ST. ANDREW SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1938, Page 7

ST. ANDREW SOCIETY

GATHERING ON SATURDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES OF SEASON OPENED ADDRESS BY SCOTTISH VISITOR The St Andrew Society has every reason to congratulate itself on the success that attended the opening of its season at the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening. The attendance of members and supporters was exceptionally large, in fact, the seating accommodation, even after additional chairs had been borrowed elsewhere, was entirely inadequate to seat the audience during the concert portion of the programme, and during the dancing, though at least half of those present were throughout only interested spectators, the congestion sometimes made dancing difficult. The evident enjoyment and enthusiasm of all present continued throughout the evening. The Society was honoured with the presence of a number of invited guests. These included the Ruahine Pipe Band, which had travelled some 80 miles to the gathering, Miss Kate Steven, of Glasgow, and the Society’s patron, Mr Hugh Morrison, of Awatoitoi. All of these contributed to the evenings entertainment. There were also present, as invited guests, the members of the Wairarapa College Pipe Band, who were greatly impressed by the performances of the Ruahine Band, whose Drum-Major, Mr Alex Shirrock, is an outstanding figure among Drum-Majors in the Dominion. Before the commencement of the gathering, the Ruahine Band paraded in Queen Street, where it delighted many hundred of spectators with its smart appearance and exhilarating music.

In opening the proceedings the Chief expressed his delight at the large attendance, which he said augured well for a highly successful season. He welcomed all present, and extended a special welcome to the various guests of the evening. He made special reference, amid applause, to the fact that Mrs Bell had made a haggis for the gathering, although she had barely recovered from a very serious illness. The concert programme opened with pipe selections by Pipers Finlayson and Sattrup of the Ruahine Band. Songs were contributed by Mrs Traynor “Whustle, and I’ll Come Tae Ye, My Lad,” and “My Hairt is Sair for Somebody”, Miss Heather Douglas “Herding Song.” and “Grannie’s Hieland Hame,” and Mr W. Mann, the stirring “Border Ballad,” and the plaintive “Mary Morrison.” Little Heather Douglas, a recent arrival from Dunedin, made a very favourable impression with her sweet young voice, and her charming and modest appearance. Mrs Robert Miller recited “Memories,” and “Bairnies, Cuddle Doon,” and greatly delighted her hearers. The Society’s guest from Glasgow, Miss Kate Steven, gave a short address on the aims' and ideals of the Saint Andrew Society of Glasgow, in which she is an executive officer. Miss Steven’s accent alone was a sufficient passport to the hearts of her hearers, but her matter also was of particular interest to members of a namesake society. It appeared that the general objects ot both societies were very similar, but the huge Scots organisation was, of course, able to operate on a much grander scale, and to extend its activities in directions towards which the little local society had not so far been able to aspire. Miss Steven spoke interestingly on her society’s efforts to encourage the study of Scots’ history and literature, with particular emphasis on the necessity of accuracy in historical detail, its celebration of national festivals such as St Andrew’s Day, Halloween, and Burns’s Day, its efforts to promote the correct use of national emblems on flags, coins, stamps and seals, and the correct use of the Scottish national flags, its endeavours to preserve places of historic interest and to encourage Scots institutions, arts, letters, and music, and last, but not least, its striving for adequate recognition of Scotland’s place in the British Empire. In particular, Miss Steven deprecated the regrettably frequent use of “English” where “British” is meant. Miss Steven quoted the membership of the Glasgow Society as about 360, headed by the Earl of Home, as hon. president, the Lord Provost of Glasgow as hon vice-president, and the Earl of Cassilis as president. In the course of her remarks, Miss Steven interpolated several humorous stories arising from her own experiences. On conclusion, Miss Steven was very heartily applauded. The patron, Mr Hugh Morrison, also addressed the gathering, and was enthusiastically received. He mentioned that his family was the first Scots family to settle in the Wairarapa —nearly a hundred years ago, and he told some of the hardships they were called upon, to encounter. He also delighted his hearers with a number of humorous anecdotes. At the conclusion of the concert programme, dancing followed until midnight. The dancing commenced with a grand march led by Chiefs Piper. T. Picket, and Piper Allan Mackenzie Douglas. From the grand march, the dancers broke off into the Circassian Circle, for which the music was furnished by Piper A. M. Douglas. Foursome and eightsome reels (for which Chiefs Piper Pickett supplied the music), and old-time dancing followed. During an interlude in the dancing, the Ruahine Band played a selection, comprising slow-march, quick-step, strathspey and reel, at the conclusion of which it received a wellmerited ovation. At supper, the principal item was the

haggis, borne by the Chief, and piped in, in proper style, by Pipers Pickett and Douglas. Burns’s “Address to a Haggis” and “Grace” were recited ably, and with the true Scot's accent, by Chieftain Peter C. McLaren.

The proceedings terminated with the enthusiastic singing of "Auld Lang Syne.” followed by the National Anthem.