A New Zealander In Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 688, 13 June 1929, Page 6

A New Zealander In Sydney Town

(THE SUN’S Sydney Correspondent) SYDNEY, June S. It would almost seem that Lord Stonehaven's little faux pas at a recent recital by M. Brailowskv was just the publicity that the Russian pianist required. It was certainly responsible for filling the Town Hall for his two final concerts. The combined vice-regal parties, Federal and State, on Saturday night I noticed numbered 14, which was rather hard on the management, but at least showed that the Governor-General bore no ill. Conspicuous was the well-dressed golden head of the stately Norwegian wife of Rear-Ad-miral Evans, hero of the Broke, and the new Australian naval commander. A Superior Governor-General Lord Stonehaven is not popular. His idea of what is due to the King's representative does not precisely* coincide with the Australian viewpoint. It is said of the Governor-General that he will never permit himself to unbend. At a dinner quite recently, replying to an extremely personal newspaper attack, Lord Stonehaven said he “could not help being superior.” As he has had experience years ago as an A.D.C. in Australia, it makes one wonder why Lord Stonehaven has not obtained a better appreciation of the Australian temperament. Naturally, his snub to Paderewski was recalled when he rather abruptly left Brailowsky’s recital one night recently, and accordingly denied an enthusiastic audience several of the encores that the pianist so liberally dispenses. The Russian threw his hands to high Heaven and stood and played the Anthem. I do not believe that his Excellency on this occasion intended a slight. His military secretary subsequently explained that, believing the concert was over, Lord Stonehaven left for the ante-room in order that the artist might be presented to him. Not to be Amused

A society entertainer, who is as well known in New Zealand through his theatrical associations as he is in Sydney and whom I met at a dinner the other evening, told me the following little anecdote apropos of Lord Stonehaven. After being engaged to appear at a function at which he was Informed the Governor-General would be nresent, he was notified that the Somewhat annoyed (though, it is true, he received his fee), he asked the reason. Back came the reply: “His Excellency does not wish to be amused”! Queen Victoria, I recall, on a notable occasion, said something of the kind. Which is in marked contrast to the demeanour of the State Governor, Sir Dudley de Chair. On one occasion, after enjoying the quips of my friend

the preceding night, he stopped his car in Martin Place and thanked him for the enjoyable time he had given him. Vice-regal personages and afterdinner entertainers are but human after all. It is these little touches that make the whole world seem kin. and make —or mar —a man’s reputation. Brailowsky. the Master I hope that New Zealand musiclovers will have an opportunity of hearing Brailowsky. Whether delicately exploring the intricacies of a Chopin mosaic or whirling through a tempestuous Liszt rhapsody, he is ever the master technician, the brilliant executant. Unhesitatingly, one places him in the front rank of contemporary pianists. As an interpreter of Chopin he may not altogether possess the consummate artistry of Friedman. But Brailowsky is a young man—he is but in his middle thirties —and that will come with the maturity of the years. The Em den’s Welcome

New Zealand ex-soldiers resident in Sydney by no means see eye to eye with the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. Baildon) in the little matter of the Emden’s welcome. It seems hardly in keeping with the dignity of a great city not to extend the usual courtesies to the representatives of a Power with whom we are at peace. It sounds a little parochial. The returned men at their dinner this week (the first, maybe, of many similar jolly functions) decided that Mr. Baildon’s attitude was not only petty, but “un-Christian.” Mr. J. N. Louden extolled New Zealand’s war record, Mr. William Beattie (formerly of the Signalling Company, N.Z.E.F., "wielded a mere with considerable dexterity, and W. Rangi, the sole Maori representative present, led the gathering in the familiar “Komate, Komate.” . . . Mr. W. R. Blow and Mr. W. P. Barnett represented the New Zealand Agency. Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal offered comradely greetings from the A.I.F. Cables were read from Major-General Young and our own Government. Regina Raye

Formerly model at the Elam School of Art, Regina Raye, an attractive little New Zealand dancer, I noticed at Fullers’ the other evening, is a member of Jim Gerald’s company. “House Full” signs are the order of the day—and night—at this theatre. Gerald is having a phenomenally successful season. “Baby Cyclone,” the comedy at the St. James, is another little gold-mine. Fullers’ are fortunate with these successes in these days of talkies. There is no doubt about the fact that the legitimate theatres, in addition to the “silent” houses, have suffered considerably of late owing to the success of the new medium of entertainment. Communists Mock Royalty An insolent burlesque of the Royal

Family and an anti-Royal pi ay features of a display staged Sydney Communists on the QO ' > of the Royal birthday. A dishevelled and uncomely personpersonated King George. The o, I<B ~ wore, very ungracefully, the farter* 11 toque to which she endows such i' ar nity. The Prince of Wales Duke and Duchess of York, and ins members of the family w'ere °b up for derision. And for a mT elli a shot one was able to bash IS' Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, or i„a e Lukin. It might be said that tlr were more foreigners than Austria ians present. “We may be Lah men,” remarked one Australian «•“ reported the matter to the auth. • ties, “but we are certainly not On munists!” This man, and his , 1 panion. as a matter of fact, were strn ing timber workers. rl * Harbour Bridge for Auckland? The Mayor of Takapuna (Mr vl-i liamson) has spent a thoroughly bn time investigating all matters ne taining to the Harbour Bridge sbv his arrival in Sydney. Naturally h is looking for information that win be valuable to the Auckland Harbor, Bridge project. The problems thaSydney has faced, says Mr. William son, are much the same in Aucklan He is not confining his attention solely to Sydney, however, but win i. spect other bridges in the State The Hawkesbury undertaking, though nao history nowadays, uever fails t 0 ei cite my wonder when crossing it on the northern route. In its day It wa the engineering accomplishment or’ Australia. —ERIC. RAMSDEX.