"A SCRAPE O' THE PEN.

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 789, 13 August 1915, Page 21

"A SCRAPE O' THE PEN.

Madame Melba., the famous Australian diva, was passing through Auckland on Monday last eoi route by the s.s. Makura for Canada and the United States. She is a thorough-going patriot, and so needed very litltle persuasion to boocm a patriotic concert in the Auckland Town Hall by going on the stage to auction some of, her own "Patriotic Gift-Books." She went to the show with ithe Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson) and the Mayoress, and during the interval a local auctioneer v —an to take bids for a number of Melba's autographed ' 'Gift Books'' in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, when someone in the hall suggested' that the diva should "mount the rostrum" herself.

No ,50 oner said than done. Melba promptly went on to the platform. "I hope you will help me to do something for our beloved soldiers,' 5 she appealed. A member of the audience hid. £5 for the book on offer. "Hurray," ejaculated the singer, handing the volume to its new owner. Then the Mayor, Mr. J. H.. Gunson, secured a copy of the work for £10. In offering the next, Melba declared that she felt shy in selling her own wares.' "However," -she said, "as my _ clergyman calls me /the Empress of Pickpockets,' I must live up to the title. Are there any rich men (here? There must be. Auckland looks so prosperous. Are there any mineowners , sold or coal, or any racing men? I'll take anybody's money—even a thief's. Give me a sporting offer for this book. It is a good book. I wrote it myself. £5 p Hurray. Sold \ another." By ten minutes of this persuasive talk Melba had extracted £36 from the audience, and had added £5 of her own money for a volume which _ she presented to a soldier in khaki sitting in the fronrfc row;.

Mr. E. D. ,o'Rorke, son of Sir Maurice O'Rorke, and once well known as Teddv O'Rorke, wlien he was bill reader at the House of Representatives—-that was prior to his marriage to Miss "Rhodes- —is judfc now taking- an active interest in the war. He is attached to the Remount Department, and lias charge of the depots in and around London. His second son. Second Lieutenant D. C. O'Rorke, Bang's Royvl •Rifles, who was_ wounded 1 .in Anril throuerh the bursting of a- shell, has recovered, and returned to the firing-line with, his general, to whom he is gallops er. Twice since then hie, has been ' 'gassed," but is about again Another son. Second 'Lieutenant Maurice O'Rorke, js in the 12th Lancers. The young O'Rorkes, like their- father, are both good horsemen.

"The Soldier," the latest patriotic song craze, is to be played by the Sixth Reinforcements' military band on their public parade to-morrow (Saturday). It is a fine march song, and should be heard to advantage.

To be produced by the Graham Moffat Company at the Grand Opera, House on Saturday. August 21st.