BURNS NIGHT AT HAWERA

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1934, Page 10

BURNS NIGHT AT HAWERA

MEMORY OF BARD HONOURED. MR. J. C. FINDLATER'S ORATION. The “Immortal Memory” of Robert Bums was perpetuated at a large gathering of Scots at Hawera on Thursday night. The chief of the Hawera Scottish Society (Mr. D. G. Smart) presided, and with him were associated Messrs. D. McCormick (chieftain), T. Corkill (New Plymouth Caledonian Society), D. Holmes, sen. (Te Kiri Scottish Society) and A. C. Morrison (Eltham Highland Pipe Band). There were also other visitors who with the guests were welcomed by the chief. The tables and hall were appropriately decorated. The haggis, borne by Drum-Major J. R. Naim, was piped in by Pipe-Major B. Henson and Piper lan Campbell. Bums’ grace was said by Mr. D. Holmes and the "Ode to the Haggis” was recited by Mr. D. McCormick.

Quoting Horace’s words that he should not wholly die,- the better part of him should escape, Mr. J. C. Findlater, who delivered the oration, said the better part of Bums would live for many centuries. He referred to the wonderful manifestations of affection that had been paid to Bums’ memory, and said more statues had been erected to Bums than to any other man. Another example was the refusal of admirers to let the “Auld Brig of Ayr” be pulled down because Burns had written a unique poem about it. His birthplace had become one of the world’s shrines. Scots people were extremely fortunate in many things, but in this, above all, that they had in Burns a people’s poet. He had a passionate love of common justice, commonsense, the common people and freedom. Bums was great because God breathed into him in larger measure than into other men the spirit of that love which made him, more than any;other man, a living soul. As a Burns oration should be, Mr. Findlater’s address was spiced with quotations.

Other toasts honoured were “Scottish Humour” (Dr. W. M. Thomson), "Caledonia” (Mr. L. A. Taylor), "The Land We Live In” (Mr. J. E. Campbell), "The Lassies O” (Mr. J. Edmonston—Mrs. J. S. Young), "Kindred Societies and Visitors” (Mr. D. Wards—Messrs. Corkill, Holmes and Morrison) and “The Press and Artists” (Mr. A. L. Campbell). The speeches were interspersed with items. The performers were Mrs; Gannaway (songs), Messrs. A. Galloway, J. Crawford (songs) and Antoni Bonetti (violin solos, Misses Norma Nixon (recitations) and Doreen Nairn (national dances). Vocal numbers were also given by a quartette of Scottish Society choir members, Mrs. Gannaway, Miss M. Sunderland, Messrs. L. A. Taylor and D. G. Smart. Mesdames L. A. Taylor and Antoni Bonetti were the accompanistes.