King Tawhiao at the Organ.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 260, 30 September 1884, Page 2

King Tawhiao at the Organ.

Mr George Vesey Stewart sends the following arnu&ing anecdote to the Bay of Plenty Times :— "The natives are very partiiJ to the street organs, and as they pay the organ grinders very liberally m aiiver instead of adopting the usual cu3tom of rewarding-- their services with copper, the result is Montague Place resounds from morning to night with the discordant notes of this'Tund of music. A few days ago the. inmates of Demctrc House were^aroosed by .loud sounds of cheering m the street, and on Mrs Saintsbury going to the window she discovered to her dismay/ that her royal guest was engaged m turning an organ with the greatest amount of vigor and gesticnlations, with his head bare, and Major Te Wheoro at his side also bare-headed, and cheering m that jovial way that natives exhibit when they enjoy a good joke. A large good-humored . crowd had by this time assembled, who by their cheers' encouraged the King to redouble his royal exertions. All the doorsteps of the different houses were lined with the little servant girls with their SDOw-whiie caps and clean print dresses so characteristic of their class m the upper London circles, and by their screams of laughter, gave further effect to this amusing but impromptu farce."