A TRIBUTE TO HASTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 416, 27 January 1909, Page 9

A TRIBUTE TO HASTINGS.

BY. THE MALLINSONS;

. Mr. arid Mrs. .Mallinson, whose visit to AYollington was so short, and who could only spare three dvenings .'for recitals in this city, .havo -given no fewer ; than nine recitals in Hastings, Napier; and tho district round about, and-'they. have spoilt several weeks in Havelock. Why should they, devote so muoh time A and enel'gy to/ a littlo corner of ;• this-out-of-the-way Dominion ? . The answer given by Mr. ■ Mallinson him-, self :5s full .of interest, and: it" toveals, the existence in the: Hastings district of a community, ' cultured, earnest,: devoted,. coveting ouly the best: gifts,- and,- of a . movement' to share, these: gilts with others." There are many , people taste,.' With a hi'gh appreciation oif nil: that is most beautiful in musio; . art, and literature, but" these exceptional; Havelock" people, are filled with ,a desire tp.;increase-their own. power of appreciatibri',- and to-share it .with others. • .: • "If you were to .go to Hastings," said Mr.: -Mailinson,V '.'you .might ' See , nothing of their work. It is at present ill the'beginning of things, though they} have already initiated several movements that gromise to accoinplisli much. Tile idea -is to: establish a centro' of sweetness, light; and-beaiity,-and they-believe that a movement .beginning.'in'.,a corner, of the country has 'a chance of success denied to it in a city, where' there are so many interests to crowd each other, and where a movement -.of this sort' undertaken by. people: riot:whole-heartedly .devoted to it might., easily bcc'ome a fad,:- and: share tho usual fate of fads., V : ; In a way, tho ;movement .is .ii reflex of the work initiated in England by Mr. licnson, tlui actor, 'tho.'maii who lias, doiie so: rnuch for the. .uplifting -.of the English drariia, who has so, often stage'd ; Shakespeare's • plays, and •' who. has the 'att of. .ther,members .of' his 1 different .companies':Witli his' o'Wri high, .ideals of artj . tlio same higli': standards' of simplicity, truth,; and.„beauty. Mr..' Harold Large,, who ifr'. clbsely'.identified . with the: movement! in Haverook, was at one; tithe'-Mr.' Benson's business' managef; Ho is. filled, with his ideas, and- still-: keeps, in. close association,: by. letter with mm; .'Mr;: Reginald Gardiner is another, ruling spirit, and : j\fr.: Fraser. . These last two,)are the,-heads: of the . Arts - and Crafts A'ssqeiatiori,: whieh.., is the nucleus, the, formal society connected with the movement-." : A brief summary of what they have already ; accomplished; gives' tho best : idea of their aitns.. For one thing they , have this Arts -and Crafts Association; they .have., a ?mall kindergarten^" a -picture gallery which. contains among .its -sixty oil and. water'.col: ours,some excollerit : work, by English" arid French' artists;. they have ,a nionthly: niagath^ir..',own, ';!'l'lio ■Foreruririer,'' : to whicn : members of tho comftunity.'.contribute,: and Mr. -Mallinson : mentioned with especial approbation • several sonnets by '. : a young :';New :;Zealaiuler ' :that had.' b6e'n< published: therein: ;. They desiro' to establish a threatre . to -be 7 devoted to ' tho representation : : of:',;.-, tlie- best' :' plays,^ lebtures, and first-class'eoncerts.^■'•:■.At a nieetmg:held recently to discuss ways 1 arid ■ means; who sum bf £1000 Was'at onco-promised.•• pot' of course : enough to. pay tor snch a building, , but: an earnest of what - the promoters may, eipect.- Just a'little while ago. a performance of "A Midsummer. Night's Dream , Was. given,by members \of the community, and though Mr. Mallinson had not heard any repqrt of this, h6 felt sure it would be well carried through. - ..Many Li those associated, with the.movement.::, are: people of means, and willing, to spend money £r r ' a , r & ooa ' iind : to ' instance-this,' .Mr. Mallinson quoted tho fact "that 'when a hand-printing • press , .Was , lequired for •' the work tho community is doing, it :was 'at■ once' purchased -by one: jin'eriiber. - The' first iliirig printed off was a programme.'of.'one of the Mallmson .vrecitalsjfvand/.veryjihandsome,:,-- it' looks,. pHrltdd l on j good,:• dull papoby witli iho words .of " the,' songs-■ Jn"-' fair black ,type.; >.It bears, Etl^& : -.'their ■ motto, -.. Piscatbres'.- Homiriumj" - though. i\!h Mallinsoii says th'eit, working, niotto -may ■ be : ■: given . as,' • "Service; 1 ,:, •'They -intend ;to opena . rehool"of.: music,,,and .-forisoriib time' Mrs. Malliason has.beett training two.teachers for;them,, r which iis Ja matter:;,; on .«,whichi;; tho: Hastings • people: may be heartily;-oongratu-lated.

