GERMAN MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 252, 23 October 1919, Page 4

GERMAN MUSIC.

i ■ I ! London tolerated and even enjoyed! , Wagnerian opera during the war—] though it is true there wa; very little of it—but a year after victory n New York crowd forces the authorities to • forbid a performance of what is deI scribes as '■'German opera." It is another proof that England, is more tolerant I than America. This demonstration in Xew York is part of the heritage of loathing which the Germane have stored lup for the/mselves throughout the I civilised world. Being what ho is, man cannot be expected to control that feeling on entirely rational lines. Logically J there is no reason why the sins of the ; Kaiser and h:"e subordinates in the years i 1914-d.S should be visited on the head !of a composer (we are presuming that it was a Wagner opera that was concerned in the Xew York affair) who died in 1883, and whose work has pa*se<l into the possession of the world. Bat j man is not logical. And it has to be J said on behalf of anti-Wagner demonstrators that his operas are intensely German. With all their wonderful genius they reflect some of the unlovely I qualities that the world associates with I the Germany of the last few years. Where anti-German prejudice is concerned, staged opera is much more : potent than the opera's musk; by itself i It makes a visible and physical appeal; i in German opera, indeed, the appeal even in the old days was sometimes too I visible and i physical. Consequently, while there is no intention to justify the Xew York demonstration, it may "oe pointed out that there is much more excuse for refusal to hear Wagner staged than to listen to his music played by an orchestra. We can easily imagine quite 'broadminded people who would not dream of excluding -German music from their enjoyment, feeling it impossible, for the time being at any rate, to sit through a Wagner opera. It would be a matter or sentiment, which j might have its roots in the deepest personal sorrow. Fortunately the musical ! public everywhere has had very little j sympathy with the idea of banishing all j German music, from programmes. It is I the most precious part of the musical ; heritage of mankind; Beethoven, like Shaikc.-pearc, stands high above the conflict of nationalities. Just as London orchestras played German music regularly during the war, so the Germans played Shakespeare. To revert to Wagner, the decline in popularity ho has .suffered ns a result of the war has had and will have the good effect of bringing more non-German operas before the public. Tho rather overpowering Wagnerian tradition will dominate the operatic world less than it has done for decades past, and the way will bo. made clearer for the performance appreciation of other schools.

A stoker on the Arahura, named Hugh Campbell, was admitted to the hospital last evening suffering from"severe burns on the face and left arm. He states that gases had collected in the combustion chamber at the furnace, and that when he opened the furnace door the (lamed shot out, and an explosion took place, and caused his injuries, which are of a -vejry painful nature and fairly serious. Mc ie a native of England, and has been staying at the Sailors' Home, Auckland. The accident Cook place as the vessel was leaving Gisborne. AVhile the scarcity of timber is reported to be very acute in Auckland, it is significant that -Mr. 11. J. Manson, N.Z. Government representative in Melbourne, a few days ago made strong representations to the Dominion authorities that the cargo steamers Kaiapoi and Kaitangata, which had arrived from New Zealand "with timber/ should take Melbourne cargo on their return journey. From this it would appear that while there is difficulty in getting supplies of timber for building in Auckland two steamers got cargoes for Melbourne. Mr. Ell, M.P., who has been working for the construction of a tunnel road to Lyttelton, hae been informed that Mr. McEnnis, the district Public Works engineer, haa received instructions from the Public Works Department to proceed at once with a survey fo r a tunnel road through tlie Port Hills to Lyttelton. aud is to have the work done as coon aa poa sible. His instructions lire that the road is to be 32ft wido. Mr. Ell and Mr. McEnnie visited Lyttelton, when a preliminary survey of the position was taken. No news has been received in Christchurch regarding the movements of the Cope Antarctic Expedition, which is expected to start from South Africa to explore the regions to t!ic southward. A very good idea of the work that lias before the expedition (says the "Lyttelton Times' , ) may be obtained from the excellent map of the southern regions prepared and published by the Xcw Zealand Institute in 100(1, just after Shackleton'a dash to within o n o hundred miles of the Pole. This map shows that the principal islands dircctlv south of Africa arc the Crozets, Marion Island and Prince Edward Island, which are about halfway between the Cape and the South Pole. Dr. Chilton. who !i.m been actively interested in the collections from various other points of the Antarctic region, which hay}» been much more fully explored, says that there are no collections from this group, and much useful work lies before tbo expedition not only there, l.ut at Kemp Land and iMiderby Land. This is the region in which the least exploring has been done, and it i> possible that land will be found west of F-nderbv Land. There is one very interesting island in that region— Bouret Island—on which a landing has never been made, and although discovered a very long time ago, Cook was unable to find it. .and several others failed to find it, owing tn faulty charting. A landing by the Cope expedition therefore, would be of very great interest. " * Allusion was made at the meetino- ot the Xorth Auckland Land Board "yesterday by the Commissioner (Mr J. P Grevfflt) to the responsibility of 'the Land Board towards cducat/jti leases The only control the board had at present, he said, was that its consent had to be obtained before- a transfer could be made, and that when a lease expired the board had to fix the rental for tho new term. In view of the fact that these leases were endowments for education precautions had to be taken to see that full value in the way of rental was obtained. The numerous education leasce in Auckland seemed to be a fruitful field for land speculation, and the boards should be given as much power over these leases as they had over Crown lands. Members of "the board agreed and said that in future they would be inclined to withhold their consent in cases where tho holders of leases with houses on them proposed to transfer to persons who already had leases. The proposal by the Auckland Farmers Freezing Company to establish branch' freezing works at Waipuna. Bny of Island*, is progressing satisfactorily. The machinery and equipment for the new works have been purchased in England by the works superintendent (Mr. T, Simson), who made a special journey for the purpose. Mr. S. J. Ambury, chairman of directors states, that preliminary work in connection with the preparation of the site for the buildings and the acquisition of the necessary material has already been commenced, and it is anticipated that tho works will lie in operation by the beginning of the*lo2o-2l season. A block" of land', between 670 and 700 acres, hns been acquired for the works, which will have a daily killing capacity of 2000 carcases and storage space for'about 100,000 carcases. The site is close to deep water, and the works are estimated to cost about £120;000. The appointment of Professor yon Zedlctz as professor of modern languages at Victoria College. Wellington, was the subject of a communication from the Wanganui Borough Council to the Newmarket Borough Council last evening, conveying a resolution protesting iigainst the appointment. "It was felt," the letter said, "that the appointment of an unnaturalised German to an educational position would be an insult to our soldiers and our loyalty, and that every possible step shouid be taken to keep such positions for men of British birth." Tho members of the Newmarket Borough Council endorsed the protest, the Mayor (Mr. Leek) remarking that he was glad the matter had been brought up. The protest was alao indorsed at a meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council last evening. Dislocation of transport services owinc to the war is worldwide. Mr. J. K. Gunson. Mayor of Auckland, found that out when he reached San Francisco. He wanted to be back in Auckland in time for the general election, us he had been asked to stand for the new electorate of Ttoskill. and as soon as he landed in America ho set nhnut making arrangements for his return: Although it was only the middle of July he found that the best tlio shipping companies could do for him was to give him a berth in tho Niagara., leaving at the end of November, and he booked accordingly. Mr. Wm. W. Johnston, late of South Africa, and now a resident of Melbourne, Ai-ftralia, and the manager of the Australasian 'Branch of the International Bible Students' Association, has come to this country to lecture on Bible subjects. The first lecture of the series will take place on Sunday evening at 7.30 p.m., in the Lyric, the subject 'being "The World Has Ended." An inspection of the property of oight and a-half acres ut Archhill, which has been offered to the Government. was made by the Xorth Auckland Land Board yesterday. It is proposed, in the event of the land being purchased, that it shall be used lor the erection of houses for soldiers.

