Empire Builder

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 359, 21 May 1928, Page 11

Empire Builder

WILLIAM HEUGHAN. SCOTTISH SINGER, IS ON HIS SECOND TOUR OF THE WORLD. ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND Since William Heugan was in New gealand about three years ag:o he has completed an Empire tour which has Occupied four years. During his amazing travels he has gathered together a vast number of friends. Recently, at a concert in Glasgow, there were representatives of every British overseas dominion in audience, all of whom knew the Scottish singer. Naturally there were friendly greetings after the performance, for Mr. Heughan Is an “Empire builder” in the best sense of the word. Yesterday he returned to New Zealand on the Aorangi as cheery as ever and as intensely interested in the Dominion, the charms of which he has told to audiences in every part of the world. The same individual sporran hung from his waist. It is the head of a Scottish otter and is a mascot which he insists has brought him the most astonishing luck. While talking to a Sun man on board jlr. Heughan stopped every now and then, to open telegrams from wellwishers in all parts of the Dominion. A large percentage had come all the way from Dunedin. On his Empire tour Mr. Heughan travelled 100,000 miles and gave over 660 recitals. He has sung in every town of any size in the whole of the British Empire. To-day, because of his travels, his enthusiasm, and his knowledge, he is under the .auspices of the Empire League. Now he has started another Empire tour and New Zealand is the first Dominion to be visited. But other countries have heard the Scottish singer; in fact there is scarcely a country in the world in which he has not appeared. In Japan he found a large number of Scots; right through China he found his own countrymen; there were plenty in the United States and a good sprinkling through Java and the East. During the last tour of India Mr. Heughan sang to every Scottish regiment stationed ther*. This meant that be had to go through the famous Khyber Jpass to get to the Seaforth Highlanders, but the experiences were* worth it. Mr. Heughan has the greatest adrriration for New Zealand, “and I don’t say this for publicity purposes,” he remarked. “People have said to me, ‘Now that you have seen the whole of the Empire where would you like to settle?’ and * have always answered, ‘ln New Zealand.’ ”

“Your people are so solid and so reliable,” he remarked. “I have talked about your country in Canada and the United States where everyone has Shown the greatest interest in its attractions.” Travelling with Mr. Heughan are his wife, Miss Gladys Sayer, pianist, Miss Maude Bell, cellist, and Mr. Andrew Broom, manager. Several concerts will be played in Auckland.