MEMOIRS OF A MUSICIAN

Southland Times, Issue 18963, 9 June 1923, Page 7

MEMOIRS OF A MUSICIAN

(By

“Eupho.”)

PART XVI. He was as old as old could be, His little eye could scarcely see His mouth was sunken in between, His nose and chin, and he was lean And twisted up and withered quite, So that he could not walk aright. His pipe was always going out, And then he’d have to search about In all his pockets, and he’d mow —O, deary me! and, musha now! And then he’d light his pipe, and then He’d let it go clean out again. He could not dance or jump or run, Or ever have a bit of fun Like me and Susan, when we shout And jump and throw ourselves about: But when he laughed then you could see He was as young as young could be. —James Stephens. Welcome 1894, and on January 2 the ! Caledonian Society staged that Scottish play j from Sir Walter, the wizard of the north, i “The Heart of Mid-Lothian.” In the cast ' were Messrs Geddes, D. Bissett, McKellar, J. Aitken, A. McKillop, Mesdames Ritchie Brown and others. A Convent concert was held in January 16 when the City Guards Band assisted. Songs were rendered by Mr J. E. Taylor, and Mrs Murphy, a cornet solo by Alex. Lithgow, song with obbligato on violin by Mr W. J. Ferguson, Mr E. B. McKay being the vocalist. Mr Peter Dunn gave a concertina solo, and there was a duet by the Misses Hishon, and Kirwan. Tom Anthony and Mr Mulligan rlso appeared, and Miss Kirwan was accompanist. It was a programme of the first class. Mrs Towler Gambling advertised voice-produc-tion on January 23. Her husband, Mr Towler Gambling advertised voice-produc-town for many years. He was a real humorist. The Palmer Beaumont. Company appeared on January 29, 30 and 31. Mrs Palmer was a singer, and Mr Armes Beaumont was also a vocalist. Maggie Stirling was with this company, and John Lemmone, the flautist, who has been associated with music generally and the flute in particular for a great number of years. Was he not Melba’s manager when she toured the Dominion? Needless to say this was a concert company very much above the average. A harp was played exceedingly well by a member of the party. On February 13 “Harbour Lights” was presented by the Spong Dramatic Company, Miss Hilda Spong being an accomplished actress. A Caledonian Society Concert on February 20 introduced the usual soloists. Messrs W. Quin, E. R. Godward, Kenny Cameron, Jack Waugh, Bob Jenkins and Phil Mohr are a few names of performers just emerging into the limelight. The LADS., or in plain English, the Irish Amateur Dramatic Society, staged a drama on March 14 and 15. The players were the Misses Kane, K. Cavanagh, Bradley, Hishon and Messrs Watty Smith, Tom Anthony, “Eph.” McKay, Tom Mclnerney and others. Tom Anthony was business manager; D. Bradley, scenic artist; Daddy Richards, stage manager, and Alex. Ferguson, musical director. On April 21 a benefit was given to Alex Lithgow when practically every musician in the town came to help their gifted associate. The Fausts appeared again on May 5 with a decidedly entertaining programme, and Charlie Hugo with his minstrels held the boards for May 10, 11, and 12. A Wesleyan concert on May 16 has the following names: Mrs Rigg, Misses Towler Gambling, Nicholas, B. Organ, and Messrs A. F. Grenfell, J. Hensley, D. Blue, F. J. Lillicrap and Phil Mohr. A series of P.O.P. concerts were started on May 30, and ran for some time. It was later I think that the P.0.P.8 made a more definite stand, and assisted by strolling professionals carried on sixpenny concerts in the theatre for months on and off. Charlie Griffin, and Tom Newall were jugglers, E. R. Godward and Ted Monckton were banjoists, Frank Booth was a descriptive vocalist, and used to bring down the house with Chas. Godfrey’s songs, and “Little Jack Crawford” who like a true sailor boy, nailed his colours to the mast. By the way Godfrey visited this town on his own on one occasion and sang a whole programme himself with items like “Just-a-Little—not too Much