A MEMORABLE NIGHT

Southland Times, Issue 21658, 21 March 1932, Page 9

A MEMORABLE NIGHT

DUNEDIN SCOTTISH SOCIETY GUESTS FROM INVERCARGILL. Hie first interchange of visits between the local St. Andrews Scottish Society and the Dunedin Scottish Society took place on Saturday, when, by invitation from the northern body, Mr J. L. McG. Watson (Chief) and Messrs W. R. Ronald, W. Falconer and J. Robertson, Chieftains, of the Invercargill society, travelled to Dunedin where they were the guests at the monthly meeting held in Lake’s Rooms, Dowling street. There' was a large attendance of members, who, as the visitors, escorted by Mr George Munro (president of the Dunedin Society, were piped in in true Scottish style, accorded them a very cordial reception. The programme was commenced in stirring fashion with the skirl of the pipes followed by the singing of the National Anthem, the Scottish National Anthem, ‘The Garb of Old Gaul” and “Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigie-lea.” Mr Munro then introduced the southern Chief whom he requested to take the chair and to conduct the meeting. He expressed his pleasure at the visit of the Chief and his Chieftains, which occasion struck a new note in the fraternity which existed between the Dunedin and Invercargill societies.

At an appropriate interval in the programme, his Worship the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr R. S. Black), who was present with the Mayoress, also welcomed Mr Watson and his fellow officers. He referred to the southern Chief’s interest at all times in the Dunedin Public Library and made mention of his presentation, on behalf of Miss Elies, formerly of Invercargill but now of London, and a grand daughter of the late Rev. Dr Burns, of Dunedin, of some very valuable works, namely, the songs written by Robert Burns and published by George Thomson, of Edinburgh, together also with other musical books then belonging to Miss Elies and given to the late Mrs Burna by Gilbert Burns, a relative of the poet, all of which works are now housed in the Bums Corner of the Dunedin library. In a happy speech, his Worship drew appropriate simile between the opening of the great Sydney Bridge that day and the uniting more closely of the Invercargill and Dunedin societies by the southerners’ visit.

In reply to the welcome, Mr 'Watson assured the president and the members of the Dunedin body that he appreciated the honour both of being invited to conduct the meeting and of the cordiality of the greeting extended to him and his Chieftains. He referred to the visit of the 2500 excursionists from Dunedin to Invercargill last, week when they were favoured with beautiful weather and he said he trusted they were not disappointed with the efforts made locally to entertain them. In conclusion, Mr Watson congratulated both the Mayor and Mayoress on their endeavours for alleviating the lot of the unemployed in Dunedin and extended to them the greetings of all the good folk of Invercargill. The Chief’s remarks were endorsed by Chieftains Ronald and Robertson. Mr Ronald stressed the advantages to be gamed by the interchanges of visits between the societies, and expressed the hope that the meeting that night would bo but the forerunner of many such happy occasions. He trusted that the cordial invitation of the Chief, on behalf of the southern body, to visit the Invercargill society would be accepted in the near future by the Dunedin society and he (the speaker) could assure them of a very hearty welcome. The programme was a most attractive one and, in addition to songs and recitations by leading artists, was interspersed with Highland dancing items, special delightful numbers by children in Highland costume greatly impressing the visitors. Not the leat popular item was the lightsome reels danced by members of the society as a- whole.