A New Zealander In Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 450, 4 September 1928, Page 12

A New Zealander In Sydney Town

SYDNEY, August 30. The most important man in Sydney this week now that Signor Enzo tie Muro Lomanto is safely married, is Monsignor Heylen, Bishop of Namur, and Permanent President of the Eucharistic Congress. This Flemish prelate is well qualified to dispense spiritual education. His easy, cultured manner bespeaks knowledge, his keen gaze and deliberate speech carry assurance, and his smile radiates goodwill and sympathy. Not even the most uncompromising Orangeman could find fault with his demeanour. The Bishop has delivered presidential addresses at different Congresses in French, German. English, Spanish. Italian and Latin. He has yet. however, to learn Australian. Henry Lawson Remembered Observance of the anniversary of Henry Lawson’s death is fast becoming to New South Wales what the commemoration of Lindsay Gordon’s is to Victorians. A big crowd gathered at the grave of the poet at Waverley Cemetery last Sunday. Addresses were delivered in appreciation of the work and personality of the Australian. The speakers included Dora Wilcox (Mrs. William Moore), Mrs. Louis Stone, A. H. Davis (better known, as Steele Rudd), H. M. Green, and J. Jacobs, president of the Teachers’ Federation. The Talented Lindsays Norman Lindsay may be permitted a pardonable pride these days. Two of his sons have given definite proof that they have inherited in no mean degree the Lindsay talent. Ray is following in his father’s footsteps as an artist. His huge historical canvas depicting an incident of the early colonial days attracted the attention of Dame Nellie Melba on the opening day of the Royal Art Society’s show. Melba liked the work so much that she purchased it. Now that the shop is closed the picture is to go to the Geelong Gallery on loan. A small copy is to be painted by Ray Lindsay at the suggestion of the songstress for her palatial Coombe “Cottage” at Coldstream, Victoria.

Meanwhile, Jack, the eldest son, is making a name for himself in London with expensively-bound copies of the more snappy translations from the classics, as well as by publishing several volumes of his own virile and colourful verse. Jack, these days, it is whispered, sprouts a beard a la Lambert. Phil, the youngest son of the Springwood genius (who, by the way, now commands splendid sales in Japan nowadays, of all places), gives every indication of being a writer of considerable individuality. Mr. Theodore and Mr. Bruce Australia, like New Zealand, will be stumped by political candidates before the end of the year. Mr. Bruce and his Government, some time in November, will meet the electors. On the face of things it would appear that the present Federal Government should not have a great deal of difficulty in being returned. Labour at the moment is in rather bad odour. Graft, and rumours of more graft, are in the air, and it is hardly likely that this will assist them at the General Election.

In Mr. E. G. Theodore, M.H.R., exPremier of Queensland, how,ever, the Opposition has a skilled campaing director. There is no questioning his ability. The other evening I heard him give the Government a preliminary trouncing. Particularly did he chastise the Bruce Administration for its fiscal sins. The flooding of Australia with foreign-made goods, he declared, was the result of flouting protection, and the Australian manufacturers had not received a fair deal at the hands of the Prime Minister. Forceful, energetic, witty, and polished, Mr. Theodore is an enemy by no means to be despised. Yet, on the other hand, the more homely gifts of Mr. Bruce, who, even if he does wear spats, and that is certainly a crime in Australia, and does not indulge in fireworks, are more likely to commend themselves to the moderate-minded section of the Commonwealth. It is hardly likely that there will be a change of Government. Some Newsy Notes Roger Barry, who has many friends in New Zealand, is temporarily out of the cast of the “Silent House.” At the moment he is in hospital after having made his debut in another theatre altogether. Instead of walking the bridge of the liner Aorangi, Captain Crawford, of the Union Company, arrived in Sydney the other day as a passenger on the Orungal from Brisbane. Accompanied by his wife, the commander had been on holiday leave. Just back from the Dominion is Mr. Norman Freeman, Australian head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films. A fact that New Zealanders may not know concerning Mr. Freeman is that he has qualified as a member of the Royal Aero Club of Sydney, and is just as comfortable in the air as when directing his big enterprise on land. A titled journalist here for the Eucharist Congress is the Countess G. de Meherenc de St. Pierre, representing the Catholic organ of Brittany, and sister paper of “La Croix.” Mel Ward, son of the popular Hugh J., who is regarded as a promising young man in the realm of crustaceans, has left for Thursday Island on another search for rare specimens of marine life. With his own expedition, he will explore the islands at the north of the Barrier Reef to trace sea life he believes comes from Indian waters. Mel, for a time, like his father, tried the stage. Mention of theatricals recalls the fact that Walter Fuller, of Wellington, who has been attending to the London requirements of his brother’s firm, is aboard the Orama due here this week. 1 —ERIC RAMSDEN.