You Know, but just a Little,” to “My Old Dutch.” On May 29 there was an orchestral Union concert, but no new talent was forthcoming. At a concert on June 8 items were given by Messrs E. R. Godward, W. J. Ferguson, P. Mohr, F. McDonald, F. Raymond and Mrs Blue, while Mrs Mohr was accompanist. De Vere Sapio and Madame Camilla Urso, vocalists, appeared on June 12, 13, and 14. At a Friendly Society’s benefit Bertie Black, Nellie Black, Ted Godward, Bob Jenkins, and others performed. The Rev. John Ferguson, of First Church, and later of St. Stephens, Sydney, lectured on Robert Burns on June 27 when songs by that writer were sung, Misses Innes Scotland) and Geddes being the vocalists. John Ferguson, the “Reverend John,” who hailed from the Milton district, was of Scottish descent and was an enthusiastic admirer of the ploughman poet. He was probably the most popular preacher this town ever possessed and the church would be crowded to overflowing almost every Sunday evening. Ferguson was a large man with a straight-out-irom-thc-shoulder delivery, and he was never guilty of even notes when giving a sermon. He was always out and about, and would attend football matches and mix up with the rowdiest barrackers. His experiences were utilised in sermons and public speeches. A man of remarkable personality and oratorical gifts, he was. besides a born actor, and it was this histrionic ability which stood him in good stead. He was never at a loss, and when taken aback would generally upset his opponent by a quotation from Robert Burns. His influence in the town was remarkable, and it was said that his word was as good as law in certain semi-official circles. On one occasion a deputation visited Mr Ferguson with a complaint in regard to himself, they did not agree with some action he had taken. They were influential men, men whose word would have some weight in most places—in I high places in fact. Well, that deputation was a failure from its own point of view —it made no headway at all. When 1 questioned afterwards about the business, the Rev. John said laughingly: “Oh! Oh! . they came in like liens, but they went, out I like sucking doveG, sucking doves!” Mr I Ferguson had spent some time at college in Scotland, and his love for the land of his I fathers was deep rooted. He had all the j Scots patriotism and flair. When called to ! St. Stephens, Sydney, after a brilliantly successful ministry here, he made quite an (impression in Australia, and became Moderator of the General Assembly. The late Sir Geo. Reid, of eye glass and “Hop” fame, was a member of his church and I preacher and politician became fast friends. It is said that Sir Geo. was able to stop a party of revellers who were dangerously encroaching on the “past midnight” of Saturday evening, by saying, “What would the Reverend John think of this?” Being a strict Sabbatarian and puritan, the Rev. J. would not think much of it. Mr Ferguson spent 13 years in Invercargill, leaving here in 1893. I he Rev. Robert Ferguson, a later minister of First Church, was no relation to the former. That Mr Ferguson could be direct is shown by a story which involves an old Scotch lady who stood out solidly against instrumental music in the shape of an organ being introduced into First Church. She attacked the preacher from all sides without success and at last fired the big gun by saying, “Well, if you get in the organ, I’ll leave the church.” Quickly Mr Ferguson replied, “I’d be sorry, but you won’t be missed.” The organ came in, and the old lady remained. The first organists were honorary, the duties being divided between the brothers George and Jack L. McG. Watson. Mr Will Quin was a member of the choir, besides his brothers Walter, a fine baritone, Tom, and Jim. Tom died some years ago but both Walter and Jim are in Australia I believe. Mr Robert Erskine of the Southland Building Society led the choir. The Rev. John Ferguson was a man who would have been a success in any walk of life and in any

