AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 205, 5 September 1901, Page 3

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

NEWBURY-SPADA COMPANY. (Special to Times.) Auckland, last night. Gisborne people are shortly to be treated to a concert by the Newbury-Spada Company. now playing in Auckland to crowded houses. Mr Phillip Newbury's voice is robust in character, of rare purity, and hctings with exquisite taste. The New Zealand Herald, in referring to the opening performance, says:—Mr Phillip Newbury is too great an artist to need an especial word of praise, yet it has to be said of him that great as is his reputation he more than upheld it last night. Not only is his voice legitimately good, but the singer has it so well trained and so well controlled that to listen to him is a perfect treat — almost a revelation. If it were said of him that no liner tenor was ever heard in New Zealand, such an expression of opinion would find few challengers. Mr Newbury's voice contains in it ail the j qualities which go to make a voice of j eminence. It appeals to the listener in j very many senses. First, perhaps, for its j extreme excellence of quality and next for its depth of expression. He re-introduced himself in Blumenthal's “ The Message,” and his dramatic and pathetic (to express the two opposite phases) rendering of this number was received with acclamation. The encore number, " I'll Sing Thee Songs . of Araby,” was equally well sung. His , other contributions fsolo) were “Come | Into the Garden, Maud ” and “My Pretty , Jane.” In addition, Mr Newbury was ; heard in the duo from "Faust,” “ The ! t Garden Scene,” sung with .Madame j , Spada. j ? MILITVRY MATTERS. I

1 learn autlioritivoly that the following changes have been decided on with

respect to the command of the volunteer ili.stiicts : —Jhunt.-Colonel Robin, who liad command of the First Contingent for the Transvaal, has been placed in charge of the Otago militia district. Lieut.-Colonel R. JI. Davis, of ilawcra, another first eontingeiiter, goes to Auckland. Adjutant (Jordon, of Clirist.dnircii, is to be retired, and will be succeeded in command of the Canterbury district by Colonel Webb, now in Dunedin. Lieut.-Colonel Davis was an ollircr of the Hawcra Mounted iiitles when ho joined the First Contingent for South Africa, with rank of captain. He saw a great deal of active service in the liner war, and is spoken of as a most capable officer. Ho relievos Lieut.-Colonel White, wdio has been acting as officer commanding the Auckland volunteer district since the departure of Colonel Hanks with the Sixth Contingent for South Africa. ACCIDENT INSURANCE.

The first claim made under the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act is likely to come before the Arbitration Court at an early date, a claim having been mado by William 0. Smythe, father of tho young man who was killed at the Nihotripu waterworks in dune last. The work was being carried out for the City Council by the late Mr Hugh Fulton, and it will be remembered that Mr Fulton, the contractor, and the young man Symthe were both killed by a landslip. The claim is for XlUl) made by W. Li. Smythe, oil his own behalf, and on behalf of a daughter, Henrietta Smythe, who was also a dependent of the deceased man Smythe, the respondents being Mrs Fulton, widow of the late Hugh Fulton, who was Smythe s employer, the Auckland City Council and the Henrietta Smytluv already mentioned, the latter being joined as a respondent only on account of a question arising as to her claim as a dependent. Tne claim sets forth that the late W. G. Smythe, during tho term of his employment with the deceased Hugh Fulton, extending over some eight months, earned an average weekly wage of .£2 Ss 7d, and that the dependents of the deceased W. G. Smythe, namely, Henrietta Smythe (sister) and \V. G. Smythe (father) were wholly dependent on the earnings of the deceased at the time of his death. The claim is for £IOO, to be apportioned .£3OO to the claimant (tho father) and .£IOO to Henrietta Symthe, and applied by the father towards the maintenance and support of himself and his daughter.