A VERSATILE PARTY

Southland Times, Issue 22730, 5 November 1935, Page 4

A VERSATILE PARTY

BAND OF THE BLIND INSTITUTE. CONCERT THIS EVENING. It is safe to say that a more interesting concert party has seldom visited Southland than the Band of the Blind Institute which performs in Invercargill this evening. Each member could tell a story—first of tragedy, then of a fight with almost insuperable difficulties, and finally of triumph. Now, they are matter-of-fact, happy-go-lucky young men, ready to enjoy life with anyone. Some have been blind from birth. All the members of the party can read and write in the Braille system, can use the ordinary typewriter (most of them possess their own), and those who lost their sight in childhood, have gained theii’ proficiency certificates, and some had secondary education, at the institute’s school.

Julian Lee (flugal horn) blind, from birth, comes from Dunedin and is the youngest member of the band, aged 12. He is still at school, is learning the pianoforte, and lias frequently been heard from Dunedin radio stations during his summer holidays. James McGuire (tenor cornet), went to the institute at the age of seven, after being accidentally blinded. Matriculating from tiie institute, he attended the Auckland University College, and in 1930 gained the 8.A.. and LL. B. degrees—a magnificent achievement for a totally blind student. He is on the institute staff in charge of adult education in Braille, type-writing and other subjects. Jack Simpson (clarionet), is a comparatively new arrival at the institute. In September, 1932, he was . totally blinded and suffered serious spinal injury in an aeroplane accident at Wigram. As soon as his grave injuries allowed, he tackled his difficult job of readjustment, mastered type-writing and Braille, took up clarionet and violin, and is a joiner in the workshops. He was married a year later, and from shattered prospects, he is now quite on his feet again. Jack Shortt (comet), had an equally regrettable accident. At the age of 19 he was playing in the Foxton sandhills burying a shell he had discovered after artillery practice. It exploded, among other injuries, blinding him. Passing from the institute school to the workshops, he is now a basketmaker, and is cheerful and busy all day long. Two of the cornets, Tom Taylor and Allan Morton, came to New Zealand from the Old Country, Newcastle and Hull respectively. Both are active young basketmakers, and few can wield a cornet more effectively. James Egan (clarionet), of Wreys Bush, Southland, was a farmer before he lost his sight. He was a widower with four young children, so that loss of work and earnings was a tragedy. He tackled his troubles bravely; and by ‘nis hard work as a basketmaker has kept himself and helped his children to get a start. He plays a leading part in the institute’s social life; and, as chairman for a number of years of the Men’s Social Committee, the Comforts Fund, and a member of the committee of the Auckland Blind Social Club, has done much to keep the brisk social life of the institute going strong. George Ashdowne (clarionet), who had the misfortune to lose his sight while out partridge shooting in England, is also active in the institute’s social life, spending most of his time organizing dances, concerts, plays, lectures and rowing. The Maori race is represented by two good men—Joseph Katene, Taranaki, and Tumai Taraewa, Waikato, both totally blind, and just as useful and active members of the institute as their pakeha brothers. The party will give its concert at Invercargill to-day, with a matinee tomorrow. The band will also play at Bluff to-morrow evening; at Riverton on November 7 and Mataura on November 8.