IMPRESSIONS OF THE TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15185, 3 July 1911, Page 3

IMPRESSIONS OF THE TOUR.

A MEMBER INTERVIEWED. (From Our Own CoiiREsroNDENT.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 1. Miss Evelyn Scagcr was the first member of the Sheffield Choir to arrive in Christchurch. She was able to obtain leave of absence from the Wellington season 60 that she might visit her uncle, Mr J. H. Seager, of this city. The choir's journey, said Miss Scagcr to a, Press representative, had been a succession of receptions. It had given the first concert of the tour at St. Johns on the 24th March. During the next few weeks it had suffered much from the weather. It had driven to its first concert in sledges through the snow. Going south into the United States it had been nearly killed by the heat. By April 6 it was back at Winnipeg in a " cold snap," Concerning audiences, Miss Scagcr could not discriminate, for it could not he said that anyone was more enthusiastic than any other. More than once in the United States thoy had opened their concerts bysinging the American National Anthem, and afterwards they had been asked to conclude their programme by singing the British National Anthem. Little courtsies of that sort were not unusual. While, they were in the States in many towns the halls in which they sang and the hotels at which tlioy stayed were decorated with tlie J'tal-whitc-ajid'-blue Union Jacks.

In the matter of American bustle they had been disappointed. American and Canadian audiences had been very dilatory in coining to the concerts. They might be advertised to commence at 8.15 or B.3oj)tit it would.be..9 o'clock before they actually commenced,, and, in' consequence, the choir itself slackened a little in punctuality. At lirisbanc all were reminded that 9 o'clock meant 9 o'clock. Personally she believed that the choir had fulfilled its mission so far. Wherever it had been it had seen and heard evidences of musical activity, which had teen stirred by its approach. There had always been crowds to see them off, and at each place where they had stopped they had been told that their stay had been too short. Incidentally, the members of the choir had learnt much about the Empire and their kindred of the oversea dominions. On being asked as to travelling, Miss Seager said it was a great record that such a journey should have been accomplished by so many people with so little sickness. Only once had a member of the choir to be left behind through illness. That was in Winnipeg, and she had' rejoined the others at Vancouver. Tne choir carried its own doctor, and in the chorus there were three nurses. New Zealand t was the first country in which they had" been invited to be the guests of private individuals, and it was a compliment that they all appreciated. They had been told to be prepared for a very high standard of musical excellence in Australasia. Tho day that they landed in Brisbane they heard a. choir sing, and were able to form their own opinions. They had heard other choirs since then, and had often been surprised at, the good quality of their work. They had been very much surprised at the excellence of the 'New Zealand orchestra, which would compare well with any that they had heard in Australia, and she herself considered it the equal of any body of players that could be got together in an English provincial town.