HAWKE’S BAY CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 31, 30 July 1892, Page 754

HAWKE’S BAY CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Til IS Society was instituted in 1887, the first meeting having been convened by Mr R. Smith on the Ist May of that year. This was attended by a large number of the leading settlers of Napier and the Hawke’s Bay district. The result of that meeting was the formation of the Hawke’s Bay Caledonian Society, which is one of the most successful institutions of the kind that has ever existed in New Zealand. The annual sports’ competition of the Society appears to increase in popularity yearly, and these are meetings indeed now so attractive that the best athletes, pipers, and dancers from all parts of the colonies attend to compete at the annual gathering. Although a great deal of attention is devoted to the annual games more especially connected with the Society, it must be remembered that the sports are only one portion of the programme. Particular attention is also paid to such matters as education, works of benevolence and charity. The Society awards two scholarships annually, one to a boy and one to a girl, which are tenable for two years, and of the annual value of £lO. It also gives a valuable gold medal to the ‘dux’ of the Hawke’s Bay educational district, and expends large sums of money on deserving charitable objects. Since the Hawke’s Bay Society started several similar institutions have sprung up in the district, but the majority of the old settlers are active members of the parent society, and take a great interest in its welfare. The present president, Mr P. S. M’Lean, is a member of an ancient Highland clan. He was born at Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland, on the 26th June, 1852 ; educated at the Glasgow High School and Glasgow University, and he came to New Zealand in 1880. He is an enthusiastic supporter of the Society, and to him is due much of the credit for the remarkable success it has achieved. He is an active

member of the firm of Carlile and M’Lean, solicitors, and ever since his arrival in Napier he has always been foremost in the furtherance of any project that would benefit the district. Mr It D. I). M’Lean, son of the late distinguished Highlander Sir Donald M’Lean, was the first president of the Society. It need scarcely be said that many a Highlander’s heart would rejoice to have had the opportunity of conferring on the late Sir Donald one of the greatest honours that bis countrymen could have bestowed on him, namely, that of becoming the first president of their Caledonian Society. Mr A. M’Hardy, last year’s president, is one of the leading sheep farmers of Hawke's Bay, and an enthusiastic Caledonian. He was born at Strathedon, Aberdeenshire, on the 10th May, 1831, and be belongs to a race of athletes for generations back. Mr M’Hardy left his native hills to try his luck in Australia, and arrived in Sydney in September, 1857. He remained there for three years, but finding that the climate did not agree with him, he left for New Zealand, arriving in Hawke’s Bay in 1860. He established a large business in exporting stock from Hawke’s Bay to the other parts of the colony, and afterwards, in conjunction »ih Mr J. H. Coleman, he purchased the Blackhead sheep station. Pour years ago Messrs Coleman and M’Hardy dissolved partnership, and Mr M’Hardy became side owner of that splendid property. In 1888 Mr M’Hardy, accompanied by Mrs M’Hardy and his daughters, visited Scotland ami remained there for two years. < In returning to Hawke's Bay he entrusted the management of Blackhead to his two

sons, and leased the Longlands station from his old partner Mr Coleman. Mr M’Hardy was then elected president of the Hawke’s Bay Caledonian Society, and assisted greatly in promoting the success of that institution. He is a member of the Patangata County Council and of the Hawke’s Bay Rabbit Board, being also a prominent member of the

Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society, as well as one of the most successful exhibitors of stock at the annual Show. Mr Robert Smith, the leading spirit in the society, was born at Strathspey, Inverness shire, Scotland, iu 1848, and he made his first appearance in the athletic arena at Castle Grant, Inverness-shire, when only sixteen years of age, winning four first and two second prizes. The Elgin Ccurant in reporting the games, gave Mr Smith credit for being the best athlete of his age in Great Britain. Up to 1873 he competed successfully at all the piincipal Highland gatherings in Scotland. In 1871, at Inverness, whilst competing against the best athletes in the country, he won nine first and four second prizes. The Inverness Courier, on that occasion, compared his performance to that of Donald Dinnie, and pointed out the excellent effect produced by high training. Mr Smith was also a very successful competitor in Highland dancing, securing prizes at all the leading gatherings in Scotland. His masterpiece in that line was the sword dance, he never having been defeated at any of the gatherings from 1868 to 1873, and during that period he won no fewer than fifty three first prizes for s.vord dancing. He came to New Zealand in 1874, and in that year challenged any person publicly in the columns of the Haicke’s Bay Herald, to throw a 161 b. hammer, with 15 feet start, but the challenge was not responded to. In the same year he beat all comers at the Kaikora, Havelock, and Waipawa sports. Unfortunately, after the latter gathering he was severely injured by a fall from his horse, and his right arm was so weakened by it that he was prevented from again competing in feats of strength. When Donald Dinnie visited Hawke’s Bay and competed at Waipawa in the Scotch wrestling, Smith and Dinnie had a fall each, but the celebrated Scotch athlete brought Smith down so heavily on the second occasion that he had to surrender the palm to his old friend and antagonist. Mr Smith then started the Woodville District Jockey Club, of which he was secretary and treasurer for five years, and on leaving the district was presented with a valuable watch in recogni-

