ST. ANDREW'S MEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 165, 30 July 1937, Page 6

ST. ANDREW'S MEN

Two Addresses Given to Club There was an attendance of over 40 at the fortnightly meeting of St. Andrew's Men's Club, held last evening in St. Andrew 's Hall, Hastings. The president," Mr. A. F. Bedgrave, presided, and Mr. H. J. Grieve conducted community singing. Songs contributed by Messrs. W. Eastwood and R. H. Clouston were much appreciated, Mr. W. Lord acting as accompanist. Mr. E. R. B. Nielsen, wlio is a cnember of the Gannets Sanctuary Board, showed his intimate knowledge of tho gannets at Cape Kidnappers which he said was unique in. being the only place in these parts where the birds nest on the mainland. The sanctuary consisted of 32 acres which tnciuded the flat rocks on which the terns nested, and it was calculated that 7500 birds could be seen at one time in the nesting area. The mathematical order of the 2500 nests made a striking picture and sitting birds would not leave the nest although visitors wnlked among them. Mr. Nielsen described the hatching and growth of the young birds which, when weaued, had to subsist without food till able to fly and fend for themselves. The best time to make the trip was from November to January and with the iinprovements made by the board in erecting sheds and conveniences, it was not a difficult undertaking. Arriving at Clifton three hours after high tide the beach would be clear for walking for five hours which gave Smple time for the walk and observations of the quaint rock formations on the beach and the remarkable ravines in the high cliffs along the route. Mr. James Leggatt gave a highly entertaining and instructivc address on family names, tracing their origin from the earliest tiaies. Surnames were not introduced until about 500 years ago, although personal names, distinguishing people by their personality, were very old. All names could be classified as follows: — Patronycnic names, indicating sons of; place-names, connecting people with ccrtain placdfe; names derived from occupations; and nicknames taken from names of animals or physical peculiarities or deformities. Instances were given of names derived under each class, and the historieal significance attached to many was pointed out, the changes made after the Norman Invasjon being referred to as an instance. He also referred to fashions in personal and Biblical names, and names introduced after waTs and others implying affection, but Gaelic names were most persistent in Soctland. Mr. ' Leggat created considerable amusement by giving the meaning of the names of many of those present, and 'in giving instances of the appro-pri'-teness of some names to the vocations followed by the possessors. In thanking Mr. Leggatt, the chairman said that this highly instructive address showed considerable study of history in its applicatiori to the names of the British people, and the subject had been made very interesting.