FOXTON REMEMBERED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2452, 11 July 1922, Page 4

FOXTON REMEMBERED.

SOME AUCKLAND NOTES. [By Edmund Osborne]. It is over 46 years since I first arrived in Foxton and nearly 20 years since I left. • I am living further away than ever, but never nearer in heart. It is the home of 'my best friends and most pleasant memories. Whenever I go to a concert or lecture here I think of (Foxton, and. if anything exceptionally good transpires I wish it could be heard or seen by a Foxton audience. On mentioning this to an ex-Foxtonian, he suggested that I write to the “Maria watu Herald” so a-s to inform visitors from Foxton where to get good entertainment at a reasonable price. The Town Hall ;is set apart every -Saturday night for an Organ Recital by Mr Maughan Barnet, also a. little singing (solos, etc,) by Auckland’s best, and .occasionally a choir of 70 to 80' trained singers. I shall not presume on too much space but will try to give an idea of the class of

entertainment the City Council supplies for 6d (private enterprise could not-.do it for less than 2/6 to ’57-). During the recital the Organist treated us to a piece, “The Storm,” which played on the imagination. We could hear the distant thunder and could almost imagine the different distances as it approa - ched, till the building vibrated with thunderous sounds from the organ as of the “storm” —whether imagination, use of pedals, or what'? —it appeared as if the wind was coming through those great, pipes 3ft or 4ft in circumference, in front of the organ and after a little lull, when a little more force was allowed to escape, one felt like buttoning up his coat in readiness. This might sound exaggerated, if so, your readers must make every allowance for one who had never heard such skilled playing before. I wish you could get this organ for a week ‘but then you have no building yet to hold it! On another evening what'struck me as the best interpretation of the entertainment was the singing by the choir of a sailor’s song. Wo could see him aboard (presumably a sailing vessel by the sound of the wind) having wished his girl “goodbye” his mind entertaining “Happy thoughts” of the future when he would return like a true “Jack Tar” who had been faithful through till circumstances. A storm comes and the singers take their parts (understanding the parts they are taking) and while “Jack” thinks of .the “girl he left behind” the storm increases gradually and one can hear the wind howling through the shrouds as the vessel labours through the storm. The sound as of the wind through the shrouds was produced by a portion of the choir humming while the rest sang under the guidance of the conductor, who did not use a baton but motioned with his hands and fingers to the choir who understood his every move. “Jack” I believe returned home, spent his money in jolly Tar fashion, and went to work for more. Last evening, 4th July, I visited the Auckland Winter Show. Everything appeared “bright and prosperous.” One of the most pleasing items was the singing.bv a number of Maoris —young men and boys — of “God Save the King,” “God bless the Prince of Wales,” and “Rule Britannia.” The first item was repeated in Maori, which was greatly appreciated by the audience. They sang as if the King was their king and they were proud of him and ready to serve if required. And as they sang “God bless the Prince of Wales” we could, in our minds, follow our noble young prince through portions of his triumphal world tour. They sang “Rule Britannia” like men who were prepared to hold up the dignity of Old England, good Old England! Thei’e appears to be a wave of loyalty passing over Auckland. At the close of the picture shows the neople stand and remain in their maces while the National Anthem is being played. I have been in a town where disrespect was apparently shown through disloyalty or : gnorance. When a follow hears 2,000 voices singing heartily in one building “God Save the King” you Peel that New Zealand has not forgotten her mother love. [Our readers, and particularly fid friends of the writer, will be ■ /leased to hear from him again.]