ST. ANDREW SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1941, Page 5

ST. ANDREW SOCIETY

- GATHERING ON SATURDAY E EVENING t i — TRAVEL AND OTHER FILMS. OLD TIME AND SCOTS DANCING. There was a large attendance of members and their friends at the St Andrew Society gathering in the Masonic Hall on Saturday night. It had been intended that, in lieu of the usual concert programme, the earlier part of the evening should be spent in witnessing a home-cinemato-graph display by Mr W. H. Saunders. Unfortunately, Mr Saunders was at the < last minute unable to attend, owing to illness. His place was very kindly taken, at very brief notice, by Mr E. 1 F. Wilson, who gave a similar display. - Most of the films shown were taken by ! Mr Wilson, both in New Zealand and abroad, and they proved interesting, instructive and entertaining. Among the pictures were some of the centen- • nial celebrations in Masterton, the recent Wellington Exhibition, wild life in Kruger Park, South Africa, and travels in Scotland, Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere. The Chief (Mr H. Mackenzie Douglas) expressed regret at Mr Saunders’s illness, and indicated that Mr Saunders had kindly offered to give his display at a later date. The Chief went on to express gratitude to Mr Wilson for filling the breach at not more than a few hours' notice. The audience showed its appreciation of Mr Wilson's action by sustained applause. Mr Mackenzie Douglas expressed a hearty welcome to the latest member to proceed on active service, LanceCorporal B. E. Beaven. He referred to the enthusiasm displayed by LanceCorporal Beaven as a member of the society, and the assistance given by him in the past in providing pipemusic for dancing, and as a member of the band. Later in the evening, LanceCorporal Beaven added to his services to the satiety by piping very skilfully for the dancing of the Dashing White Sergeant, probably the most popular dance in the society's programmes. The Chief also referred to the loss to the society in the departure from Masterton, to take up war work, of a well-known and popular member in Matron M. F. Barnett. The regret at losing Miss Barnett ‘was tempered with pleasure in the knowledge that Miss Barnett's place as Matron of the Masterton Public Hospital was to be taken by another very popular member. Miss Grant. Congratulations were conveyed to Miss Grant on her appointment by the general and spontaneous applause with which the Chiefs announcement was greeted. For the dancing which followed the cinematograph entertainment, pipemusic was provided, with great success. by Pipers Trass, Barnes, Beaven and Mackay, nil members of the Saint Andrew Pipe Band. For the less strenuous dances.' the music was provided by the society's dance band, consisting of Mrs J. Y. Douglas (piano) and Mr Alex. Cruickshank (violin). The St Andrew's Pipe Band gave several items which were well received and prior to the gathering paraded through Queen Street.