An Interview with Te Rangi Pal.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8195, 23 May 1906, Page 8

An Interview with Te Rangi Pal.

I The return id 'IV Htrjgi I'fti ittrn | Jlmvie) 10. ■ tli*?. colony after.; h«r triumphal tour through the Home Land hftn aroused such widespread interest that a Stasp.ihd reporter, da being afforded. nn opportunity lo have an interview with., her yesterday* fi'adly availed himself of the privilege. It wns also fait that ,#om« particular# respecting her career would be acceptable to readers at this tunc, seeing tbut 10-night and to-morrow evening the re.-sident# of thin district will have an opportunity of bearing one who has been acclaimed by the press of England as one of the world's greatest contraltos. The pressman was introduced to Mrs How ie at her rooms at the Club Hotel, whore she has taken up her quarter# during her stay in Palmcrston. On being informed of the object of the vixit Mrs Howie very graciously afforded the following dcinita a* to her movements since she first came before the public of ]S*tnv Zealand fi« a singer. It was in Kelson where this event took place, Mrs Howie subsequently removing to Chrititcburch. In this latter city she became well and favourably known, not only for her beautiful contralto voice, hut also for her willingness to assist in all charitable efforts. One of her first professional engagements was with Mr K. 8. Says he, well known in these colonies, during which she travelled throughout Australasia, with the Kev. Charles Clarke, the eminent orator. Six yearn ago, acting on the advice of her friends, she decided to go Home. There she met with almost instantaneous success, the way in which she *' caught on " with the audiences being most remarkable, Our reporter was shown a press notice of one of her first appearances in England, at which «he was associated with many eminent end wellknown artists, including Mis# Ada Crossley. Mrs Howie pointed with pardonable pride to tb© record of tho fact tbat, of all that galaxy of stars, she was the only one to receive an encore. She attributed j her popularity at Home in no small I measure to the fact that she earn© from this colony, in which she found that | very groat interest was taken. Included in her programmes there she was able to present a great number of Maori song*, ! many of which were of her own composition. Our reporter ascertained that of all the products of her facile pen none met with such succcbs as M Hine e Mine," a plaintive and charming Maori i slumber song, Mrs Howie a'so before the Kiug and Queen on several occasions, other members of the lioyal family likewise being present. In conversation with their Majesties she found that they both had a feeling of deep interest in the progress of thi*, the most remote of the British colonies. As is perhaps generally known Mrs Howie comes from Gisborne. Her father is Colonel Porter, and her late mother was the chiefwtiuess of her tribe, Mrs Howie, being the eldest child. Te liangi Pai, as perhaps -he would prefer to be called, is very proud of her descent, and when appearing in public always wears the hula feather in her jet black hair. It is interesting to note that one of her feathers, on which she sets great store, was given to her by the late Major ; Kemp. Questioned as to the meaning of her name, she said that perhaps the j nearest equivalent to it in English was "cloudless sky." Her name in full is ' Te Kangi i Paia, but in common usage j it was shortened to Te Kangi Pat for | the sake, perhaps, of convenience. In reply to queries us to her reception since she returned to Xew Zealand, she said she had been very gratified with the enthusiasm she had been met with. There was one thing which had occurred in Dunedin, however, which had disappointed her very much. This was that it was the only place in which she had failed to receive an encore for "Home, Sweet Home," as this number was," in the general way, always recalled. Te liangi Pai proposes to remain in thin colony for only a month more, af;er which she will proceed to tour Australia. Thence she will journey to England by way of America. In the former place a series of engagements with a big musical syndicate awaits her. Pressure on our space alone prevents a recital of the many amusing experiences Te Kangi Pai his met with while on her tours, they in-my sufficient, as .she says, " to ill! a bouu,"