MELBA BUYS A HOME IN HONOLULU

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 289, 27 February 1928, Page 1

MELBA BUYS A HOME IN HONOLULU

HER “REAL” HOLIDAY SURFING TWICE A DAY So enthused is Dame Nellie Melba with the charms of Hawaii In general, arid Honolulu in particular, that the songstress propoies purchasing a bungalow there. In excellent spirits and looking all ihe better for her holiday in the South sjfas. Dame Nellie is a through passenger for Sydney on the liner Niagara, which arrived at Auckland at noon. "Yes, ready for toil,” she confessed With a ’smile, for the Dame has a big programme ahead. Melba is a selfeonfessed "school ma'am” for the approaching grand opera season in Australia. ••It was a real holiday. I have not opened a piano since I left Australia. That's the right sort of i spell. Twice in the surf every day, is it any wonder that I am looking fit?” No one could deny it. It was the lame vigorous forceful Melba. Still, she had one grievance with the Jlawaiians. "Too much dining and

kinlnp,” she declared with a lau-gh. ’They treated me too well!” Meloa was treated to a real Hawaiian dinner, with sucking pig cooked in ihe equivalent to the Maori hangi. The Dame confessed that it smelt delicious, but she did not tase it as she is not particularly partial to pork. The Japanese invited her to a Nipponese dinner. Not since they treated the Prince of Wales in Honolulu to a similar feast had they accorded a visitor these honours. TOO MUCH HOSPITALITY! Nothing loth, the Chinese followed Suit. "Too much of it,” declared the diva most emphatically. “Yet I enjoyed it all immensely. It was the first real holiday I have had for years, and now I feel as if I can go back and tackle anything.” Auckland greeted the Dame in a somewhat chilly manner. The Queen of Song wrapped herself in her favourite grey squirrels as she did when she was here a few weeks ago. Melba could hardly believe that we had had practically no rain since. That she was coming to New Zealand for a farewell tour was certain. But whether she will sing in grand opera la rather a different matter. It I can I w ill,” promised the singer. She added: “You see I want to sing to you once more before I finally hop Off! 1 '