ROBERT BURNS ANNIVERSARY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 103, 26 January 1920, Page 4

ROBERT BURNS ANNIVERSARY

INAUGURAL DINNER. The weather on Saturday was about tho worst that Wellington has experienced this summer, lint notwithstanding that there was a very fair gathering of Scotsmen and women nt the inaugural dinner commemorating the Hilst aii'iiversiry of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland's national pool, held in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street. The Hon. T. W. Hislop, president of the Robert Burns Club, was in the chair, and was supported by Mr. 1). Clark, chief of the Wellington Caledonian Society. The menu was decidedly Scots, and the haggis were hononreil by being piped into the ball. After tho dinner when the men smoked their cigarettes the chairman proposed tho toast of "The King," and in doing so quoted the lines of Burns—

"While wo sing 'God Save the King' We'll no forget the people." "That was how wo should regard our democratic King," remarked llr. Jiislop. "for lie is the representative and emliodiment of the whole Empire." The chairman then gave the toast of the evening, "The Immortal Memory." Mr. Hislop said that they had met for the purpose of doing lionour to tho memory of-one who was probably being honoured in ninny countries that evening. Tt was the IGlst anniversary of (ho hirdi of Robert Burns, who "simply came through Scotland into the world." Scotland tried to monopolise him, but Scotland had not been allowed lo do that. The speaker referred to the parentage and early life of Burns. Thu hardships of the small farmers and labourers in those days were such i:s could not lie conceived by ns. A very good idea of the conditions rulinit then was In be obtained by reading the life of Henry Rrskine, who was a witty mem-lx-r of 'the liar, and at the same linio allied lo the highest, ranks. In those times there existed the housing problem as there was now. Hurra's father wived the housing problem so far as lie was concerned liv building his own house. In these davs educational claims were nut forward." but the difficulties were tremcrdous. Burns got a small education and he sot it under great dilTieultics. Burns after going to Edinburgh and publishing his poems relumed to h:s farm but that unfortunately did not turn'out well, and he received the appointment of exciseman and did his duty to the satisfaction of all who came m touch wilh him. One groat characteristic of Bums was that he never showed malice or animosity. The Scots had appropriated him as their national poet, but the people of the world had found in his songs such high sentiment that in all parts of Finland. Ireland, Wales, America, and cvon'in Copenhagen assemblies had enmc iosolhor to honour Robert Burns. The speaker then referred to I lie port's great love of humanity, and m'rf.'d o".t that Burns was no spendthrift and it was to his credit that HmiHi his earnings iverc small when ho died "ho owed n:> ninn anything. As a man he was in even- respect what (hey would desire him to be. The toast was drunk in silence. The other toasts hononreil were: "Our ain Folk." proposed by Mr. W. Kraig; "Kindred Societies," submitted by Mr. ill Clark; "The Lassies." "Anld Lang Syne." and "The Press." Songs and recitations with a strong Scots flavour formed n very enjoyable part of the evening's programme.