Broadcasts Past, Present and Future

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 24, 23 December 1932, Page 8

Broadcasts Past, Present and Future

The Kingsleys HARLES KINGSLEY can scarcely be regarded as so prolific a writer as Weatherly, his great Victorian contemporary, who survived to write "Roses in Picardy" and "Danny Boy" in days when "The Holy City" and "The Midshipmite" had been forgotten. Nevertheless, Kingsley has appealed variously to composers. "Three Fishers," "Lorraine, Lorraine Loree," "The Sands of Dee." and "Oh, That We Two Were Maying." have all been set to music, while "Clear and Cool," and "T Once Had a Dear Little Doll, Dears," have been sung as lyrics incidental to the production of "Water Babies" on the stage. In the lecture to be given from ‘AYA on December 28 two of Charles Kingsley’s songs are to be sung, "The Sands

of Dee" and "Oh, That We Two Were Maying." Ethelbert .Neven’s popular setting will be sung in the latter case. Charles Kingsley’s less-known and less-fortunate brother, Henry, will be ‘represented by a work which came into ‘the possession of the lecturer in manuseript only. The composer is Sir ‘Henry Hadow, known to musicians rather as an historian of music than as a composer. This beautiful lyric opens with the words: "Magdalen at Michael’s gate tirled at the pin." To ‘tirle at the pin’ is to knock for admission. The phrase is a Scotch one, It is proposed to give in this lecture thumbnail sketches of Charles Kingsley and of Henry Kingsley, the littleknown author’ of "Ravenshoe,’ who showed such brilliant promise, ‘but failed to justify that promise. Reference will be made. to Lucas Malet, Charles Kingsley’s daughter, whose recent death removed a great

name from the roll of Victorian novelists, The name of Charles Kingsley is a peg upon which many literary associations may be hung. -His attack on John. Henry Newman elicited the "Apologia Pro Vita Sua," which is today regarded as one of the monuments of English prose style. His friendship with the father of the late Sir Edmund Gosse. provides us with a link. with Darwinism, that great phenomenon which over-clouded the Victorian era. His association with Lewis Carrol and the publishing of "Alice in Wonderland," shows us another facet of this many-sided man, N.Z. Writer Broadcasts Miss NELLID SCANLAN, New Legh land authoress, will broadcast from 2YA in January a series of lecturettes as under :- ° January 5: "Literary Personalities," Brief sketches of distinguished writers I have met, with anecdotes. January 12: "Modern Tendencies in Book, Art, and Living." A talk about fashions and tendencies in the modern world, touching upon several phases, such as books, pictures, architecture, furniture, dress-factors that express the post-war mind and its attitude toward life, . January 19: "Important People." A talk about distinguished men and women I have met, with anecdotes. January 26; "Count Your Blessing." Contrasting conditions in New Zealand with those of other countries, picking out interesting features in foreign lands, relating personal experiences, during travel. . Premier of Tonga Speaks A SURPRISE awaited 2YA listeners on Tuesday night when the Premier of Tonga, the Hon. Mr. Tugi, spoke to listeners. Tonga always. regards New Zealand as her big brother, he said, adding that he was very glad of the opportunity of being able to spend this yisit among his friends in New Zealand. In the last two ‘years advances had been made in ‘Tonga, 2 fairly lonely group of islands which have been kept in touch with the outside world mainly by newspapers and radio. In his arrival in New Zealanily he had observed many things he had not? seen before. Last Wednesday he hear a talkie for the first time. Silent pictures were in Tonga, but this new invention had not found its way to them, and for the first time he saw an aeroplane in flight. The population of the island is 28,000 spreag over the several islands constituting the group, Copra and fresh fruit are the main exports, and at present Tonga, like everywhere else, is suffering because of the low values. They had felt. the depression keenly, but are hoping for better times in.the. future. The Hon. Mr. Tugi-spoke in his native language to his countrymen who would be listening in, and then told listeners what he had said. He told them of the -hospitality of New Zealanders, and how he was enjoying his short hollday in their midst. :