The Reporter

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 6, 12 May 1894, Page 9

The Reporter

The social annually tendered by the Caledonian Society of Southland to the members of the Caledonian Dramatic Club in recognition of their services in giving periodical representations of Scottish dramas took place In Hanan’s Hall on Wednesday evening, and passed off most successfully. Mr A. Rae.side catered to the thorough 'satisfaction of a numerous company —over 200 and after they had enjoyed the ex cedent cheer provided they settle! own for the second part of the programme—-the concert. This opened with a wellplayed selection of national airs by the Invercargill Septet Club, under Mr J. McGregor. The chair was occupied by Mr J. Aitken, President of the Society, with one of the VicePresidents, Mr D. Bissett, second in command. The chairman, in the course of a short address, referred to the success which had attended the work of the Society during the past year —-they had done exceedingly well, and that result was due in a large measure to the energy displayed by the members of the Dramatic Club, who, at a season of the year when other people were enjoying themselves, were hard at work in preparation for the prod action of one or other of the Scottish dramas which the public now looked for at New Year time, and to which they turned out in great numbers. It was therefore only right that the Society should make the members of the Club some return —hence the social gathering of that evening, a gathering which he thought might be-repeated during the winter. At a later si age Mi 1 Aitken said that during his term of office he had had many pleas;.id. duties to perform, but he was ai ■ ;v to undertake the pleasantest of them all by presenting Miss Geddes v. ‘ h a gold watch and chain from the directors of the Caledonian Society in recognition of the many and great services she had rendered that body sal the Dramatic Club. Mr Aitken '■• •n proceeded, in highly felicitous tc; to outline the vocal and drama; - .aeer of Miss Geddes, whose ser\ ; bad ever been willingly placed &■:. La*; disposal not only of the Society a m n aid of charitable objects in the as; n ;! >id district. He recalled the > ;g lady’s first

public appearance • ..n. as a pupil of Mr A. McKellar, s meed a Highland Fling in cost. and how at a later stage she took :■ -rt in a Scottish drama. Her select, .n on that occasion was dne to AI :• McKellar, who arranged the cast (u -harracters, and the ability with wk h she acquitted herself then and s -isequently a» an actress was a proof i Mr McKellar’s quickness as a jr of character. After speaking in ■>. terms of the respect and estet ; • a which Miss Geddes was held ■ ason of her character and ah Mr Aitken remarked that w •>' the happy man might be win ■ i ’lie pleasure of leading her to t ■' -.r would find in her a worthy wo • in all respects, and one who would :. ,e “ true blue” to the end of the ck . or. (Laughter and applause.) M Aitken then handed the watch, vdiich was purchased from Mr A. f ; nguson, and bore a suitable inscriptive. *o Miss Geddes, whose father, in ■ eiing and appropriate speech, r v med thanks for the handsome gift. During the even :. ,; a very choice programme of son recitations, and instrumental set ; .-us was submitted, and was o-tly enjoyed by the company. Tk- vocalists were Mrs W. Forbes Waiiuis and Miss Johnson (duet), M . lanes and Miss Geddes, and Mess .;: 11. S. Hunter, J. Forrester and A. i Veter, while recitations were giv • by Mr W. H. Mathieson and Mi; .. Prentice. Both were good, Mr P, particularly so, his treatmer of “ Clarence’s Dream” displayii ■. :.iigh elocutionary art. A cornet sob’ kj Mr P. H. Mohr was an admirable piece of instrumentation. At the cic-so of the concert programme the h ,l i was cleared for dancing, which, to the strains of MacGregor’s band, was .k.:pc up for several hours “ ayont the c