THE PHONOGRAPH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIII, Issue 2565, 13 January 1892, Page 2

THE PHONOGRAPH.

Last evening Mr George Kelly gave an exhibition m the Oddfellows' Hall of Edison's phonograph, a machine with all the latest improvements effected by the great electrician. Owing probably to the large number of entertainments of different kinds that have been held m the town recently, ana the tax these have been on the pocket money of the people, there was not a large attendance—a matter to be regretted, as exhibitions of the kind given by Mr Kelly are of a thoroughly educative charater ; and; a fair idea of the working of a machine like the phonograph can only be obtained by ocular and aural demonstration. M* Kelly opened proceedings by giving a descriptive and explanatory lecture on the phonograph, m which he popularly yefc scientifically described its principle and working, and dwelt at length upon its uses and the possibilities of its future. He then introduced Mr Ducorron, an expert from the Edison factory, who set the machine to work, and from records m his possession made the phonograph go through quite ft grand programme of musical and other items. The first was a cornet solo by the well-known Gordon of the Christchurch Garrison Band, and the crisp tones of the player's instrument were admirably reproduced by the infallible echo of the talking machine. Songs and pieces played and sung m San Francisco, m New York, m Chicago, and m Sydney were given as plainly as though they were then being given by the originals m the Oddfellows' Hall, andamessage spoken into the instrument by General Sheridan m New York, [ for Mr William Leak, m Sydney, m which the General gave his Sydney friend some account of how the latter's sen, whom he had lately visited, was getting along m tha land of the Great Republic, was heard clearly and distinctly by the audience. In connection with the uses of the instrument, Mr Kelly related a little anecdote. When m Sydney some time ago he callpd upon a gentleman resident m that city, whoso aged mother - over eighty years —is resident m Christchuich. He ask«d the gentleman to speak into the phonograph a few words to his mother, which Mr Kelly could reproduce when he returned to Christchurch. The gentleman complied eagerly, and spoke into the instrument a loving message to his aged parent. When Mr Kelly came back to Christchurch he visited the old lady on i Christmas morning, taking with him the phonograph. He put the tubes m position m the lady's ears and started the message. The gladness of the old lady could be imagined m once wore hearing the actual living voice of her darling son breathing blessings upon her aged head on Christmas morning. Truly, there must be a great future before a machine like this, whose message had been sanctified by a mother's love. Amonsr other items were two songs by Mr A. Millar, of Christchuich, whose voice could be easily recegnised, although its fine quality could not be shown when the sound had to be "magnified" for production before a large audience. Songs also, by Mr Appleby, of Christchurch,-were given, as well as a quartette by the Christchurch Orpheus Club, "O, Sanctissima,'' and piccolo solos by Mr Poore, a well-known Christchurch player. A bagpipe solo, played by Piper Sturrock, of Christchurch, onHoajmanaj night, waa art item to close with that caused no little merriment, more espesially the " Auld Lang Syne " that the company gave to whom Mr Sturrock was piping " Happy we've been a' thegither," and the rojstoring "hip, hip, hurras" with which the record finished. No mean feature m the programme, however, was Mr Kelly's reciting, and the two pieces he gave, *' The Lifeboat," and the '' Stationmaoter were finished elocutionary performances, and well merited the hearty applause they received. It is to be hoped the Phonograph will receive a fuller amount of patronape tg-night, •