age. He was audacious, and resourceful, and not afraid to be himself. A less confident man could never have “got away with it” as he did, and personality was his chief claim to recognition. Put his preachments into cold print and I fear they would not be particularly impressive. But to hear him deliver a sermon was quite a different thing altogether. He knew what to say and how to say it, and he never seemed to be anything else but an out-and-out enthusiast. He got right down to the people he wished to help, and was a social force for good. The Choral Union with 140 persons gave Mendelssohn’s “Hymn of Praise” and other compositions on May 17 and 18, when Mr Chas. Gray conducted. Walter Bentley played a six nights’ season, commencing on July 24 when the two most popular plays were “The Silver King,” and “The Silence of Dean Maitland.” Bentley was a real barnstormer, and if his supports were gathered up here, there and everywhere, and lacked the star’s enthusiasm, you could always depend on a fairly good show, and often get a laugh where none Was intended. Walter Bentley took himself seriously, dreadfully seriously, a fault not always confined to actors, for do we not often find it in politicians, musicians, artists, journalists, and business men. But very few could give Walter a start in that line. Phil. Newbury and Madame Spada bring their concert company along on August 2 and 3. But Phil is the “It,” and his silvery tenor voice brightens all the well-known tenor songs and makes them worth listening too. “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes” for instance. Phil and his wife are quite well-known here, and gave concerts just prior to the war period. “The Ticket of Leave Man” was played by local amateurs on August 22 and 23 as a benefit to a band about to compete in the local contest. Right through these notes, you will run across this sort of thing, and it suggests a tremendous amount of money spent in getting bands to compete: whether it is justified or not I will not say, but the results seem hardly to warrant it. That is my opinion only, haphazard, at that, but I may be right after all. There was another Orchestral Union concert on August 29. “The Children in the Woods,” an operetta, staged on September 13 and 17 was nicely produced. Instrumental items were given during the evening by the Misses Nellie and Elsie Black, and Master Bertie Black. The Invercargill Band Contest was held on September 11, 12 and 13, and the town for about a week was a place of red coats and formidable helmets. Kahki had not arrived as a fashion, and all bands were in some sort military bands, or attempted to be so. Anyhow, it was a gay week, and everybody seemed to be highly pleased. We don’t cut so big a swathe to-day, do we? A Cadzou concert on October 24 introduced the well-known person of that name, and the local Alex. Lithgow and Miss Morrison, the latter a teacher of the piano here, who took part in most of the operas. She was quite a good actress. The Choral Union appeared again on October 26, but no new names appear on the programme. Miss Jeannie Ramsay has a benefit on November 15 when besides herself, Messrs J. E. Taylor, Wattie Smith, Dan Blue, Frank Lillicrap and Jack Glennie assisted. The accompanists were the Misses Lithgow and Little. Jack Glennie, who died some years ago in the North Island, was a first class cornet soloist, and at one time was conductor of the City Band. He was much in demand and his triple-tonguing was a treat to listen to. He left Invercargill to take over the Waihi band, and later resided in Wellington. A concert to raise money for the Wairarapa Wreck Fund took place on November 18, An Italian concert company appeared on November 22 when Signor Alfred Borzoni received a splendid hearing. A company played “The Merchant of Venice” and other Shakespearean plays about this time. But old Shylock seemed to come in for the most popularity. Pollard’s Liliputians appeared again on November 23 and the six following nights. Th6re were 60 in the company. The operas included “The Gondoliers,” “La Mascotte,” “Les Cloches de Corneville,” etc. The artists were the Misses Marion Mitchell, Maud and May Beatty, Lily Mowbray, Nellie Foord, Lily Stephens, Cissy Sandford, C. Palmer, Maggie Neale, Nellie Wilson, Edith Zeigler, Emily Metcalfe, Q. Nable and Masters Geo. Young, W. S. Percy, Alf Stevens, Harry Queally and E. Lovel. Mr H. T. Harrison was musical director and Mr Tom Pollard producer. Mr Duval was advance agent. Old names, old memories! This was not so much a visiting company as a glimpse of youth and beauty. A faery world which the real world would fain have imitated. Pollard’s stood for a kind of rite, there was no company before or since to compare with it. It struck a sort of psychological atmosphere and flowered in that atmosphere like daffodils in spring. Marion Mitchell, Maud Beatty, and their pretty satellites were a promise of beauty, of hope, of all the glamour of a new age—a new life. We will see other operas perhaps, but will never enter again that place of new romance. The Choral Union interpreted the “Elijah” on December 11 and 12. Mr Prowse, of Wellington, sang on this occasion, and we have Mrs Braik, who was a daughter of Mrs Bond, of the Crescent Hotel. Miss Grigor, daughter of Dr. Grigor, also sang. Mr G. R. George, too, appears as a soloist. At this time the Choral Union was at its best, both numerically and musically. Messrs Brough and Boucicault, a powerful dramatic combination, staged “Niobe” on December 24. The acting was fine throughout, and I can never forget Mrs Brough’s lofty personation of “Niobe.” The Broughs visited Invercargill later, and always set an extremely high standard. Mrs Brough’s last appearance here was after the death of her husband, in Jerome K. Jerome’s “Passing of the Third Floor Back.” She played the boardinghouse keeper, and although character acting was new to her, she did well. Still vve did not like to see Mrs Brough in such a part.

