BLIND INSTITUTE BAND

Southland Times, Issue 22733, 8 November 1935, Page 9

BLIND INSTITUTE BAND

CONCERT AT BLUFF. (From Our Correspondent.) A large audience in the Town Hall on Wednesday night speedily endorsed the good opinions expressed in various centres regarding the ability of the Institute for the Blind (Auckland) Band. Both in concerted and solo numbers the musicians displayed outstanding musical talents and it can truthfully be said that there was not one weak item in the programme. The items on the programme were announced by Sir Clutha Mackenzie.

Before the concert began several numbers were played in front of the Town Hall ’ by the Bluff Waterside Workers’ Band, under the conductorship of Mr P. Batcheler, and the band also joined with the visiting musicians for the final item on the programme and in playing the National Anthem. Sir Clutha Mackenzie (director of the Institute for the Blind) and his party were met by his Worship the Mayor of Bluff (the Rev. A. E. Waite) and from the platform later were introduced to the audience by Mr Waite, who extended to the visitors a very warm rfelcome on behalf of the people of Bluff. It was very pleasant to have the guests present, his Worship said. Sir Clutha was a distinguished New Zealander who had not only a fine record of war service, but also an equally fine record of service to the Dominion. (Applause.) It was splendid to see the spirit of Sir Clutha and his associates. Although afflicted with blindness, they met life cheerfully and had become a band of skilled people in spite of their handicap. Regarding Sir Clutha himself, he was doubly welcome for the sake of his father, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who as Premier, and also as High Commissioner for the Dominion in London, had himself rendered veryvaluable services to New Zealand. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr Waite said the blind folk were doing beautiful work, some of which had found its way to Bluff. The training in the institute had brought to these people useful occupations, which were of financial benefit to a splendid institution. While he extended a sincere welcome to them, he wished the visitors to understand that the residents of Bluff felt it a great and pleasant privilege to have them present. (Applause.) In returning thanks, on behalf of himself and the band, Sir Clutha Mackenzie said that he and his friends had pleasantly anticipated coming to Bluff. The band had never given a more southerly concert and as there were many noted southerly features about Bluff on which great stress was frequently laid the band had been anxious to add still another record. (Laughter and applause.) Blind folk liked to be occupied, the speaker continued. Once (before occupations had been devised for the sightless) the black hours had drifted into weeks and years of depressing idleness. Now things had changed. Occupations, literature and music (made available through the gentroduction of the Braille system) and games of various sorts had made lire different and the people in the institute had many enjoyable times. Several of the band, members were among the skilled workers in the institute. Through the manufacture in the latter of baskets, chairs, train racks, etc., total receipts amounted to nearly £13,000 and meant permanent employment for about 100 men and women. Sir Clutha told several amusing stories regarding his experiences and concluded by thanking the Mayor for his welcome and remarks concerning the speaker’s father, the Town Clerk (Mr H. A. Ferguson), who was responsible for detail work in connection with the concert, the Borough Council, Waterside Workers’ Band and the public. Many encores were demanded in an entertainment marked by all round excellence and the bandmaster Lieut. G. W. Bowes deserves credit for the high standard attained by the band. The soloists, from the remarkably versatile musician and vocalist Mr Joseph Patesch to Master Julian Lee, the 11-year-old pianist, gave capital items and the enjoyment and ready appreciation of the audience helped in making the concert a truly memorable one.