NEW ZEALAND PHONO FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 45, 17 November 1925, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND PHONO FLIGHT

RADIO TOUR OF DOMINION Ju March of this year a Air. John Collinson, of London, wrote to Messrs. Begg and Co., of Wellington, stating that it was his intention to give a New Zealand concert for the Broadcasting Company at Glasgow, and asking if the firm would supply suitable music, such as Maori folk songs, ballads, or even operas written on Maori subjects. By May the firm had collected some such music as was required, and gave an outline of oilier Maori music, and its worth. Air. Collinson replied in June thanking the firm for the music forwarded, and again expressing a desire to have a look at any Maori opera. This was followed up by “a cablegram to Begg’s asking them to send Home the Maori opera (with orchestral parts). The firm had then to explain that though sucli works had been performed from time to time (“Hincmoa” and “Tapn”) they had not the music iu their possession. In Julv Mr. Collinson wrote: “I must repeat my thanks to you for the kind assistance’ given me to make the 'New Zealand Phono Flight,’ which will be given at Glasgow on October 5, a complete success. You, perhaps, will be pleased to know that Elsie Tremeck, Fred Collier, and we are trying to get the Princess Iwa, all colonials, to take part in this programme. The High Commission (Sir James Allen) is taking a great interest in it, and I am sure it will-be a great success. ... We would like to create the same interest in New Zealand as we have over here. I hope that New Zealand will try and pick up this concert. We commence broadcasting at 8 o’clock, normal time, and I shall be glad to hear if anyone has been, successful in picking up the. concert.”

Later a copy-of the programme, released as one of the “Empire Phono Flights,” was received. It commenced with a brief verbal description of a trip through New Zealand, from Auckland to Invercargill (taking in Rotorua and Taranaki). This was followed by a message from the ’ Prime Minister of New Zealand (Hon. J. G. Coates) into a foreword prepared by Sir James Allen. Then came numbers bearing on New Zealand, in three phases, (1) old New Zealand (1642-1709), (2) To-day—the Lauding of the Immigrant, and (3) The Great Thermal Region of Rotorua. The programme then read: Song, “Kawate,” Hikiroa; lament, “Tangi,” A Hill; romance, “E moe te ra,” Hikeroa; song, “Merc,” D’Oreen; song, '■Alaori Flute,” D’Oreen; slumber song, “Iliene e Hiene,” Te Rangi Pai; chant, “Aroako o te Rangi,” Kaihatt; song, “A Maori Legend,” Hill; song, “Pelorus Jack,”, Rivers; song, “Kiwi,” Rivers. The fourth phase of the Flight was a description of that piscatorial wonder, “Pelorus Jack,” the pilot dolphin of the French Pass; the fifth phase was a sketch entitled “The Alaori,” by Halbert Tatlock, the scene of which is the Canterbury Plains; and the sixth phase was “The Caledonia of the South Island,” with Air. H. F. B. Drew as guide. The reference to Old New Zealand” was the recital of John Liddell Kellv’s poem of that name. Though it is over a month since the above concert was given, it would still be interesting to learn if Any listenersin picked up the programme or any part , thereof. It was broadcasted on a 420 metres wavelength Should such success have been achieved, Messrs. Begg and Co. would like to hear of it.