"TRAVELS OF A FRENCH PIANIST IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8934, 19 July 1892, Page 6

"TRAVELS OF A FRENCH PIANIST IN NEW ZEALAND

Writing under this heading in Le Courrier Australien, a French journal published in Sydney, M. Henri Kowalski, the wellknown pianist, contributes some notes of his recent visit to Mew Zealand. Dr. Davy has sent a translation of these articles. M. Kowalski thus quaintly tells of a first night's performance, and the anxiety of the artist as to what the critics shall say about him : —

The warm reception, the bravos, and enthusiasm of a new public not in the least satiated; a picked assemblage of lovers of art, who need no convincing, have a singular effect on that delicate fibre, of which I nave already spoken, and there is hatched in the heart of the artist a joy. a holy joy of triumph, while it impregnates his whole being with a sort of overflowing and communicative intoxication. But when it is all over, the curtain has fallen, and the lights put out, he finds himself alone on the pavement in the street out in the cold night— poetry becomes prose; and he thinks of the morrow (that to-morrow which is so slow in coming): he becomes uneasy, his heart throbs, his joy cools; he wanders through the street, or seeks to soothe himself and wait for that terrible tomorrow, which will either bring him a consecration of his success, or break the back of his reputation in the columns of a newspaper. At the hour when the newspapers issue, still wet from the kisses of the press, follow him as he takes his morning walk. With rapid steps he covers the ground leading to the printing-house, and possesses himself of the first copy, opens it with feverish haste; and devours it with his eyes in the street by the shimmering glare of the street lamp, or the dawn of the new-born day. If the article praises, he smiles ; if it be tepid, he protests; if it be cold, he is indignant; if icy he rolls himself up, and piles insults of a personal character upon the head of the unhappy critic, who, without doubt, is always unjust in allowing himself to find fault with the good taste of the public !

But M. Kowalski gratefully adds that he and those travelling with him were not so treated, for " the Press covered us with flowers." A walk in the street gives him an opportunity to discuss thus of what he calls " the mob" :—

The mob in New Zealand resembles that of other countries. However, it may be allowed me to state that it listens patiently to the music of the Salvation Army, and to the claptrap of the inspired prophet who delivers his perorations by torchlight upon the beauties of his strong-box religion, open to discussion as they are. The populace of Auckland is, however, under bettor control than that of Australia, and the policeman, the accepted representative of a just and equitable legislation, is able to obey _ his orders at every hour of the day or night without risk of being mauled or stoned.

The writer, visiting the Art Gallery, proceeds:—

I must recognise that the canvases and I curiosities which are exhibited there in- . terested me in the highest degree. The paintings belong for the most part to the mediaeval schools of Italy, Holland, and Flauders. That they are excellent contemporaneous replicas, and might, were it nor for certain faults, be taken for originals, might be said without paradox. There are also in the glass cas_-s some magnificent enamels, chased watches, and damascened arms of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, worthy to figure in the Sauvagest Collection museum in the Louvre. And how did these treasures of art come to New Zealand? Placards inform me that a number of these curiosities and canvases were presented to the Museum by Sir George Grey, ex-Governor of the colony. The name of this generous donor arrests my glance, and gives me an opportunity of sketching one of the most powerful and. sympathetic individualities which exist on this side of the globe. Froude, the tourist author, in his book. " Oceana," says that Sir George Grey is the most interesting figure in New Zealand. It is certain that on examining the career of this octogenarian, in which blends that of Garibaldi, Kossuth, and Livingstone, as statesman, intrepid explorer, patriot, and patron of the arts and sciences, it may be recognised that on many occasions he relieved his country of financial embarrassments, and substituted security for calamity. Let us reverence this eminent man, who will leave behind him in the new history of Australasia the memory of a great character and 'a great name. If as a philanthropist, he was, and remains, the friend of the Maoris, the first occupants of the country; as a loyal British subject he is seen in the front rank of the combatants when half a century before our time the aboriginals attempted by force of arms to obstruct the progress of civilisation in the colony. If with one hand he strikes, with the other he dresses the wounds, and seeks by his words to staunch the flow of blood. While acting as Governor of the colony he organised for its defence the military forces, elaborated a scheme for a liberal constitution, strove against , the monopoly of property in land, and exhibited ideas of so progreseive a character that the Colonial Office in London, dismayed at tendencies harmonising so little with the submissive conduct of a subordinate, replaced him by another Governor. A long time before Australasia had a population sufficiently numerous to think of establishing its autonomy, Sir George Grey talked of Federation of the Pacific Islands, the precursor, perhaps involuntary, of a separation which to day seems to be the watchword of Australians. Between Sir George Grey and the peoples who work to make of this Australasia a homogeneous nation, united, free in its destinies, strengthened by a complete political independence. There is a mysterious treaty of alliance.

M. Kowalski writes of a visit to Mr. Steele's studio, where he saw the picture representing the capture of Starlight. He goes on to say : —

New Zealand possesses a nursery garden for water-colour painters of the first rank. This is not wonderful in a country which has the most beautiful effects of light which it is possible to conceive.

The writer discusses the Maoris and their decadence, and from that subject turns to gold-mining, pointing out that the mineral riches of New Zealand are immense and varied.