JUDGE’S RULING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 853, 29 August 1933, Page 7

JUDGE’S RULING.

Author of Song Not a New Zealander. COMPETITIONS SURPRISE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. August 29. One of the classes of the Wellington Competitions Festival is the ladies’ vocal solo, New Zealand composer. There were twenty-seven competitors in the event, and three or four who chose songs by Charles Willeby were astonished when they were informed by the judge (Dr Cyril Jenkins) that Mr Willeby was not a New Zealand composer but an American. Mr Willeby had been accepted by the society as a New Zealand composer, and two of his compositions were sung. “ Summer Rain ” and “ Stolen Wings.” One* competitor said that her teacher had informed her that Charles Willeby was born in Dunedin and lived in New Zealand until he was about 20 years of age. when he went to London. A further statement was to the effect that Charles Willeby was born in Dunedin and worked in a shop in Wellington for some time. It was contended that his works should be accepted by the judge. Mr Jenkins said that it was rather new to him to find an American name figuring on the list of New Zealand composers. It was the first time that he had heard that Charles Willeby was a New Zealander. It had been a pleasure to hear some of the charms of one New Zealand composer, Alfred Hill. Was Music Teacher in Wellington. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 29. Mr S. P. Hawthorne, of Wellington, who is a half-brother of Mr Charles Willeby, the composer, says that Mr Willeby was bom in France and came to New Zealand when he was about five years old. About five years later he went to England, and returned to New Zealand in 1885 with his mother, Mrs Stuart Hawthorne, and two half-broth-ers. He was well known in Wellington as a music teacher. He married Miss Mary Hume, of Dunedin, and about 1889 went to Italy, and had never been back to New Zealand.

“ Always Accepted as N.Z. Composer.” Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, August 29. In regard to Charles Willeby, the facts ascertained here are that Mrs Willeby brought Charles to Dunedin when he was four years old, and here she married Mr Hawthorne, rector of Boys’ High School. Charles Willeby was educated here. He married Miss Hume, sister of Fergus Hume, the novelist, and has always been accepted as a New Zealand composer.