A SECOND MOZART.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 548, 2 February 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

A SECOND MOZART.

Some months ago Australian musical circles were greatly excited by the extraordinary performances on the piano of a six-year-old child named Ernest Hutehcnson. who soon became better known as the ' : Australian MoKart," Amongst those who took special interest in the boy was the well-known art-critic Mr James Smith, who, it will be remembered, lectured in Dunedin a few years ago : and it is stated that the eminent Spiritualist uiidoubtingly believes that young Hutciienson is no other than th.e great Mozart re-incarnated. When Mr. Ic. S. Smythe returned to Melbourne from England last August. Mr. Smith brought the ' ; infant Mozart" under the notice of •'• the most travelled manager" as a genius who only wanted to lie properly brought out to create a world-wide sensation. Being associated in business with the Rev. Charles Clark, Mr. Smytlic was not in a position to comply with Mr. Smith's wishes: but, having recently heard most of the musical prodigies in the Old and the New World, including the famous slave pianist, " Blind Tom," ho went to hear Ernest Hutchenson. He came away from the recital firmly convinced that the boy was the greatest musical wonder of the age. As such he recommended him to the care of the favourite vocalist Miss Christian, who is as wellknown in Australia for her kind heart and charitable disposition as for her charming singing. At the same time, out of consideration for the child's tender years, Mr. Smythe strongly advised that he should be kept from performing in public for at least twelve months. This wise counsel the parents agreed to follow ; but it was not long before serious differences arose on the point. The father, who is a blacksmith by trade, believed that his gifted boy was worth a king's ransom, and there seemed to be some danger of the goose being killed for the sake of its golden eggs ; the mother,, on the other hand, objected to engagements being made for the child, and wished the harmonious blacksmith to return to his anvil. The quarrels between the parents now became so violent that they separated, and then commenced the struggle as to who should have possession of this new Ginx's baby. Mr. Hutciienson, having given the child his musical training, considered that, outside any legal claim he might have, this fact entitled him to its custody ; and in the exercise of this right it was rumoured that he intended to take the child to San Francisco for the purpose of letting him to Barnnm or some other Yankee speculator. The fear of losing her " marvellous boy" caused the mother the most poignant grief : and in the end, her maternal affection overcoming shame and all other considerations, she confessed to Miss Christian that the child was illegitimate. This avowal completely changed the situation. Miss Christian, who from the first had

done her best to prevent the child's faculties from being over-strained, and to carry out her benevolent intention had advanced a considerable sum of money to the Hutchenson's, determined to prevent the child from being ruined by the father's unnatural greed. After consulting a solicitor, she persuaded the mother to apply for a writ of habeas corpua, directing the father to produce the child before a judge in chambers. On the 11th inst. the case came on for hearing before the Chief Justice. In the course of his affidavit, the father made the following extraordinary statement : —"That, although only six years and a half old, the child before the Court could play the violin, accordion, pianoforte, and organ. He could sing and compose music, and he has composed 1.5 compositions of a lengthened character. When four years and nine months old he could play on the piano upwards of 300 compositions, and could now answer any question of harmony." In giving his decision, Sir William Stawell held that the child, being illegitimate, the motherwars the 'person entitled tp its legal custody, and'the child was accordingly surrendered by the father to the mother, Rosina Brown,

It i» stated that, aftej? a short tour, Miss Christian intends to send the Australian Mozart to England, that his musical education may be finished at the Royal Academy of Music, of which institution the accomplished vocalist was a pupil. It is only just to add that in her efforts on the child's behalf Miss Christian was warmly supported by the liev. TJ. Long, a Uhuroh of England clergyman, living near Melbourne,