IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 138, 13 June 1929, Page 8

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

MUSIC IN AUCKLAND

VALUE OF THE MUNICIPAL BAND

(To the Editor.)

Your correspondent "Strepitoso" must be very simple-minded if he cannot understand Mr. Christopher Smith's reference to publicity What the municipal bandmaster meant, if I may interpret his remarks for the benefit of your correspondent (I am sorry I cannot restrict myself to words of one syllable), was that the council, after spending a considerable amount of money on a concert, does not advertise it properly. And he is quite right. Judo, ing by the remarks of some of your correspondents, they would not be greatly disturbed if the Municipal Band ceased to exist. In my opinion, this would be a calamity. At present it is the chief bulwark of good music in Auckland. Mr. Smith might very easily pander, if he felt like it, to the lowest taste in the community. He might put on band renderings of "Sonny Boy" (the bandsmen singing the refrain) and concertina solos and fill the Town Hall. Instead he prefers to keep up the standard without getting many thanks for so doing. His last concert was an all-Beet-hoven one. The duty of perpetuating classical orchestral music in Auckland should devolve if on anybody especially, on the Bohemian Orchestra. Since this organisation seems to be rather deficient in this respect, we may be thankful that we have a municipal band to fill the vacancy. LOWBROW.

MOSQUITOES ON SHIPS

It is an undoubted fact that mosquitoes do travel on ships, and for long distances, too, as my own experience proves. About thirty-five years ago I travelled from Calcutta to London in a sailing ship, the voyage taking one hundred and forty-five days without calling at any port. Off the Equator we had heavy rain squalls, during which every available receptacle on deck was filled with rain water for washing purposes. Shortly afterwards, whenever any tank or barrel was opened, a cloud of mosquitoes would issue forth and others in various stages of development could be seen i

floating on the surface of the water. They pestered us all day, but usually left us alone at night, a reversal of the usual procedure, and we only got rid of them for a time when a stiff breeze came along and blew them away. We carried some right into London, it being mid-summer, and they were just as lively as ever when we gladly wished them good-bye. The eggs must have been lying dormant in the barrels and tanks on deck to be hatched when conditions were favourable. A.C.C.

MAKING NIGHT NOISY.

I sympathise with "Zampa's" letter concerning the playing of gramophones late at night. There should be a by-law to stop this kind of thing. We have had a player piano going seven and eight hours without a break with our heads only six feet away. What hopes of sleep have we now the piano has gone and in its place are noisy parties? How do they expect my children to get up fit for school after having had no rest? ANOTHER SUFFERER.

SCOTS AND ENGLISH,

Your correspondent Ellen McLeod is graciously pleased to consider the letter of one correspondent "worthy" of an answer. Why, may one ask, the laboured sarcasm about Queen Victoria being a Stuart. Only the other day at Edinburgh the Duke of York, speaking at the sexcentenary of the granting of that city's charter by Robert the Bruce, declared that monarch the "common ancestor" of both himself and the Duchess. Possibly this is "the first" your correspondent ha's heard about that. Your correspondent's sally about the possibility of Scots claiming kinship with Dickens, Byron, etc., is unfortunate. Scots never hanker to bask in the reflected glory of either near or distant relations. But, in conclusion, I wish to ask why Scots, did they so desire, could not make as legitimate a claim to Lord Byron as the English. Can Ellen McLeod tell me who was Catherine Gordon, of Gight, Aberdeenshire, Scotland? Wit.

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

In your issue of the Cth inst. your San Francisco correspondent credits Germany Avith the origin of the music of our Xational Anthem. The identity of the actual composer is still unknown; Dr. John Bull, born in Somersetshire about 15G3, was for some time credited with the honour, his name being even now shown as the author in some current publications, but it is generally agreed among authorities that he was not. He may have harmonised it, and as other nations utilise the same melody it would be interesting to compare their scores with the British in order to note any difference. Dr. Bull visited France and Germany, and, having relinquished his engagements in England for health reasons, accepted in 1617 the position of organist at the Cathedral of'Xotre Dame at Antwerp, where he died in 1628. It is therefore quite possible that he introduced the music to the countries mentioned and that its popularity spread to others. It is also ascribed to .Saracen origin, having been their war song, adopted by the French during the Crusades and, having a Saracen name fitting with Marlborough, it was used by the French to satirise the Duke's invasion. 'The English retaliated by setting cynical anti-French verses to the same music. Evidence of foreign recognition of its British ownership occursin Donizetti's stirring overture to "Koberto Devercaux," which consists of our anthem clothed in beautiful variations and instrumentation.

E. KEESING.

NORTH V. SOUTH.

The agitation in Auckland against the completion of the South Island Main Trunk railway savours of nothing else hut parochialism in its worst sense. " Figures have been quoted which are alleged to" show that the South Island line cannot pay, but have any figures been produced to show that any one of the following lines will pay? (1)' The much-vaunted Paeroa-Pokeno gap. (2) The Dargaville line. (:j) The Taranaki-Main Trunk gap. Are Aucklanders satisfied that any of the above are financially sound? Imagine, sir, the outcry there would' be in Auckland were there a gap of fifty or sixty miles in the line to Wellington. No! Aucklanders should remember that just as London is not England, so Auckland is not New Zealand. Can Sir Joseph Ward's critics point out one measure ever instituted by the Prime Minister which has turned out a failure? The trouble is that Sir Joseph Ward is too long-sighted for most Tory minds. E.B.

[Our correspondent overlooks the fact that opposition to the line has developed in Wellington also. He may be reminded that the proposed completion is opposed by Mr. F. JJones, once chairman of the Railways Board of Management. Further, there was considerable Auckland opposition to the Kotorua-Taupo railway—an Auckland line. Did that indicate parochialism?— Ed.] ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS J - D r prefer not to publish your letter. "