‘GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND'

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 15

‘GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND'

OUR ANTHEM AND ITS COMPOSER John J. Woods, of Lawrence, Otago, judged by the three records he has to his credit, is a man of note (writes “ Uramao,” in the ‘ Auckland Star’). On Friday, January 16, for the first time in New Zealand, the freedom of a county was bestowed on a resident of the dominion by a New Zealand local body, the recipient of this distinction being John J. Woods, on his retirement from the position of clerk for the Tuapeka County after fifty-five years’ service, this constituting a record. Meritorious as is the achievement in length of service, Mr Wood’s claim to fame will undoubtedly rest on the fact that his name will ever be enshrined with that of Thomas Bracken as one of the two men responsible for New Zealand’s National Anthem, which will come into its own some day when its lofty sentiments and music setting are rightly assessed. It is claimed on behalf of Mr Woods that he is the only living composer of a national anthem. ‘ God Defend New Zealand,’ written by Thomas Bracken, was set to music by Mr Woods. The setting was the result of a competition held in 1876. Mr John J. Wood* was a young schoolmaster of musical tastes who lived at Lawrence at the time. Sensing that tho anthem would he sung by congregations, public assemblages, anl school children Mr Woods directed his labours to that end. That his intuition was right he had the satisfaction of realising when the three eminent judges, without collaboration, each awarded first prize to Mr Woods’s c(imposition. As an additional evidence of success Thomas Bracken said that the sentiment could not have been more vividly imparted to his anthem than by the music of the successful composer. The poet conveyed by deed the copyright of music and words to Mr Woods. It is a matter for regret that our National Anthem is seldom heard, but that its lofty patriotism, its spirited appeal for toleration, and its breathing love of country, apart from its inspiring musical setting, is appreciated far beyond the confines of the country and of the people it was designed glorify is to state a fact. By command of Queen Victoria a copy of the anthem was lodged at Buckingham Palace, and was played by naval bands at Home years ago. At.the Scout Jamboree in England in 1929 Chief Scout Lord Baden-Powell was greatly struck by the singing of i God Defend New Zealand 1 in Maori by the dominion representatives at that great assemblage of youth. Another incident may be related to show that New Zealand’s National Anthem has honour a long way into far countries. In 1927 a Dunedin business man touring Europe found himself in Rome one day when a musical celebration of some kind had attracted an enormous attendance. During the proceedings the band played the national anthem of his cvn remote country. Immediately he sprang to his feet, the solo representative of New Zealand. The astonishment of the conductor was equal to that of the lonely New Zealander. He sent for him when the performance terminated, and, through an interpreter, made inquiries regarding the writer of the words and the composer of the musical setting. Tho United States is familiar with our anthem, and some time ago it was heard in New Zealand from a broadcasting station in Chicago. Peter Dawson, a visitor to these shores last year, had made it widely known per medium of the gramophone.