This completes the year 1894 with very few omissions. You will have noticed a tendency to mention certain local concerts leaving details out. This has been to avoid the repetition of names, for it will be already seen that there are only a limited number of persons who can sing or play up to concert standard, and it would be extremely monotonous to keep repeating, or rather printing their names. We have given them full credit, but at the same time, we. did not like to overdo the business.

The outlying townships, such as Clifton, Wocdend, One Tree Point and New River Ferry, were feeders to the town in the nineties, as sawmilling was a live industry locally then and employed hundreds of men. One Tree Point, now known as Kennington, situated five miles along the East Road, could also be approached along the banks of the Waihopai, a decidedly pretty walk. Irving Bros, manufactured garden tools there at that time and there were other industries. But a source of attraction was the hotel kept by Mr and Mrs Jackson. There was a beautifully kept garden of four to five acres and strawberries and cream in the summer house, after a pleasant stroll from town, was always to be accepted as part of the afternoon’s routine. Mr Jackson also had a museum in which he kept many things of interest, including the rope with which Welsh was hung ’in Invercargill in the early ’eighties. There were also bottles of snakes, centipedes, spears and savage weapons, and a large turtle shell about 4ft. in length was also on the list. The visit was always topped off by a splendid dinner prepared by Mrs Jackson, who was a first-class cook. The One Tree Point Hotel was destroyed by fire some years ago and not a vestige remains of this once pleasant spot, save a suggestion of the onetime splendid garden. There were three Jackson girls, Mrs Dick Nash, the late Mrs Dick .Haybittie and Mrs Dick Clark. Messrs Dick Nash and Dick Haybittie have both appeared in these memoirs, the former as a dramatic performer, the latter as a musi- ' cian. Dick Clark was secretary of the Southland Racing Club for many years. Another favourite stroll was to Clifton, three miles along the Bluff Road, which could be done very easily in the evening. Mr Couling was mine host and as good a specimen of an English yeoman as could be found in Dominion. His nut-brown ale was of the best, and it was always accompanied with a pleasant word and smile. 1

I have happy memories of mine host here. To show his English predilections, Yorkshire pudding was generally a feature of his dinners. His sons and grandsons are wellknown in Southland to-day. Another change of scene could be discovered at the New River Ferry, a place of one-time importance, as in the old days it was directly on the road to Riverton. There was also a toll bridge there. The hotel passed through many hands and vicissitudes, but the last and best of hostesses was Mrs Fosbinder. Mrs Fosbinder was mother of a large family, including Mrs John Hughes (Gladstone), the late Mrs Martin Metzger, and Messrs Frank, Willie, Louis, Jack and the late Joe Fosbinder. My recollection brings back many pleasant walks with my mates to the old Ferry Inn, a wooden building and unpretentious, but happiness is not always to be measured by the size of houses. %e inevitable conclusion to such a trip was an especially good dinner, in nine cases out of ten, the meal consisting of beautifully prepared game in the shape of grey duck. Mrs Fosbinder, who was a mistress of the culinary art, possessed home recipes wellknown and made great use of in Southland by people whom she was kind enough to initiate into the deeper mysteries of the pot and oven. Her smoked mutton hams were unequalled, and I have never experienced their like before or since. Mrs Fosbinder’s kindness and consideration was keenly appreciated by the sports who when they used to call at her place wet, cold, hungry and often gameless into the bargain, would find her quick to provide them with comfort, warmth and an ample board. The esteem in which she was held was shown by the numbers who attended her funeral. The old Ferry Inn, too, has passed out of existence, hardly a stone left to mark the spot where it once stood extending a welcome to tired travellers. The building of the Clifton Hotel alone remains, a mere shell today, with all the associations of a busy past forgotten save to a few old people. So does the old make way for the new. Some weeks ago we mentioned a guessing competition in regard to a benefit concert, the initial letters to complete being A.D.O.U.T. The guess was won by Miss Bessie Cockroft, then a schoolgirl. The correct answer was “A discovery of undiscovered talent.” The year of 1895 commences on January 1,2 and 3, when “Guy Mannering” is staged and Scotch people are noticeable at all of the performances. The Burns’ Club opened in Invercargill on January 25, that date being the 136th anniversary of Burns’ birth. Scotch solos and part songs were the order of the evening and there was an address by the Rev. Andersen Gardiner, who was Presbyterian Minister at the Bluff. Mr Gardiner, who was quite blind, could carry on a whole service from memory, never making a single mistake in long scriptural passages. He was later called to Manly, Sydney, and spent many years in that great Australian suburb. The Rev. Gardiner was a man of culture, and an enthusiast in regard to literature. The secretary of the Burns’ Club was Mr Wm. Macalister. A message was wired down from the Dunedin “Blither Scots”:—

