People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 927, 23 November 1933, Page 10

People and Their Doings.

How Mr Michael Treacy’s Bushcraft Helped in the Search at Turiwhate : New Zealand Musicians whose Ability has been Recognised Abroad : Shaw’s Tribute to Elgar.

■y^HEN fifty or sixty people arrived at the Treacy homestead at Turiwhate to take part in the search for the missing aviators, Messrs J. B. Renton and J. D. Lynch, they put a severe strain on even the West Coast hospitality of their hosts, but the family threw open their doors and provided hot tea and soup, buttered buns in limitless quantity, cake, biscuits, and so on. Yesterday, when the bodies of the victims were brought down to the homestead, there was a fine lunch waiting for the big party. Most of the food was brought by the searchers, but its preparation entailed a vast amount of labour.

9 9 9 MICHAEL TREACy, whose fine efforts were responsible for the discovery of the plane, is a real bushman. In the fog and pouring rain of Monday afternoon he was able to go by the sound of the crash alone within thirty feet of the machine. Had the weather been finer, he would undoubtedly have found the machine within four hours of the crash. Then on Tuesday he led a search party through the bush, ultimately to find the wreckage and its grim contents, twenty-two hours after the accident. This was a fine achievement. At 4 a.m. yesterday, Messrs F. A. Kitchingham (president of the Greymouth Aero Club and Crown Prosecutor at Greymouth), and W. Shallcrass, J. S. Page and A. Henry (members of the club), and W. F. Heinz (Canterbury Mountaineering Club) went up Mount Turiwhate and blazed a trail through the dense bush, to aid the men who were to come up later. As an instance of the keenness of all the men who helped, it may be remarked that one of them came all the way from Moonlight, at least fifty miles distant.

jiJIR EDWARD ELGAiR, who is reported to be seriously ill, is England’s greatest musical composer. His fame, which, it has been declared, may well be as lasting as that of Brahms, will rest in the main on

“ The Dream of Gerontius ”, “ The Enigma Variations ”, the symphonic poem “Falstaff”, and the “ Violin Concerto ”, which is dedicated to Kreisler. The essential spirit of his art is its tenderness. Mr Bernard Shaw probably paid him the greatest compliment that “ G. 8.5.” has ever

paid to any man, for, at a musical festival, he said: “ Elgar is a greater man thanx I am.” Another Elgar story has to do with a schoolfellow whom he had not seen for half a century. His old schoolfellow explained, with justifiable pride, that he had got on well and had now the biggest business in England in his line -—laving out lawns for a certain kind of game. At last politeness induced him to turn to Sir Edward’s affairs, “ Let’s see,” he said reminiscently, “ Weren't you rather fond of music at school?—playing the flute or something. Ever do anything at it? ”

JNFERENTIALLY, we all know Mr Charles E. J. Dowland, as he is a correspondent of ours. Mr Dowland is Commissioner of Taxes, a man of cheerful disposition, and an old footballer. He was born in New Zealand a good while ago because he became a cadet in the department he now heads as long ago as 1897. He succeeded to his eminence a little over a year ago. Twenty-five years ago he was a notable member of the Wellington Star Boating Club, and it was for this club he played football. He seeks no publicity and is relatively unsung except in his official

capacity. A man like him has to practically think all day in figures finds relaxation after hours in a total cessation of thought on this knotty subject, so he keeps young by association with the young and by a nice appreciation of great books. 9 9 9 Jk PARAGRAPH about the success of a young Westport trumpeter, Johnny Robertson, in England, has set a correspondent’s mind running on other New Zealanders who have attained distinction. He wrifes: —“Jimmy Coughlin, trombone player, was recently the 4 star * in Jack Hylton’s orchestra but he is now in Brisbane running his own orchestra; Manuel Hyman, violinist, of Wellington, was with Darewski, in London, but he is back in Wellington again; and Billy Romain, an Aucklander, is with Ambrose’s Blue Lyres. Lyndon Christie, of Christchurch, is conducting the orchestra at 2BL, Sydney. The trumpet, on which Robertson has specialised, has the same valves as a cornet! but is longer, and has a more silvery tone. There is only one noted cornetist who can produce the trumpet tone on a cornet, and that is Phillipe Brun, who played at the Cirque Royal, Brussels, and he is with Hylton now." 9 9 ‘ 9 OIXTY YEARS AGO (from the “Star” of November 23. 1873) Co-operative Butchery.—The residents of Coromandel have risen in revolt against their butchers, and in public meeting assembled, have resolved to establish a cooperative butchery. Napier.—Hone te One, a friendly chief at Aotea, is about to hold festivities on the occasion of the opening of his new' house. Taw'hiao has requested his sister Tiria to be present with forty followers. The circumstance is regarded as significant of improved relations. Tauranga, November 22.—A large steamer is being specially built for the Auckland and Tauranga trade.