THE GAELIC SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 39

THE GAE LIC SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Gaelic So ciety \ias held on the sth inst. in the OdJfellows' Hall, Stuart street. The Chief (Mr Dugald M'Pherson) presided, and i.< his opening address welcomed all the strangers who were present, especially Mr William Gemmel, of the Scottish Society, Christchurch. Referringto the recent ceilidh, he was pleased (o say it was a pronounced success. For this they "were indebted to many outside frienc'a for their assistance -with musical items, and to them best thanks were due. Ha might mention particularly the Invercargill' and Dunedin Pipe Bands, Mrs Johnson, Mrs Chamberlain, Messrs Robertson, Fi--kin, M'Gregor, Davidson, Donaldson. Willie, and Maclennan. The members o£ the society who took part in the proceedings, without mentioning names, would know that their contributions were highly appreciated. The Highland heather thafr had been distributed at that meetmjr was the gift of the Rev. Mr Martin, Oban, who never had forogtten the society since his visit to Dunedin some years ago. He» (the speaker) mentioned receipt of tho programme of the forthcoming sports o£ rhe Hawke's Bay Highland Society, whicl* he exhibited. He was delighted to see that the Hawke's Bay sister socipty was flourishing, as the programme referred to testtifiec 1 . The members of the Gaelic Society would! be sorry \\ hen he told them that one of their younir lady friends, who had beeni a constant attendant at the meetings andi a frequent assistant with musical and lierary items, waa about to leave them to fill an appointment in the mission field' in Northern India. She would carry with hor the mo 4 cordial good wishes of tho socety for her future usefulness and happiness. He regretted that the news of he * intended departure had come at such short" notice, or a special meeting mit>ht hava been held to bid her a formal farewell. However, the society would always remember her, and a friend beside him on the platform hoped she would teach Gaelic to the Indian, children among -whom she to labour in her new sphere. — (Applause.) Later in the evening Mr William Gcmmell gave a short address, in which he expressed the great pleasure he had in being present as a visitor from the kindred society in Chrisrchurch, and to see so large and enthusiastic a Highland meeting. He had never beforebeen at a meeting whore he bad heard so many Gaelic songs. In fact, he could say on his return that, with two or three exceptions, the songs were all Gaelic. The concert was led off by Mr Neil M'Fadyen (bard) singing "Ho ro cha 'bhi mi Vad chaoidh nis mo." He al?o sang " Nigheau dorm an an t-sugradh " ana " Duthaich MhicLpoid." Miss M'Callunt sang " Molla-dh na Lanndaidh" and " Logia o' Buchan." Mr Angus M'Lcan, a youn& new arrival from Stornowav, with a wonx derful stock of Gaelic and Gaelic songs-, san» "Mun deaehadh mi j?u sal," " Gur o;orach mi thug gaol dhuit," and a pathetic h ric on the death, in the recent South African war, of John M'Leod, a Highland soldier, the refrain of which was,"'S mi cumhueachadh mo nihathar a dh'fhag mi 1 *n eilean Leodhara "' (Anil me rcmember-infr my mother, whom I left in the inland of Lewes). Miss M'Kinnon sang "Air faill 1 ill o" and "An till thu 'leannan." Mr U'Quarrie, '" Tha tighinn fodham," and! Mr Donald M'Phcr=on an original Scotch, son<y, " Hurrah for the pibroch, the kilt, and the feather." The accompaniments were played by Miss MCallum and the pipes by Pipe-major M'Kechnie. Tha Chief, in closing the meeting, said this had been a record night for Gaelic songs. Had Madame Clara Butt's concert not been on at the same time he would have invited her to be present to hear what Highland music at toe Antipodes 'was like. He intimated th»t at next meeting tha

■fturns Club choir had kindly consented to he present and sing a number of selections. ;— (Oheers.)