A New Zealander In Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 460, 15 September 1928, Page 12

A New Zealander In Sydney Town

(THE SUN'S Correspondent) SYDNEY, September 6. Sydney quite took old Mita Taupopoki to ber beart —even if sbe failed signally to spell his name, or, for that matter, the name of any member of the Maori Delegation to the Eucharistic Congress. One newspaper even included an obnoxious “q” in several. Mita puffed out bis chest, donned a mat for the occasion, clasped his mere, and told the newspapermen what an important man he was in Rotorua. He also proudly displayed the medal he received for fighting on the side of the British.

A fellow-traveller on the ship was Mr. R. A. Loughnan, the veteran New Zealand newspaperman, who is another visitor for the congress. At one time he was attached to the “Sydney Morning Herald” staff, but left Australia about 1900. He has been exchanging reminiscences with his friend Archbishop Redwood —one of the most honoured guests at the congress—concerning old Sydney. Toti as Prompter

Toti’s marriage is still an absorbing topic of conversation. Madame of the Latin cafe, buxom and good-natured, leaned across the table at luncheon the other day, quite perturbed. Significantly, and with much emphasis, she said: “Somehow, I do not think Toti will be happy.” On the wall, with her autographed signature attached to the photograph, was Toti herself, plump, merry, and her Italian soul in her eyes. It seems, I am glad to say, that the prophets are all wrong. Madame’s argument that the respective temperaments of the songsters is against happiness will not hold good. The other evening, while almost every other prima donna was either gracing a box or lounging in the stalls, a thoroughly serious Toti was prompting her husband from the wings. The opera was “Faust.” Dal Monte was not singing, though her Enzo de Muro Lomanto was well to the fore, operatically. What we term “artistic” or "professional” marriages CAN be a success. That, for example, of our own Rosina Buckmau and Maurice D’Oisly. Two of the happiest people on the stage, or off it. The Firm of Fuller

An arrival by the Orama was Mr. Walter Fuller, brother of Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller. Walter has been in charge of the London end of the business, and by the time this letter reaches you will be hack in his native New Zealand. The last six months before sailing for Australia were spent on the Continent, so Mr. Fuller admitted that he was not quite in touch with matters theatrical in London. During his stay there he saw about 1,600 plays and Heaven only knows how many musical comedies. “And even then,” he confided, “I only skimmed the surface.” The reason for so many failures during his stay in London is attributed to the fact that managers had selected plays that were quite obviously not to the public taste. Londoners, he suggests, are heartily sick of American “crook” dramas. The great demand, of course, is for musical comedy. “The Show Boat,” at Drury Lane, for instance, is one of the biggest successes. Back to Noah?

A Sydney newspaper was extremely personal the other day when the cableman announced that Sir Joseph Ward was returning to active party leadership. “Back to Noah,” its leader was headed, and, proceeding, said: "Octogenarians will gasp with delight to hear that Sir Joseph is returning . . . Only 72 years old, he is the British Empire’s most conspicuous example of the Survival of the Commonplace. He first prosed in the New Zealand Parliament 41 years ago ... It makes you fear that the political field must be rather barren ground, when the younger generation nonchalantly abandons it to the fussy energies of talkative old gentlemen surviving from a past century.” Which was extremely unkind. In any case, what has it to do with an Australian journal? “Lady Jane” Marries

Yvonne Banvard, whom New Zealanders will remmeber as Lady Jane of “Rose Marie,” is to leave the stage. By the time this note reaches Auckland she will be the wife of Mr. E. H. Broadhurst, a West Australian merchant, at Perth. Annie Croft and Hilda Lynn are to be the bridesmaids. The popular little actress first met her fiance when she was appearing there. They have been engaged for about a year. Mr. Broadhurst had the distinction of returning with Captain Kingsford Smith in the Southern Cross on his recent flight from the West. Yvonne made her last stage appearance as Countess Vashti in “Princess Charming.” As a child she was taken by her parents to America, and only returned to this country, the land of her birth, six years ago. The phenomenal success of “Rose Marie” established her as a favourite. Sweet Nell

With a figure as supple as any young athlete, and legs that would still win their owner a place in any beauty contest, Nellie Stewart, Australia’s own sweet Nell, returned to the stage in her favourite balcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet.” When Nell leapt over Juliet’s orchard wall, in the familiar costume of the Italian gallant, she was cheered by the whole of St. James Theatre. Miss Stewart is always willing to help any good movement. The reason for the matinee in which she played a part was the recent earthquake in Greece. The wife of the Greek Consul arranged it. Bert Bailey, Fred McDonald, Queenie Ashton, and Gladys Monerieff and John Valentine were other performers. From Finland

There is at least one foreign woman journalist in Sydney who has not come to Australia specially to report the Eucharistic Congress. Madame Aino Halmberg is here to study conditions on the canefields of Queensland, and she has come all the way from Finland to do it. Fifteen different Finnish newspapers will publish her articles. Strange as it may seem, there are any numbers of Finns working there. Employment is not restricted to Italians. —ERIC RAMSDEN.