ST. ANDREW SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 November 1939, Page 7

ST. ANDREW SOCIETY

HALLOWE’EN CELEBRATIONS FINAL GATHERING OF 1939. ENTERTAINMENT ON SATURDAY EVENING. The large crowd mat attended the Saint Andrew Society's gathering on Saturday evening organised and conducted entirely by younger members of the Society, was striking testimony of the success of similar undertakings of the juveniles in past seasons. That the expectations of those present were not disappointed was sufficient reward to the young people who constituted the committee.

The date of Hallowe'en being so near, much of the festivity took the form of Hallowe'en celebrations. In consequence. the usual concert programme was dropped, and. except for a few items by juveniles, games and competitions were substituted. These continued during the space usually occupied by the concert, after which followed supper, and dancing. The youngsters had shown great ingenuity in the introduction of novel competitions. and even in the dancing, which was of the usual Scottish character, opportunity was found for something new. Probably the novelty that caused most pleasure and amusement was a “statue" Highland Schottische. in which, on sudden stoppage of me music, each dancer was expected to remain, in statuesque attitude, in the exact position in which he or she found himself. The difficulty of this in such a dance as the Highland Schottische may be imagined. At such a gathering, there were, as may be supposed, large numbers of young people present, though the number of elder people was fully up to standard. With sure instinct, the young committee had made proper arrangements for the entertainment of the young, in addition to the games and competitions. Fruit and sweets were freely distributed, in addition to the usual tea and coffee. The competitions were such that, in some cases, even wee tots were successful in winning prizes. Great jubilation was expressed when a dignified officer of the society was the ultimate recipient of a “mystery parcel,” which, after passing through many hands, with a like number of unwrappings, each disclosing a new address, reached its destination by means of the apropriate address" To the boy the girls all love!" All the prizes—and they were many—were chosen with excellent taste, and were admirably suited to their purposes. The committee responsible for this joyous affair were Margaret McLaren. Patricia Ramsay, Sheila McKenzie. Helen Cruickshank, Mabel Walker, Bill Jaspers and Allan Mackenzie Douglas. All of these worked like Trojans, though perhaps the heaviest duties fell on Margaret McLaren, who was allotted the post of secretary and organiser. Bill Jaspers and Allan Douglas were efficient M.'sC. The concert items presented were a Pipe Quartette by Neil Dickel, Bob Stewart and Billie and Allan Douglas (the music for which was specially arranged, in parts, by Allan Douglas), a pianoforte duet by Heather and Joan Douglas, a Sean Triubhas and a Highland Fling danced by Edna Corlett. and a recitation byMary McLaren. Every item was highly appreciated, and received vociferous applause. Nearly all the music for the dancing was provided by juvenile pipers. In particular. Neil Dickel and Bill Douglas piped almost continuously throughout the evening, and (showed themselvfes capable of furnishing the music at any function. It was a pleasure, also, to see Chief's Piper Tom Pickett, so far recovered from his serious accident as to be able to pipe for one item While he remained seated in his chair.

During the evening, the Chief, Mr H. Mackenzie Douglas, who said he felt: that on this occasion he was an intruder. but assured the assemblage that he had the permission of the juvenile’ committee to say a few words, thanked the juvenile committee for the work they had put into the organisation and conduct of the gathering, and congratluated them on the success that had attended their efforts. It augured well for the success of the society, he said, that there were young members obviously so suitable to become the society's future officers. He announced also that.-, though this was the last of the society's regular monthly gatherings for the season, there would be the usual Scottish concert in the Opera House on Saint Andrew’s Night, November 30. It was expected that the concert would even surpass last yeat s splendid effort: it would include items by some of New Zealand's leading singers, notably. Mrs Wilfred Andrews and Mr Ken Macauley. besides a humorous one-act play to be produced bj Chieftairiness Miller, and sundry other items. A most enjoyable evening was brought to a happy conclusion at mid-' night, with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne." and the National Anthem.