tion of bis services. Shortly after his arrival in Napier Mr Smith started the Hawke’s Bay Caledonian Society, which is undoubtedly a flourishing institution. The last annual gathering of the Society was one of the best conducted affairs that has ever been held in the district. Although Mr Smith has been compelled, owing to a further serious injury he received at a lire in Napier, to give up active participation in athletic sports, it is pleasing to notice that his two sons are already spoken of as the champion boy dancers of New Zealand. In addition to being secretary and treasurer for the Caledonian Society, Mr Smith is also one of the stewards of the Napier Park Racing Club, and for some time acted as its starter, but the position that he prizes probably more than all others is that of being president of the Pirate Football Club (Napier). On leaving Napier a few months ago, to settle in the Woodville district, Mr Smith was presented by the Hawke's Bay Caledonian Society with a gold watch and handsome illuminated address, and by the Piiates with two large framed pictures of the senior and junior clubs. Mr Smith’s two sons, like their father, are excellent Scottish dancers. Campbell, the youngest son, who is eleven years old, has been awarded fifteen medals for dancing, whilst William James (Baldie) who is a year older has secured fourteen. They first competed at the Hawke’s Bay

Caledonian Society Sports three years ago, and won all the first and second prizes. Two years ago they went to the South Island and won all the first prizes that were given ; whilst at the St. Andrew’s Caledonian Society Sports, Campbell Smith won the Champion Gold Medal for being the best boy dancer at the meeting. Both boys also won prizes at Wellington and Wanganui, and they danced, by special request at Napier, before Lady Onslo'w and her two daughters, the Ladies Gwendoline and Dorothy. In order to give our readers some idea of the success that has attended the Hawke’s Bay Caledonian Society, it may be stated that the first meeting was held on the Napier Recreation Ground on the 16th January, 1888, and in that short period of time, although large sums of money have been expended on charitable and educational purposes, the Society has a credit balance of over £5OO, and no liabilities. What an opening there seems to be in Auckland for such an institution, conducted on the same lines as the Hawke’s Bay Society.

NAPIER CALEDONIAN BALL. A successful ball, like that given by the (. aledonian Society in Napier, lingers long in people’s memories, and furnishes topics for conversation for weeks after, wards. This yeai’s ball, which took place in the Garrison Hall, was exceedingly well attended and passed off’ with great eclat. So many handsome dresses were worn that it would be invidious to select any for special mention. Pretty faces always look well in evening diess, and even the less favoured ones appear to special advantage in a ball room. The decorations were uncommonly good, and completely transformed the hall into a bower of beauty. The stage was arranged as a drawing-room, the character of the dance being well sustained by the tastefully-draped plaids on the walls and ceiling. Even the gentlemen’s dressing-rooms were carpeted and carefully furnished with mats. The floor was very smooth ami elastic. Of the music many spoke enthusiastically. It

was indeed a pleasure to dance to its strains, and the programme was extremely and appropriately national : —Grand March by pipers ; Scotch Reel ; polka, ‘ Los Toreos ;' waltz, *La Gitana quadrille, ‘ Bonnie and Braw ;’ mazurka, • Les Alsaciennes;’ Grand Highland Reel in costume ; president’s (Mr I’. S. McLean) address ; Shauntreaus ; Highland schottische ; Lancers, •Old Edinburgh;’ waltz, •Gypsies;’ Caledonians, ‘Knight of the Thistle ;’ barn dance, " Cinderella ’ (composed by Mr Newbould): Reel of Tulloch; waltz, ‘ Southern Cross (composed by Mr Newbould) ; mazurka, ‘My Love;’ quadrille,

• Doris waltz, ‘ I Remember ;’ polka, ‘ Little Cherub ;’ D’Alberts, ‘ Yeoman <rt the Guaid ;’ Highland schottische ; Sword Dance and Highland Fling; waltz, ‘The Arrow;’ Scotch Reel; barn dance, ‘White Heather;’ mazurka, ‘ Tanz Vergunen ;’ waltz, ‘Swallows;’ polka and galop, • Chelsea China ’ and ‘ Telephone ;’ Grand Highland Reel. The supper was keenly appreciated, and well deserved the enconiums and attention icreceived, being served in Mr Glassford’s best style. The whole ball reflects gieat credit on the ball room stewards—Messis R. D. D McLean, W. Bogle, J. G. Swan, T. W. Balfour, W. Miller, W. Wood, W. P. Stuart, Arch. McLean, T. Sidey, P. S. McLean, N. Kettle, C. D. Kennedy, G. S. V. Wenley, and Donald McLean, and on the very obliging M.C.’s—Messrs N. Kettle, T. W. Bear, W. P. Stuart, R. Smith, T. Sidey, C. D. Kennedy, and J. G. Swan. Altogether, the Caledonian ball of 1892 may be reckoned an unprecedented success. Perhaps the lion’s share of the work was done by Mr Bear, bnt the excellent and energetic secretary, Mr E. Black, merits a word of praise for his exeitions.