AUCKLAND ROTARY CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 9

AUCKLAND ROTARY CLUB.

TO-DAY'S LUNCH MEETING. LECTURE ON SEA SONGS. There was the usual large attendance at to-days weekly lunch meetiii"- of the Auckland Rotary Club, held in the Lewis Eady Hall, the president, Rotanan Stan Reid was in the chair. Amongst visitor present were Messrs. J. B. Shaddock (Dunedin), R. Wallace (Napier), A. L. Lamb (Tiraaru) ,D. Bryant {Hamilton), J. W. Can- (Wellington), R. Anthony (Christchurch), T. Hetherington (Thames), and H. Kent (Wellington).

Rotarian Bryan, of the Hamilton Club, spoko of the good work being done- for children at the convalescent home at Raglan. Ho said some remarkable resuits had been attained there, particularly in the case of asthmatical complaints. Hβ asked the assistance, of l'otariaris in notifying the management of asthmatical cases requiring treatment. The chairman said that during the past week delegates had visited the Thames district, and as a result the membership of the local club had been substantially augmented.

The subject of the day's talk was "Sea Songs," Professor Sperrin-Johnson, assisted by Mr. Albert Clyde, Avas the

speaker

Professor Spcrrin-Joluiston said that sea-shanties, as they wero called, were essentially British. Ha mentioned that in the time of Henry VIII., England had tlio larget ship afloat. True, it was only 1200 tonnage, but there was no other as large. Followed reference to the chief factors in Britain's naval history in the Elizabethan era. Sailors then had a hard time, and this was reflected in the not of the sea ballads in those days. Towards the end of the 18th century, when the spirit of the navy had been depressed by the circumstances which had led to the execution of Admiral Byng, and to other causes, the bard of the navy, Debdin, came to the fore. The death of his brother led to "Tom Bowling," and he subsequently took up composition a,s his occupation, and to this end made several voyages. It remained for Debdin to raise the prestige of the English sailor, and to proclaim his essentially fine qualities. To sea songs then took on a, note that was in marked contrast to that sounded in the earlier period?, and they wore undoubtedly of groat assistance in Becruiting. , Mr. Clyde sang a number ot songs, illustrating the professor's talk.