoria Hall last evening at 8 o’clock when the St. Andrew’s Society of Invercargill commenced the annual celebration of the Burns Anniversary. The Chief, Mr J. L. McG. Watson, presided, and in a brief opening address said that it was the 11th occasion that the St. Andrew’s Society had celebrated the Burns Anniversary. There were two great festivals in the Scottish year—St. Andrew’s Day and the Burns Anniversary. He was pleased to welcome Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., who remembered Invercargill 50 years ago, and would address the gathering. The evening was to be a “braw Scot’s nicht,” and he expected all to be brothers and sisters together. The Chief then introduced Sir Robert Stout, and amidst great applause decorated him with the order of the St. Andrew’s Scottish Society of Southland. Sir Robert Stout delivered a stirring lecturette on the noble traditions and glorious record of Scotland in years gone by, and exhorted Southlanders to follow the great example the Mother Country had set. He was glad to see Southland had not forgotten Scotland, and that its people realised there was such a thing as heredity. For a small country Scotland had produced a great number of the most prominent men, in every walk of life. It was the duty of all true St. Andrew’s Society members to maintain the great Scottish name and become a thrifty, hard-working people, in a province that was blessed with the finest climate and soil in New Zealand. “See to it,” concluded Sir Robert Stout, “that you all follow in the steps of your Scottish ancestors.” After several concert items, the Chief introduced the lecturer of the evening, the Rev. Angus Mcßean, who in an address that was keenly enjoyed by all, reviewed the life of Burns and told of the universal love for his songs and poems. There was also the pathetic side to the life of Burns, and he suffered greatly. He spoke, however, in the language of the poor people, and it could be truly said he w r as the poet of love. In concluding the speaker referred to the fact that Invercargill did not possess a Burns monument, and suggested that if the Society could raise the money necessary it would be an excellent plan to erect such a monument in the beautiful Invercargill Rose Gardens.

During the evening an excellent musical programme of music and dancing was given, the items beingi as follows:—Selection, Southland Pipe Band; quartette, “There was a Lad,” Mr Aitchison’s Party; Highland Fling, Miss D. Forrester; song, Miss Nellie Black; songs of Burns, St. Andrew’s Choir; instrumental trio, McGregor Family; humorous song, Mr McGregor Wilson; part song (Afton Water and Cornin’ thro’ the Rye), St. Andrew’s Choir; Seann Triubhais, Miss M. Flaus; violin solo, Miss Nellie Black; and song, Mr C. Trim. At the conclusion of the entertainment, Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.P., in proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturers and performers, referred in glowing term% to the work of the Society, and the great value of its work in the community. Members of the St. Andrew’s Society, together with the lecturers and performers, were entertained at supper, during which the time-honoured haggis was served with National music by a piper who presided over the ceremony. After a happy informal gathering, during which the Chief, the Pipe Band and Dr W. Stewart, who has lately returned from a trip abroad, were enthusiastically toasted, the festivities concluded with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”