The Great Maori Genius.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 7 January 1916, Page 3

The Great Maori Genius.

Walter Smith, known as the great Maori Genius, with his “ Music and Magic ” shows, will appear at the Miner’s Hall, on Thursday evening, January 13th, 1916. Highly reputed by the American newspapers and with flowing and convincing press notices he comes to his native land after an absence of twenty years. Eight years of it being spent on the American stage. As a Mandolinist, he is second to none anywhere. His playing on that little played instrument is a revelation to the musical world. He is assisted on the piano by A. E. Savage, late of Williamson’s Grand Italian Opera Company of Melbourne. He Jis also a conjurer that is wonderfully mystifying, unlike the usual run of magicians, he keeps up a line of talk along with his magic wand that keeps the crowd in good humour all the time, made more so by the touch of American twang in his speec h. He will take dozens of eggs from an empty borrowed hat, catch live pigeons from the air, and full grown fowls from eggs broken before your eyes. And when he takes a stage full of silk handkerchiefs and flags of the Allies, a large silk Union Jack six feet long by four feet wic'e on a six foot pole, from a vase not much larger than a candle stick, the house fairly storms with applause. The last part of the programme is no doubt the Lest, being full of bright, sparkling music. His “Smart Set Maori Entertainers” in songs and music is certainly good to listen to. Besides singing up-to-date popular songs with characteristic interpretations in duo, trio, quartette style, they play madolins and guitars harmonising splendidly with the voices.