A NIGHT WP BURNS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 342, 25 January 1937, Page 3

A NIGHT WP BURNS.

SCOTLAND’S BARD. Memories of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society. The following account of tihe founding and of the early history of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society has been supplied by “W.L.K. It is particularly appropriate to-day as January 25 marks the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the bard of Scotland. To-morrow night the local Scottish society will honour his memory in traditional style. It is just 25 years since the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society was founded. It was reported that a gathering of 161 men gathered around the wellladen tables in the Forester’s Hall to commemorate the birthday of Scotland’s “Immortal Bard,” Robert Burns. So to-night we sing of “years, and of men” when in moments of pleasant remembrance it has been borne upon us the satisfying thought that the society has lived through a quarter of a century of ups and (Lowns and is still able, amid the years of wars and depression to keep the old flag flying though, it is sad to think, with but diminished enthusiasm. The first Stratford “Nicht Wi’ Burns” was reported as a glorious success. It was something for the executive to be proud of. So was the management of the whole affajr. No detail had been overlooked from the opening grace right down to “Auld Lang Syne.” The guests were given a right good time.

The “Address to the Haggis” was recited by Mr T. Smith, whom, We are pleased to see, is Chief of the society to-day. The catering for the occasion was carried out by Mr Elder and he left nothing to be desired. But when the crowded tables iio longer gave off the rattle of knives and forks, the chink of glasses and popping of corks, there was still the same successful tone, the Scotsmen lustily applauding all things Scottish and “ither guid things as weel.” It was a “braw Scotch nicht,” declared to be a record gathering for Taranaki.

The chairman, Mr W. L. Kennedy, in his opening speech traversed the life of Burns and said, “That Lowland Scotland entered nationhood with two warriors, William Wallace and Robert Bruce, and went out with Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. The first two made its history, the last two told the story and sang the song.

“The writings of Burns were thought of, composed and written all at once. They came from the heart and went straight to the heart. They never failed to charm peer and peasant, in palace or cottage, among learned and unlearned. The effect of higher education on Burns might have been grevious. Had he been wealthy we could never have heard, such strains. The passion that blazed out of his songs was the passion that wrecked his life. “Burns lived the best life that ho could have lived to produce the results that he did. But that life, by reason of his loud and tumultuous passions, was the very means of wrecking a constitution that was naturally titanic. “He quickened the love of country in the breast of every Scotsman, •who had read his poems. He quickened the love of man for his brother. He taught us kindness to dumb animals. “These merits far outweighed his faults, even as the great quantity of fine gold in his works outweighed the little dross they might wish had not been penned.” The report of that first meeting continues that at this stage Mr Alex Henderson, the secretary, outlined the objects of the proposed society. One hundred and ten members were enrolled in the room. After the toast of the “King, Queen, and Royal Family,’ had been honoured, that of the Army, the Navy and the Auxiliary Forces was proposed by Mr F. H. Wilkie, and responded to by Captain Lampen. In the speech of the evening, the late Mr D. Maxwell paid an eloque?it tribute to the memory of Burns. Other speakers were Mr J. McAllister, Mr Morton Henderson, Mr McDonald and Mr Masters (Mayor of Stratford). Interspersed, was a very fine musical programme. The officers of the new society elected at the meeting consisted of the following gentlemen: President, Mr W. McLaughlin Kennedy; vice-presidents, Messrs A. S. Grant, S'. Sangster, D. S. Glasgow, R. McK. Morison (Stratford), Jas. Thompson (Ngaire), R- Lambie (Pihama), A. Marlow (Inglewood), Jas. Grant (Hawera), J. McLeod (New Plymouth), W. Hood (tnglewood), R. Barr (Eltham) and others in various centres to be appointed by the executive; secretary, Mr Alex Henderson; treasurer, Mr F. H. Wilkie (Stratford). The executive committee were: Messrs A. W. Reid, J. Me-

Allister, Jos. McCluggage, J. Petrie, i Hugh D. Cameron and D. Butchart, j with power to add to their number, j To show that the society was a’■ very live body, a huge concert and | ball were held in the Town Hall in I the succeeding May. The Stratford Post said, “From the four corners of the earth came Scotsmen and their guid folk to the 'society’s social and dance and there was hardly a lady or gentleman in Taranaki who was the possessor of one drachm of Scotch blood, who was not present in the Town Hall last night. The province must have more exiles in it from the land of the heather than one would, at a first reckoning, judge. It seemed as if half Scotland w r ere present in the hall. “It was difficult to realise that the building one entered last night was really the Town Hall. Carpets, furniture, and flags had turned it into a hall of revelry, so different from the half-empty chairs and benches that have often been seen in the past. “If there ever existed the slightest doubt as to the success of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society, when it was started, that doubt must have been entirely dispelled last night. It would be impossible to imagine a more enthusiastic gathering than that of last evening in the Stratford Town Hall, and to those who were not of Scotland it was a revelation. “The excellent speech of the worthy president was an appropriate ■ expression of Scottish loyalty and i Scottish sentiment and it was good; to hear again Scottish songs well I sung. “The society is to be heartily con-1 gratulated for many things and not ; least of all on the fine work done j by members of the committee and the very capable secretary Mr Alex Henderson, whose heart is really in the welfare of the society.”