ST. ANDREW'S DAY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14837, 1 December 1913, Page 10

ST. ANDREW'S DAY.

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY'S t____:£i-ATK__.

St. Andrew's I>3y was fittingly celebrated by the members of the canterbury Caledonian Society, who mustered in good force in tiie _o_ety . rooms on Saturday night, and, with several guests of the society, sat aown to supper. Mr John Connal, president, was in the chair. . The toast of "The King" having been duly honoured, Mr Justice Denniston proposed, ''Our Patron, his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, Lord Liverpool," in a felicitous speech. New Zealand, his Honour said, had been always fortunate in having as its Governors "men of character, reputation, and ability, and Lord Liverpool was no exception. The only fault that ho had been able to discover in his Excelleucy was that he is not a Scotsman — (laughter) —but his Excellency had done his best to remedy what was scarcely a fault by becoming patron of the Caledonian Society. (Applause.) The toast was enthusiastically honoured.

The Rev. John Mackenzie submitted the sentiment, f'The memory of our patron saint, St. Andrew." Mr Mackenzie said that there was a certain fitness in the fact that the minister of St. Andrew's Church in Christchurch should be called on to submit this sentiment. These who founded St. Andrew's, sixty years ago, were undoubtedly patriotic Scots, for not only did they decorate the church with St. Andrew's crosses, but thoy decorated them with thistles—a sort of indication, ho supposed, that "no one interferes with mc with impunity." (Laughter.) It might be asked why St. Andrew was usually known as the patron saint of Scotland? It was suggested that many modern Scotsmen wero not much interested in saints, even in patron saints, and someone, who was born on the wrons side of the Tweed, had suggested that th© reason St. Andrew was chosen as Scotland's patron saint was that he had found the lad with the loaves and fishes. That was meant as a jibe, but the incident referred to showed that St. Andrew was a plain, sensible man, who recognised that in the loaves and fishes there was something with which a beginning could be made. He also showed that he possessed a noteworthy Scottish characteristic —the quality of generosity—he was not after the loaves and fishes for himself, but for the multitude. (Applause.) The connexion between St. Andrew and Scotland was based on rather dubious evidence —lie thought Honour the Judge would not pass some of it if it wero submitted to him.

Other toasts honoured ,were:—"Tho Army, Navy, and Territorials" (proposed by Mr C. Bell, and responded to 'iv Major D. Macbean Stewart and Captain J. J. Douga .); "The Bench and Bar" (proposed by Mr C. J. Marshall and re__o_ded to by his Honour Mr justice Denniston and Mr J. J. Douorall), "The Mayor and Councillors of Christchurch" (proposed by Dr. Walter Thomas and responded to by Cr. H. J. Otley), "Kindred Societies and Brother Scot.' (pro. ow?d by Mr W. Fraser), "The Press," "The Ladies," and "The Canterbury Caledonian Society, and its worthy President, Mr John Connal" (proposed by Mr Robert Mounsey). Songs were contributed during thc evening by Mr C. Joll, Dr. Thomas. Mr A. Millar, and Mr W. Fraser,- and nine music was played ,by Piners Erskine and Shanagan. Mr L. A. Cusworth pluvcd the accompaniments for the vocalists.'