NOTES and NEWS from the NORTH

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 12, 3 October 1930, Page 7

NOTES and NEWS from the NORTH

THE contract with the Auckland City Council for the broadcasting of the Municipal Band and the Municipal Choir runs out on October 26, but so far negotiations have not been entered into for its renewal. It Is to be sincerely hoped that this popular band will not be put off the air as it was when the last contract terminated. = s eo A NUMBER of interesting programmes are to be given from 1YA during October, these including one by the band of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind on October 15, the play "David Garrick" on October 17, a concert by the 1YA Choir on Sunday, October 19, a special Trafalgar Day programme on October 21, a promme by the Alpine Club relayed om the Lewis Hady Hall on October ‘eo, and a programme by Mr. Barry Coney and company on October 31, "[‘HE Blind Institute Band has previously been heard from 1YA, but has now reached a much higher standard of playing. The band, which consists entirely of blind people except for the conductor, Mr. G, Bowes, is-at present touring the North Island, and their 1YA programme will be given on the completion of this tour. The band has two sections, a full brass band and a jazz band, and includes a number of clever instru-. mental and vocal soloists. Their programme will introduce several novelties and musical monologues, while an unusual instrument called the vibraphone will be heard in two solos played by Mr. R. Gerradi. The most versatile member of the band is Mr. S. Gordon, who plays five or. six different instruments and sings well. Those who have never actually seen this band are apt to wonder how Mr. Bowes conducts them. His method is to thread his way in and out among the players, listening to them and touching them gently on the shoulder to give them the time or to make: them alter their pitch. s s La PAsT of the musical play, "Tutankhamen," which is being put on for a week at His Majesty’s Theatre by the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society will be relayed from 1YA on September 27 and October 2, This play, which was written by the wellknown solicitor, Mr. Laery, scored 4 remarkably popular success in both S previous runs. Mr. Eric Waters, hose playing is well known to 1YA steners, has written some special additions to the musical score for this production. s * e OTHER new artists to be heard from ; 1YA in October are Master T. R, W. Trafford, boy soprano, and Olive Munro, contralto, of Tauranga, both of whom will sing on October 22. A VERY large number of entries has .been received for the 1YA song-writing’ competition, and the judges will have a hard task before them. It is surprising to find so many budding song-writers in the community, and if only a-small percenteze of the entries come up to standard it would be possible to make a pro gramme out of them. ;

ME. REX HARRISON, the popular biass-baritone, concluded his tour of the Néw Zealand broadcasting statious when he sang from 1YA on Sunday night. Quite an audience had assembled at the studio, and it Was announced that special permission had been granted for the inmates of the New Plymouth gaol to stay up late in order that they might hear him. The programme did not conclude till 9.50 p.m. Before singing his last song, Mr. Harrison said that he wished to thank

the Radio Broadcasting Company- for their courtesy and many kindnesses to him, and said that it had been a real pleasure to sing for them’ during his contract. He also thanked all:those in charge of the four New Zealand YA stations. . . bo J * 2.0, (jorDoN HUTTHER,.’ 1YA_ sporting . announcer, had a busy. day on Monday when the local staticen relayed’: the Avondale races and. then: went on the air again in the evening to relay the Walker-Lurich ‘wrestling’ .contest from the Town Hall. "The race-relay | consisted merely of ‘announcements as. tu.starters and results, the rain mak-" ing any description impossible.: ‘.The. wrestling was one of the best exhibitions staged in: Auckland~ this year,. and provided plenty: of thrills. ‘The microphone was lucky . to escape damage, and when one of the wrestlers was hurled over the ropes: and nearly ‘on top of the microphone, the annouricer said, "I; wish they’d find somewhere else to throw each other. If we go off the air you'll know, one of them has landed onus. " * a a n A NEW ‘combination £0. be heard from 1YA during October ‘is’ that of Hrnest, and’ Wendy .Luks, a _pro-. fessional musical comedy couple lately ) of J. C. Williamson, Limited, who will’ give an entertainment ehtitlea "Merry |

Moments at the Piano." ‘These artists, who have recently concluded a tour of Australia, were heard by Auckland listeners some years ago before the present 1YA was opened, but they were then known as "Wendy and Alphonse."