Sr. Andrew's Festival.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 484, 4 December 1850, Page 3

Sr. Andrew's Festival.

The Dinner in celebration of the Anniversary of the Patron Saint of Scotland took place on Saturday last at the Masonic Hotel, and was attended by about sixty gentlemen, amongst whom (although, as might be supposed, the majority were bcotch men) natives of England and Ireland were also included m terms of mu.ual and cordial fiaternity. The Chair was worthily occupied by AusxANnEK Kknnedy, Esq., and Captain Salmon officiated ,as Cioupiei, both of those gentlemen contributing largely to the happiness of the evening by tae urbanity and ability with which ' they presided over its proceedings. The Stewards (Messrs. M'Lacjilan, Mitciilll, Mom, J3ain, Macdougall, and Paion) had evidently done their utmost to secure the comfoit ol their guests, and weie active and efficient in all their arrangements, The room was tastefully

decorated with various objects calculated to revive reminiscences of Scotia; — Mr. Cuthhfrt Clarice having with his chaiactcrislic kindness and talent employed his pencil in a large and sinking delineation of the arms of Scotland, with its motto Nemo me inrpwic laccsscl ; and also in a representation of the martyidom of St. Andrew — the good Saint looking out from his cross upon his sons, who, it must be confessed, were just then suffering only a martyrdom of a very agreeable character. We may also note here that three gentlemen, Messrs. L. M'Laciilan, John M'Doug^ll, and Fraser, appeared in full Highland costume, which — as it well became them — gave an additional picturesque effect to the " gathering." The toasts weie not numerous, the Chairman's list being left unfinished from the necessity of concluding the proceedings at such an hour as would prevent any infringement on the Sabbath. Those which were given, however, were appropriate, and were responded to with a warmth of feeling that was all the more giatifying because it evidently was unanimous. Indeed, one of the most agreeable features of the meeting was the subordination, by common consent, of all points of political or other sliife, and the joining hand-in-hand in the harmonious object of the celebration. The Quki-n's health was drunk amidst such checiing that we could have wished the echoes of it to reach her highland home at Balmoral, so as to give her some idea how she — the mo.st universally beloved Sovereign that ever sat on the British Throne — is loved and honoied hei c at the antipodes of her dominions. " Prince Alhmu' and the Royal Family" followed, — a toast which was leceived with coi responding cordiality. Then came " His Excellency the GovuiiNOß-iN-CiiiKi'', and the Lieutenant-Go - vernor of New Ulster," which was drunk amidst enthusiastic cheering. Mr. Ligau, in few but lit words, responded. " The Army and Navy" was next given, to the former part of which Mr. Beckham, and to the latter parr, Mr. Burn, lesponded. " The Land o' Cakes" had, of course, its national welcome, and, as the Chairman expressed it, " warmed the heart of every Scotchman," and, we may add, of some also who are not Scotchmen. " The Sons of St. Georgk" (acknowledged by Capt. Pouter), and the "Sons of St. Patrick" (which Dr. Bi'.nneit, in compliance with the call of the Chair, responded to), were hailed with all honours. Indeed the Shamrock, with its three leaves springing from one foot-stalk, would have been the most appiopiiate emblem of the union of England, Sclolaud, and Ireland, on this occasion. '• The Land we live in," ably proposed by Mr. D. Burn; — "The Ladies of Auckland," proposed by the CROUriER, and feelingly responded to by Mr. Gilfillan ;—"; — " The 58th Regiment," proposed by Mr. Burn ; — "The Memory of Roumit Burns," piopo.sed by Mr. Arciiihald Clarick, in a speech which struck us as full of fine c llicism and just appreciation of " Robbie's" character ; — "Professor Wilson and the Literature of Scotland," eloquently proposed by Dr. Camvuell, who had a good subject, and made good use of it ; — " The Memory of Sir Walter Scott," proposed by Mr. J. W. Bain, in a brief but effective tribute to the genius of an author whose works have a " world-wide popularity ;" — " The Press," proposed by Mr. Craig; and finally, "Sweethearts and Wives," by the Chairman, wound up the list of Toasts. Although we have not attempted to give a report of the speeches generally, we avail ourselves of a repoit kindly furnished us of what Mr. Bain said in proposing Sir WALriißScorr's health ; — The toast which I have the honour to propose, is oue which, in a company of Scotsmen, cannot be received but with Icclings of gratitude and delight, for there aie few Scotsmen hcic, or anywhere else, who would not he proud to do honoiu to the " Memoiy of Sir Walter Scott." It would ill become me, as it would be out of place here, to dwell upon the magnitude ot his lalioms, or debate upon the splendour of his genius. They aie his countiy's pride and boast, and the lasting plcasuio which the gicat eflbits of his mind and genius have confened on all who have re.id and studied them, are felt more deeply and enjoyed more purely by the fond readcis themselves, than they could ever be expics.sed by another. Passing over his great literary achievements, which have their renown wherever the English language exists ; on looking back to Sir Walter Scott, we venerate him in being the iiist to give to our native land by his woiks an imperishable name ; his faithful delineations of its natuial scenery, while they weic the means of opening up its beauties to the f-yts of foieigners and strangcis, were not less instrumental in binding her sons in closer and more uhciishcd devotion to The land oMiiown lieatli ami sli.ifjsy w>'><l, 'JJio Kind ol tliu mount, mi mid ihu flood, i than by illuminating its annals and illustrating the deeds of its statesmen and wanior patriots. He did more to endear the cause of fieedom and implant the spiiit of patiiolism in the Scottish bicast thau any man else cvdi did, and raised for himself a name of which, as Scotsmen and JJntons, we may well be proud, while his fame is now being gutheied fiom the noith andfiom the sou 1 h, from the east and from the west ; although we can add little to its luslio heie, still catching "a wanduiing watch note of the distant si>i v ll," we mny he ptoud of the privilege to re-echo it back from the waters of the wide Pacific, and show that in tins far nook of die oiilh and thus f/u distant from the land of our hiitli, we aie not wanting in our leveience and leg.ud foi the memoiy of Sir Walter Scott. We congratulate the Sons of St. Andruw on the manner in which their Festival has passed over. It has given no offence to the most touchy politician ; it has awakened no denominational strife. It has just tended — as we believe it was designed to tend — tto the ptomotion of a feeling of union and brotherhood, the beneficial results of which will surely and in due time appear,