Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 29, 27 April 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say —

To the Editor, -

MUSIC ON THE AIR I was amused to read the letter of “I Also Hope” in THE SUN on Saturdav. I expected something of the kind. Honest criticism always brings in its train foolishness of the kind expounded by T Also Hope.” I am aware that I belong to a “small section of the people,” that is the trouble. With better music and better standards in art the small section may ultimately grow and possibly—l say “possibly” advisedly—in the last stages of the growth we may find ‘T Also Hope” among those present. A man who expresses surprise that "Until” and “The Trumpeter” should annoy listeners scarcely deserves this reply. May I ask him if he has heard “The Erl King” broadcast, or "L’Heure Exquise” or “Depuis le Jour” from “Louise?” I haven't. HERE’S HOPING. NOT LISTLESS! As a resident of Onehunga I take great exception to your unflattering remarks about this town in your subleader of April 19. I must congratulate you on having discovered a new Rip Van Winkle for whoever wrote the article complained, of has undoubtedly been asleep for 20 years. In the old days Onehunga was inclined to lag behind the times, but if your writer would care to take a. run out here he will see that such is no longer the case. We are proud of our town and are showing just as much progress here as Auckland City, more in fact, for we are not pulling down buildings in the centre of the town to make a breeding place for rats as has been done there. Trusting that your writer will soon be able to pay us a visit after his long sleep to see for himself that the town is alive. “OPTIMIST.” NEW BLOOD NEEDED Sir, — Permit me to congratulate you on the comprehensive style you have adopted to introduce, the candidates for civic honours to the electors. So far I have selected four whose names I have entered in my notebook. This will enable me to vote for the men I want. As a citizen of 57 years standing who has always taken a keen interest in public affairs, I cannot, even by the wildest stretch of imagination, conceive a more ghastly failure than the way civic affairs have been managed during the last 12 or 14 years. * The Government deems it advisable periodically to shift civil servants to different places, holding that public servants retained in one place overlong may become too intimate- witfi the public. If that is so, it seems to me that civic administrators should not be given a lifelong lease of their billets. When they stay in office too long they begin to think Auckland- is their own property. Everybody to his fancy, but I am for a new mayor and council. Just as the head of a Government department instructs a new Minister of the Crown, so can the town clerk break in the new members of the council. —WANT A CHANGE. A MARRIAGE HAS BEEN ARRANGED Sir,— Your reference to the Lascelles family reminds me a marriage will soon take place between Dennis Bowes Daly and Miss Diana Lascelles, which will add another link to the long centuried chain of inter-marriages that has formed a bond of union for the leading people in both 'Britain and Ireland. Dennis B. Daly has inherited the beautiful home of the late Earl of Clan-Conal, his kinsman. When the title was bestowed Burke’s peerage said it was no honour for so ancient and patriotic a family, but the peerage was honoured in numbering among its members this fine old name. Our greatest orator, Henry Grattan, in his

speech on Irish Rights, which established the sovereign power of Ireland, says this great Bill was in a great measure the work of his beloved friend, Dennis Dalv. The Lascelles bought a fine property in the hunting county of Galway, famed for its hunters, "The Galway Blazers.” G. L. “PEP” NEEDED! Sir, — I have returned to Auckland some weeks now, after long absence abroad. After much investigation and much cogitation I have most regretfully come to the conclusion that my native city is the quintessence of dreariness Yes. it is a dull city. I am told it is by far the "brightest” in New Zealand. Now, may Heaven help the other cities, for this is the dullest centre for its population I have struck in a twelve vears’ sojourn! Why don’t you wake up this benighted burg? When abroad. I read such glowing reports (in Auckland papers) of Auckland’s progress that 1 expected to find on my return a city made modern. What did I find- —o somnolent, self-satisfied, slow-going town, with not a live place of amusement (excepting the picture shows) and night life at a complete standstill. It is a place without pep, and it is high time something or somebody woke you up and gave us a tonic outlook to replace a weak milk-and-water wowserism. “TRUTHTELLER.” MAJOR VON TEMPSKY Sir,— It was with interest that I read an account of that valiant guerilla soldier, Major Von Tempsky. I often saw him in Auckland in the years intervening between tl>e end of the Waikato War and the opening of the Thames goldfield. He was looked upon as a beau ideal of a soldier hero, by the youths of Auckland who were martially inclined in those days. He was among the first on the field after it was ded&ared a goldfield, on August 1, 1867. On the 30th of the same month he was one of the principals and in charge of a deefnee force to ward off a contemplated Hau Hau attack under the rebel chief, Te Hira. The speedy mobilising of the force under the charge of such a doughty warrior (who had already given the natives a taste of his ability in the late V r aikato campaign) Avas the principal cause of Te Hira’s abandoning his attack on the Thames goldfield. This was the incident on which Thatcher, the then local comedian and songster, composed some doggerel verses as follows: “Oh, Macky! Oh, Macky! Te Hira’s gone tway, He has gone away to some other place. He fight some other day.” Mr. Macky was the Government Lands Commissioner that negotiated with the Thames natives for the opening of the goldfield. From this date until May 20, 1868, von Tempsky was trying his luck as a gold finder in a claim situated in the Hapi Creek, just where the county water-race crosses it. On or about the 25th of the latter month he left Thames for Patea, to take charge of the Forest Rangers, and in the following November he lost his life, valiantly charging a native stronghold in that district. But what I want to get at is this: In the early ’seventies there hung in the commercial room of the Shortland Hotel (first hotel built at Thames, owned and conducted by Captain Butt) a quarter size painting of the gallant major. It was admired by thousands of young diggers years after his tragic death. I consider it would be a most graceful compliment to von Tempsky’s memory if the painting were procured and placed in a prominent position in the Old Colonists’ part of the Auckland Art Gallery. There are descendants of the late Capt. Butt living in Hamilton. They could be traced and information concerning the whereabouts of the painting should be obtainable. OLD TIMER, Thames.