"Whether all the complaints about the inadequacy of the tramway service in Auckland are justified, or whether they have their roots in the irritated imagI ination of persons without patience, is lof course, not very clear. But an incident ihjs morning, happening in Queen Street itself not far short of nine o'clock, proved that to bring people into business at this period, twenty-three cars run down the main street in twenty minutes. That means the cars are coming mor« quickly than one a minute, and thia does not account for those coming , on tlie two other routes via Customs Street. Just after half-past eight a car tried to turn into Customs -Street. The front wheels took the turning but the back ones went straight on, and. all the incoming ears were held up while the tangle was straightened. The cars lined up had judt taken tiie end of the blockage to Victoria Street when the first tram got away. j A novelty in the form of a. new motor i car wheel whic.h has no spokes, being dioc shaped and made of some light | metal, was seen'in the city this morn-j ing. This kind of wheel is not altogether i new, for it is some time past since it was , firi.t adapted to motor lorries and motor j bicycles, but it is probably'the first time I that it has been attached to a motor car, I or at least a motor car that is ueed in I and about the city. While no doubt it I has been found to be very serviceable, | it in no way improves the appearance of | the car. When on the run the wheels j appear to be moving at great speed, faster than the car is.actually travelling. \ A runaway two-horse lorry, belonging to Witwtone'e came down Wellesley Street West this morning and struck a tram car standing just opposite Smith and Cnughey's, round the corner in Queen Street. The trouble was caused by a rein breaking. Although the brake was hard-on the wheels skidded on the down grade. Both of the horses were shaken up, and one had several inches of cuticle knocked off, but no actual damage was done. Mr. John Fuller entertained about 120 friends in the Foresters' Hall, Devonport, laat evening, the gathering being on account of his youngest son Reginald coming of age. Mr. F. J. Whitaker gave an address of congratulation to the young j man. Vocal items were contributed bj-J Mr. John Fuller and also by Miss Fuller. The evening was spent socially in dancing, a cardroom being provided for ttio.se who preferred to enjoy themselves in that manner. ' Attention of taxpayers is drawn in to-day's advertisement that the due date of payment of land-tax for the current > year is Friday, 7th of November, and i demands will be posted on or about the j of the month. i The vestry of St. Andrew's parish, ! Cambridge, has agreed to a war memo- j rial scheme for raising a sum of £2,500 j for the purpose of installing an orna- j tal window in the north .transept of St. ; Andrew's Church, together with a roll of j honour, and a!eo the erection of a parish I hall. j Beacheote Estate, Milford—the "pick."! Buy a section, at the Night Auction, i Nov. 5. Plans now ready.—R". Arthur and Co., Ltd., Elliott St. See page C.— (Ad.) Crepe Merle, ull shades, 46in, 2/9:1 ninon veiling, emerald, 3/i), navy and j black, 3/C; ladies' coloured and" black reliable hose, new shades, moderate prices, at Ford's, Karangahape Road. Postage paid.—(Ad.) "No Rubbing" Laundry Help, with "Golden Rule" Soap i≤ unchallengeable for washing all clothes clean without rubbing or injury.—Marriott and Co., Parnell.— (Ad.) Doctor's Cream o' Groats is cheaper than imported groats, and has no long sea trip-to make it stale! All grocers! (Ad.) "Keep Smiling" Pumice Soap, 4d; "Keep Smiling" Lino. Polish, B'd; "Keep