ST. ANDREW SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1938, Page 9

ST. ANDREW SOCIETY

MOST SUCCESSFUL MONTHLY GATHERING. DANCE & CONCERT ITEMS.

The success of the Saint Andrew Society’s monthly gathering on Saturday evening did not belie the promise of the opening gathering held a month ago. The Masonic Hall was taxed to the utmost to accommodate the two hundred persons who attended, and pleasure and. national enthusiasm were unbounded throughout the evening. The concert portion of the proceedings was of high merit, and of the proper Scots flavour, and the dancing that followed was clearly enjoyed to the full. The large numbers who took part in the reels, and other national dances proved the Society’s success in the attainment of its objects. The concert opened with a pipe selection by Chief’s Piper, Mr Thos. Pickett. There followed songs by Mr Graham Dickel (“Scotland Yet” and “Roy’s Wife of Aldivalloch”); Miss Gillian Gooder (“We’d Better Bide a Wee” and “Ye Banks and Braes”); Miss Rose Robinson (“The Auld Hoose” and “Over the Sea to Skye”), and Miss D. Jamieson (“Angus Macdonald" and “Once Again in Dear Auld Scotland”). Little Miss Edna Corlett, of Martinborough, resplendent in dress Macleod tartan, danced the Sean Triubhais and' the Highland Fling, and Miss Jean Douglas recited “The Pipes of Troon,” and a humorous poem “For He Was Scotch, and So Was She.” Every performer was obliged to respond to a hearty encore.

The Chief (Mr H. Mackenzie Douglas) gave a short talk on “The Tartan,” tracing the interesting story of its ancient origin, and the heraldic nature of its development. He explained how the original tartan of a clan was varied to distinguish the several clan septs, with the result that numerous clan tartans to this day disclosed, in their common groundwork, the relationships of clans. He instanced the tartans of the various septs of Macdonalds and Campbells, and of the clans forming the clan groups of Clan Alpine, Clan Chattan, etc. He also referred to the origin of lowland and regimental tartans. The dancing programme commenced with a grand march, followed by the Circassian circle. As usual, foursome and eightsome reels and the Highland Schottische were features of the programme. Great credit was due to the society’s capable M.C., Mr Jas. Henderson, for his handling of the great crowd of dancers. Music for the dancing was supplied by Mills’s Orchestra, and by Chief’s Piper, Mr Pickett, and Piper Allan Mackenzie Douglas. The Chief referred to the loss sustained by the society in the marriage and consequent removal from'Masterton of Miss Coila McCracken, now Mrs McConnell. Miss McCracken had for some years acted as concert organiser for the society. The society was fortunate, however, in that Mr Wm. Mann had undertaken to fill Miss McCracken’s place, and had been duly elected a member of the council. It was announced that for the purpose of familiarising with the national folk dances such members as are diffident of attempting them at the society’s gatherings, practices are again to be held this season. The first will be held in the Municipal Lecture Room at 7.30 o’clock this evening, and thereafter at fortnightly intervals until further notice.