Hech, Southland noomay judge ye fain; She has a Burns’ Club of her ain; Dunedin bodies send ye greetin,* And wish ye a’ a happy meeting! An address was also given by Mr Thos. Denniston, a very old gentleman who was a journalist by profession, spending many years as editor of the Southland Times. Mr Denniston’s sons were Mr G. L. Denniston, of Dunedin, and Judge Denniston, and his daughter was Mrs R. F. Cuthbertson, of this town. “Guy Mannering” was again staged on January 29 in honour of the Governor, Lord Glasgow. The Fiji cricketers played Southland from February 3 to 6. On February 8 Mr John J. Zimmer received the necessary papers for the examinations of Trinity College (a) Associate of Music, A.T.C.L., and (b) Licentiate in Music, L.T.C.L.; (e) Fellowship, F.T.C.L., regulations to be seen at his studio in the Crescent, and so Invercargill took another step in musical importance. Messrs Williamson and Musgrove staged a farcical comedy entitled “The New Boy” in the theatre on February 25. Mr J. St. Clair was advance agent and this is the first indication in Invercargill of a new force in the theatrical world. J. C. Williamson and George Musgrove were merely beginning a successful career of management, and “The New Boy” was a clean modern play introducing a first-class comedian and a well selected company of players. We were to hear a good deal more of Messrs Williamson and Musgrove before the partnership was sundered years later. Indeed the name of J. C. Williamson is still very much to the fore in matters theatrical although J.C.W. himself has been dead some considerable time. The Rose Dramatic Company took the theatre for five nights on February 27. I don’t know where the name Rose came from, whether from a principal or from that flower which, called by any other name, smells just as sweetly. They, the Rose Company, were great on tear-squeez-ing melodrama, and the appeal of sentimentality was as flagrant as a circus poster. Dramas like “The Old Homestead,” “A Night of Mourning,” etc., gave Mr Geo. Leitch, the star, a great opportunity to do his darnedest, and he did it. Hot on the heels of the Rose’s came Messrs Gourley and Stokes with their dramatic show, and you would be sure to find Bobbie Wotton, Jack McNatty, Dick Nash, J. J. Cuff, Sandy McKillop, Frank Patchett, Davey Bissett and others lingering about the wings to pick up tips and get the genuine smell of professional grease paint. Miss Rose Blaney, a beautiful girl with lovely auburn. hair and a magnificent soprano voice, came from Dunedin and gave a concert, assisted by her sister, Katie Blaney, and local talent. Miss Kirwan, who became Mrs “Eph” McKay, was the accompanist. Miss Blaney stayed with Mr and Mrs Peter Dunn, of concertina fame, in Bowmont street, and I am told by a person who was a mere urchin at the time, that he used to hang on to the picket fence and hear Rose at practice. He was struck with her high notes and thoroughly enjoyed a more intimate experience of the artist’s powers than those who sat in cold halls and possessed no warmth, save that of their own enthusiasm. Rose Blaney represented the type of gifted young lady who would rise in a community like a star, and be the popular idol of a town. She would queen it wherever she went, have a word and smile for old and young alike, and be familiar in a sisterly way with the whole population. That kind of person has died out, just as the belle of the ball has disappeared. No one in the towns seems capable of filling that difficult but desirable role to-day. Concerts were given by the St. Paul’s and Wesleyan choirs on March 27 and April 10 respectively. For three nights, commencing on March 19, Fitzgerald Bros.’ circus appeared in a mammoth tent. Von der Mcyden, who had been here with the Fausts’ as cornetist, leading the band. The brothers were an enterprising pair and put on a good show. They were Australian born and made a specialty of horse-training. Another brother was a Labour member in the New South Wales Assembly. The menagerie was a feature of this circus and delighted the kiddies, for whom a special matinee performance was always arranged. An orchestral union concert on April 30' was well done by the usual talent. Mrs R. ' Mcßobie and Miss May Cooper being new. Alf. Grenfell and Wattie Smith received special praise for their work. On May 27 the Sixpenny Clothing Club held an entertainment, and on June 5, 6 and 7 “Dick Whittingham and his Cat” was played by St. John’s. The Hutton-McDonald’s came along with a varied entertainment on June 13 and 14 and the Friendly Society had a concert on the 12th, when the Black family played an overture. The Choral Union gave ‘Judas Maccabaeus” on June 27, when Mrs Ross, Mieses Hishon, Nicholas, Morrison, K. Kirwan, Little, M. Robinson and Messrs W. D. Smith, W. L. Gray, J. E. Taylor and A. F. Grenfell took part. Miss Lithgow was accompanist and Mr Chas. Gray conductor. Regarding Tom Taylor’s well-known drama, “The Ticket of Leave Man,” played at the Theatre Royal by amateur dramatic companies, it may be interesting to state that it was first played in 1879 by the Union Company, which did splendid work over a long period. On this occasion Mr Tait was scenic artist, and he

also played the part of Melton Moss with conspicuous ability. Dick Nash played Robert Brierly; J. McNatty, the Tiger Tom Patchett, the detective; A. Wylie, Ben Broker; and R. B. Wotton, Mrs Willoughby. Bobbie Wotton was certainly versatile for what amateur here to-day could take a lady's part. The house amounted to about £45 gross. Mesdames T. Patchett and Batson also played parts in that presentation. His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of New Zealand, was present. To be continued.