THE PHONOGRAPH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 2687, 29 March 1894, Page 2

THE PHONOGRAPH.

There was a good attendance at the ' . phonographic concert given in tbe Town ' ', Hall on Wednesday evening, and—thy^.^entertaioment proved an excellent.' one. ; Tbe instrument is by far tbe best that b&i,, ever been beard in Hawera, tbe records being produced londly and clearly, acd ,„ tbe wqrds of songs being quite audible. After eiving a short, interesting resume of tbe career of Mr Edison; the inventor, Mr Halcombe produced reaords of vocal solos, quartettes, songs and dances, crcbeshal and band selections, and humorous pieces, all of which were loudly applauded, and in one or two instances had to be repeated. A record was given in the Maori language, spoken into the instrument during the day by Mr H. M. Stoweli; and tbie was brought ont with great fidelity. Mr :- Halcombe invited tbe Hawera Band to play into the phonograph, and tbe eelec "

tion played was reproduced moet accurately.- Added to the lotxdness of tbe instrument, tbe records given are all firstclass items ; go that in addition to bearing / tbe wonderful instrument the audience are treated to a conoert of a high order, including items by some of America's best musicians. At the close of the entertain* ment, a large number pf persons remained to hear the records direct from tbe fcnbeß. Tbe phonograph will be again exhibited this evening, wben those desirous of hear, ing the best instrument that has yet been round should not miss the opportunity ofbeing present.

In bis lecture on the phonograph, Mr Halcombe mentioned several remarkable purposes to which the invention is being put. One is that a teacher of languages ' speaks a lesson into tbe instrument, and then having a " record " can' let fthe - machinery go and din the lesßon intd thi students as often as may be neoessary for their due instruction without farther exertion on his part. Overworked teachers with dull classes will appreoiali tbe practical value of snob an applioationi Another instance given of the use of tbe ' maobine was that of ao American prof fessor wbo was getting op a lecture on one of tbe Indian communities and took : tbe phonograph to the people's country/ | and obtained •• records " ot their manner of»speech. Still another was tbe device of tbf maater of a labour trading vessel in the ■ Paoific. Finding it difficult to get reoroitt, '' owing to their doubt as to what had become of those wbo had gone before and bad not returned, the enterprising Bkipper - bethought himself ol the phonograph, and, ' taking the instrument to tbe plantations, induced some islanders to speak into it ■■ the story of their treatment and how well tbey enjoyed life. Tbe " records " were taken to tbe islands, and a photograph of tbe absent frienior relative, seoonded b%' the reproduction of his voice in telling hit ' own tale, was sufficient to remove dread ' of a trip to parts unknown. We did not oatoh whether Mr Halcombe voucbedfpr. the accuracy of tht last story, but in any*' case it is suggestive of possible future developments.