ST ANDREW'S DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4864, 1 December 1883, Page 4

ST ANDREW'S DAY.

♦ — The Oanterbury Oaledonian Sooiety celebrated the festival of tho patron saint of Scotland, St Andrew, by a supper at the Commercial Hotel, to which some sixty enthusiastic members of tho Booiety sat down. The ohair was occupied by Mr Watt and the vioe-ohair by Dr Stewart. The menu was thoroughly characteristic Tbe importance of the great national dish, "the Haggis,," was recognised by its being ushered in with all due formality to the Btrains of the bagpipes. The item "gamo" consisted of one bird, a grouse, whioh the Ohairman assured the meeting had been brought out in the lonio, aooompanied by a sprig of real heather from the Moray Hills, an announcement whioh was hailed with loud applause. Mr Watt may well be complimented on the skilful and impartial manner in whioh he distributed minute portions of that one marvellous bird bo that every one of the guests had the pleasuro of tasting, in some oases for the first time in their lives, the "best of game," as an enthusiast, to whom evidently the taste was no stranger, pronounced it. When the ;bill of fare bad been conscientiously gone through, The Chairman proposed "The Queen*" referring in brief terms to the faot that Her Majesty's favourite residence was Balmoral Oastle. The toast was drunk with musical honours. The Ohairman next proposed " His Excellency Sir William Jervois, X.C.8." The Ohairman tben proposed " Suocess to the Canterbury Caledonian Sooiety." (Applause.) Not much over two years ago the Sooiety had started, with six members, in Mr P. Cunningham's offico. (applause.) The Society now numbered slightly over 200 members. (Applause.) The original six had been told that the attempt to start suoh a Sooiety must fail in a purely Bnglish oommunity like Canterbury. The success of the sportp, got up under tbe auspices of the Sooiety, proved the fallaciousness of the forebodings. The sports were attended from all parts of the Province. (Applause.) Tha Society had a good library, whioh would shortly be greatly extended. (Applause.) The first ooncert of the Society had been a great suooess, money having to be refused at the doors. The coming sports were sure to be equally successful, for already the entries for tbe handicaps numbered 110. In the Society all Bhould know eaoh other, and social gatherings like the present were necessary for the continuanoo of the Sooiety. The sports of Dec. 16, tho meetings of the Directors were not suffioient, but meetings of the oharaoter of tbe present were necessary. The Directors also intended to have quarterly musical meetings. He trusted that these would receive hearty and combined support. (Applause.) _;_e toast waa drunk vrith three timeß three. Mr Boag proposed "The health of the worthy and much respected President, Mr Peter Cunningham " (applause), whom he had known for twenty years, and intimately for nearly the whole of that timo. He had conducted business with him to the extent of thousands of pounds, and had always found him otraightforward and honourable. (Ohcera.) He waß an honour to his native and to his adopted land. (Cheers.) The progress of tho Socioty, wonderful as it had been, was greatly due to Mr Cunningham (applause), whose genorosity had been Bhown in hie donations to the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. (Applause.) That generosity had induced him (Mr Boag) to compote for ono of the prizes, though he did not hop to euccecd. (Applause.) Everyone spoke well of Peter Cunningham, whose healfca ho hoped they would drink as it deserved to bo drunk. (Applause.) The toast was drunk with musioal honours and three cheers, with ono mere for Mrs Cunningham. Mr Shanks, who began his remarks by reading a quaint description of a similar gathoring in Calcutta in 1881, which *«>ae mightily enjoyed, proposed tho toast "Kindred Societies." Though the youngest sooiety in the Oolony, it would he believed soon be able to assist others. (Applause.) He had great pleasure in ooupling with the toast the name of Captain M'intyre. The Chairman here announced that a few of the members of the Otago Sooiety had promised to come to the gathering of Deo. 17 and' assist to the best of their powor. (Applause.) ' 'lhe toast was heartily drunk. Captain M'intyre said he had been Treasuror of the Wellington Sooiety for 15 yeara. Unfortunately, through tho doath of tho President, who was the soul of that Society, it had now died out. He had been in Canterbury 26 years ago, and was surprised to see tho advances made. (Applause.) fluch social gatherings as the present would tend lo the prosperity of New Zealand, and not merely of Sootchmen. (Applause.) If the funds accumulated they should be spent for the benefit of the rising generation— (applause) — and of the . destitute and helpleas. (Hear.) As a comparative Btranger he was extremely gratified to meet so many old friends and so many new ones. He trusted it wonld not be tho laat oocasion of the kind. (Applause.) Dr Stewart proposed "Tho Sons of the Misfc," a term whioh applied to their native country, or at least to a certain part. (Liughter.) Notwithstanding the rugged nature ' of the soil and inclemency of the climate of Soot.land he saw many of its sturdy sons pre sent. ( Hear.) Every chair in the room was filled, a thing that could not be said of many other gatherings. Those around the table, and others in tho city, were Scotchmen who had pushedtheir way to the front by tbo qualities inherent in them. Tho reinß wore held tight ia youth, but though in youth thoy kicked againßt tho restraint, it. had proved beneficial to them in their mature yoars. They had been taught a reverence to one day in ssven, a reverence to the Book of books, and a reverence—perhaps with a painful recollection— of the Shorter Catechism. (Laughter.) To this early training they owed undoubtedly the success they gained. He had notioed in an extract from a newspaper in Canterbury thiß fact : that of the 4,000,000 inhabitants of Scotland 6500 at.- ended the "Universities, while OEly 5000 n«-r.ndc<i the great English Universitiep. (Apj.i' rtU *°) The sreake' gave other inataccea ot tlio uppreciation folt for Scotchmen. The toast was drunk with load cheers. Mr John .Anilf-vi-on propou'd — "Our Friends in the Mother Country." It was now some 33 years sinco he left the Oid Country, but hia predilections for her were as strong as evrr. (£ pplaue) Tho toast was drunk with three times three. Mr Williams proposed " The Ladies." The toast was enthusiastically drunk, witli " Here's a Health to all Good Lasses." Mr 0. 0. Duncan responded. Tho Ohairman proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Stewurt for tho trouble and oare ahe had taken [io preparing the ** haggis," the -seasoning of which was perfeot— (applause)— and tho oat cake. (Applause.) The toast was drunk with hearty cheers. Dr Stewart responded. Mr Bickerton proposed " The Pres6." The toast was responded to. The health of Mr Watt and Dr Stewart, heartily drunk with musical honours, concluded tbe proceedings, whioh lasted till midnight. Between the speeches instrumental and vocal selections of patriotic airs were given by a well selected orohestra and sevoral exoellent voioes.

I In India there are about 160,000 Europeans I and some 200,000,000 natives.