SCOTTISH EVENING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1939, Page 4

SCOTTISH EVENING

SAINT ANDREW SOCIETY GATHERING BIG GATHERING IN MUNICIPAL HALL. WELLINGTON CALEDONIANS VISIT MASTERTON. It had previously been freely stated that the council of the Saint Andrew Society expected a large attendance at the Society’s gathering in the Municipal Hall on Saturday evening, but not even the most sanguine could have expected the large crowd that actually attended. The hall was taxed to its utmost capacity. Even during the progress of a dance, with the floor-space fully occupied, the onlookers left seated and standing round the hall and on the stage seemed fully as numerous as the total attendance usually to be found at dances in the Municipal Hall. This in no wise detracted from the enjoyment of those present, as it might have done at an ordinary dance where there is little entertainment except for those actually taking part in the dancing. As always at the Society’s gatherings, the dancing was preponderantly of a Scots character, and was consequently almost as enjoyable for the onlookers as for the participants. As a consequence, at the Society’s gatherings—and at Saturday night’s gathering in particular —large numbers of elderly people and other nondancers, attend for the pleasure of watching the dancing. The gathering was without doubt a conspicuous success. The dance programme, consisting of eightsome and foursome reels and other Scots dances, with an occasional less strenuous dance by way of a “breather,” was clearly to the taste of those present. The refreshments were excellent, and (considering the crowd) expeditiously served. The enthusiasm of the dancers knew no bounds, and their joyous "heuch’s” gave the lie to the legend of taciturnity as a characteristic of the Scot. That enthusiasm extended even to the onlookers, who were found frequently unable to refrain from “heuching” in unison with the dancers. In furtherance of the Society’s policy of inviting outside Scottish societies to its gatherings, the Wellington Caledonian Society were on this occasion the guests of the evening. The Wellington party, some seventy strong —reached Masterton at about 6 p.m. and were met at the Municipal Hall by the Chief (Mr H. Mackenzie Douglas) and council of the local society. They were entertained at tea, at which the piece de resistance was a noble haggis. The haggis, borne by the Chief, was piped in, in traditional style, by Pipers A. and W. Mackenzie Douglas, and Burns’s “Address to a Haggis” was ably recited by Mr Chas Stewart, Senr., of the visiting party. After tea, the visitors’ Pipe Band, twenty strong, under Pipe-Major Chas. Stewart, Junr„ and Drum-Major Brown, paraded Queen Street from end to end, and gave ajSplendid exhibition of music and drill. Later, in the hall, the band again entertained to the delight of those present. Their items in the hall included a taste of a drum-major’s display, executed with remarkable skill and precision. Numerous members of the band also contributed to the success of the evening by supplying pipe music for. the Scots dancing. The scene during the progress of. say, an eightsome reel was spectacular and pleasing, and must have delighted even an onlooker - who claimed no Scots blood. The enthusiasm and enjoyment of the dancers, the bright Royal Stewart tartan of the visiting bandsmen, the numerous other tartans ‘worn by dancers, and the skirl of the pipes, combined to create a scene not easily forgotten. Perhaps never before in the history of Masterton have so many different tartans been gathered together. Further entertainment on the part of the visitors was provided by Miss Adeline Burnett’s team of dancers. This consisted of some half-dozen, including one youth—a member of the band. All proved themselves highly accomplished dancers, and their items, a foursome sword dance, a Highland fling, a Scots reel, and a reel o’ tulloch, gave great pleasure. During the course of the evening, the Chief (Mr Douglas) extended a welcome to the visitors, and introduced to the assemblage the Chief of the Wellington society, Mr R. H. Nimmo. Mr Nimmo gave an interesting talk on his recent visit to Scotland (whither he had gone as an envoy of the Centennial Exhibition) and, in particular, of his visit to the Scottish International Exhibition at Glasgow. Mr Nimmo also referred to the renewing of his old friendship with Sir Harry Lauder in the latter’s own home, and told one or two of the very latest of Sir Harry’s humorous anecdotes.

The end of an enjoyable evening came at midnight, with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem, and the departure of the Wellington guests. Those who waited to see the visitors aboard their buses were, treated to additional entertainment in some remarkably skilful piping by Piper Budge of Wellington. Some of our young local pipers listened to Piper Budge’s exhibition with amazement, and, it is hoped, with good resolutions of future emulation.