:When;,Mr.; "-jihd.'Mrs.'-.'--Mallinson gave theii* first, recital" in .Hastings,; members ■"of the community who were present- were : extraordinarily'; impressed.' -V Tlie pbrfectibh of tho harmony between Words and niusic, and Mrs. Mallinson's perfect. rendering of her huS-' band's ._ exquisite compositions, camo as a revelation to. theni; and they could not rest until .'they', had secured ? from them a promise :¥• return: for . another; recital.. ' One 'theory of f.this'community : .'isV.that.,, ; an ' artist' passing/ through a town,•'.•and: giving one ;.or two -.re-' citals; ther'oj' produces no. lasting effebt; thai■what is iieSessary. is that the musicians should give maiiy recitals and.remain.for some; time among / the people. before. the influence will be;strong: onbugh'to.lastf'ahd;also'.they. think this J%tessiah / ':produoei,'.;? will 'bo m'ubh .strotiger; where' itlie/pedple .have rbeteii' .accustomed .to heariiig.Vmany. musiciansv -/of' .-varying; degrees 1 ;' of 'merit;; AsXit■! happened,-: the.-'jecitals given ";in;-the district, including- ; Napier, -.'numbered . nine,-: and- in addition -to this;--Mr; "M.allinson >mado .his influence , felt very greatly training tho choir for:a choral celebration at ah;'eariy.-.-Church service. ?-; Fo'r.this he" had; a choir, of. about 'fifty 'people,' some of them trained. musicians,' others quite -untrained,.' and.'althbugli he: had only .a fprtn night in which to train-. them; They : sang' the; - old., plain. , song ,with v .wonderful' offect, and the result-was a great -delight' to' •aIL ;-. - "Tho movement is not "wholly to bo iV .scribed ,'ks 6.: religious, one, Says Mr. MailinSofy-: "though ■ the j desire of the people is . to'• bring all beauty to tho servico of this church. While, they 'lay: special streSs oil- beauty they'' do .not-- neglect.l.anjj.-'wirk 'that . will briiig plea'Bure.- to-, the lives; of ■ those" around than,' aiid .it- is-: understood .that those connected with tile movement will bo ready to help their' fellows inv various Jittio Uhthoughtof, iyayii;'';;:.:' : /; : V ; MiV MaiHnson; is prepared' to believe that there ;iii iHayelock;;a movement''lias beguh , that* will. ;be,bf;Vei:y. great value to .the pest interests of the. Dominion' as its . influence. Spreads:' As other ..artist^-visit New Zealand they. will probably bo appealed to,- to give Wore than . a little : time-to. Hastiiigs,' iiof-as a gift, but as. an -ordinary business arrangement,;.:;tho' \ friends'. of ' the movemeiit'/ willing to do' all. in their power to' "widen its influence; and increase its value, -i"-'