PERSONAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 194, 18 May 1938, Page 4

PERSONAL.

*A. largely-attended congregational meeting of the Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Timaru, last night decided t£ extend a unanimous call to the Rev. Malcolm Wilson, M.A., a New Zealander who is at present minister at the York Presbyterian Church, England. Mr "Wilson graduated at. Otago University and: took his training at Knox College, Dunedin. He then went to Westminster College, Cambridge, to complete his training. On returning to New Zealand Mr Wilson was minister at Huntly, Waikato, for three years, and then went back to England. For the last five years he has been minister at York.

By the last mail interesting news comes from Madame Ross Brodie, Rungitata Island, who has been for some months in England and on the Continent furthering her musical studies. Madame Brodie was in Italy for the season of grand opera in Rome and Milan. One of the most delightful entertainments she had the privilege of enjoying was the production of “Madame Butterfly,” conducted by De Sabbata at La Scala Theatre. Through mutual friends she was invited to the home of Maestro Boliinari, the famous conductor of the Augusteum orchestra in Rome. She also met Professor Richard Strauss, the great composer and conductor. Madame Brodie was greatly impressed with the four bands of Rome which play in turn in the open air, one band every Sunday, for an entire programme. They play, under famous conductors, in a sheltered place near the okl Coliseum, and people .stand for hours listening to them. At the time of writing Madame. Brodie was contemplating returning to Italy to hear the famous Sistine Choir in Rome at Easter before returning via America to New Zealand.