The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 795, 29 October 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. TUESDAY , OCTOBER 29, 1878.

Not much more than a year ago Mr. Bracken, proprietor and editor of the wellknown weekly newspaper the Saturday Advertiser, wrote the words of a New Zealand National.; Anthem, and offered a prize for the best melody adapted to the same There were several attempts on the part oi colonial musicians to win the prize, not sc much for its sake as to have the honor oi being the composer of a national hymn foi New Zealand. The tunes were referred foi judgment to Messieurs Siede and Zeplin, and, we believe another, whose names are well known in the colonies as being those oi musicians of great ability. These gentlemen decided in favor of a composition by £ Mr. Wood, of Otago, and it is Mr. Wood s harmony that has lately caused so much discord in the House of Representatives betweer Sir George Grey and Mr. Fitzroy. The Premier is desirous of having the Antheir universally adopted as the notional hymn oi the Colony, and is a strong advocate for its introduction into the Government schools Mr. Fitzkoy, on the other hand, seems tc hold the view that to carry out such an ide£ would savor strongly of disloyalty, anc ironically asks the Premier when it is con templated to declare the independence of tin Colony, a question which Sir Geoegi Grey very properly refused to answer No valid objection could be urged t( the adoption - of the Anthem in oui schools, provided it were worthy of sue! distinction. Its use would not mean tin disuse of the grand old words and tun* which are known as the National Anthen of Great Britain, and which are seldom o: never sung without sending a patriotic thnl through the heart of every Briton withii hearing. There is no reason why we shoulc not have a national hymn adapted to ou: circumstances—a special prayer for ourselye: as an integral portion of agreat empire—whils we could still sing the anthem which invoke: a ble-sing upon the sovereign and nation t( which we belong. Mr. Fitzroy's suspicioi that anyone desires to supersede the Nationa Anthem of Great Britain by introducing Mr Bracken's, savours more of oppositioi to Sir George Grey and exaggerated loyaltj than anything else. The words are beautiful and the only objection that could possibly be raised to its adoption in the Schools of th< Colony is, the tune is about as commonplaci as it is possible for music to be. Had note: been indiscriminately showered upon blanl music paper, the result could scarcely hav< ' been worse. It is unworthy of a first • class nursery rhyme, much less of word: such as those of Mr. Brackex If we are going to adopt a hymn as a na tional one, let us choose something in whicl there is some harmony between words anc • music—some meaning—and not a " sing song" ditty that compares unfavorably witl ' the multitude of songs that are pubhshec now-a-days for the sake of making a fey coppers out of them. There are hundred! ' of thousands of suchsougs as theNewZealanc National Anthem that only see the light o ' day when they are consigned to shelves, t( meet the fate of old stock. Whilst fullj recognising the excellence of the authorities! who have given Mr. Wood the palm for hi; tune, we take leave to think that it i< totally unfit for a national melody, and thai r if it is the best the rest must have been vers ' bad. The adoption of a melody that will be ' handed down to people yet unborn as tin " national melody of the country—that will n I ages to come perhaps be sung as that song o; songs, the National Anthem of Great Britain, ia now sung—is a matter that should not be treated lightly. Why ? hould w ? mt - if ~ wi are going to have a national hymn at all 3 have one that will bear some eomparisoi a with the national hymns of other countries : that will inspire us with reverence anc patriotism when we sing it, and not induce feelings of uneasiness and indevotion on ac ) count of not only the absence of sympathj of the music with the words, but their abso lute variance one with the other. We see no objection, as we have previously said, tc i the adoption of words to be sung in oui 3 schools such as those of Mr. Bracken, provided that there are no religious objections : but we should be sorry to see such words permanently wedded to such a tune, Whilst we applaud 'Sir George Grey for his adi miration of the words of the anthem, we , cannot compliment him upon his judgment I with regard to the music.