“APINGA OU.”

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1929, Page 2

“APINGA OU.”

’NEATH A TROPIC SKY

DUSKY listeneus-in. “Apinga On” means the new thing. This is what the native chiefs of Rarotonga said on a recent evening when they gathered in the shade of the sheltering palm to hear a wireless concert broadcast from IYA station in Auckland. That reception was most successful in far away Rarotonga—the distance from Auckland is 1500 miles—is evidenced by a letter received in Auckland from Captain Campbell, of Rarotonga. “You can imagine the scene,” said the writer. “It was a beautiful dear tropic night with the moon shining like silver on the coconut palms with a glow that showed up the tree trunks in silhouette and made them look like the pillars of a great temple.” Captain Campbell added that the receiving set was elected as far away from the Government radio station as possible. The native chiefs arrived by motor car, most of them putting in an early appearance. By arrangement, Mr F. W. Platts, late commissioner of the Cook Islands, and now resident magistrate at Hamilton, gave a short address as part of the programme. The chiefs waited patiently. They heard Maori songs and Hawaiian items with pleasure, hut the real thrill came for them at the conclusion of a Scottish song, when a wellknown voice said: “Kin orana hi tinomana.” Every eye brightened, and there was a gradual surge to get as near the loud speaker as possible. “Wonderful are the works of the white man,” said one venerable chief at the close of the concert. “Apinga Ou” is going to be very popular with the natives of the sunny South Sea Islands.