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Alexander Turnbull Library Biographies 1921 p4a The death of Sir Charles Santley at the great age of 88 years, brings to mind his visit to this country 33 years ago, when he "discovered" Mr John Prouse, of Wellington, the well-known singer. Mr Prouse had been a singer at local concerts, but his voice had had no special training, and he had never learnt to play a musical instrument, yet, as Mr Santley said "he was full of music, and with cultivation he might become one of the best singers of his day." He advised Mr Prouse, although he was between 30 and 40 years of age, to go to London and go through a thorough musical training. This Mr Prouse decided to do and sailed with his wife and family in ... first Tongariro, Captain J. Bone being in command at that time, from Lyttelton in May, 1890. He arrived in London in July, and commenced his studies immediately, with a result that is known to all music lovers in the Dominion. Mr Prouse was born in the Dominion, but London life greatly appealed to him, and between times he flew hither and thither, seeing and hearing all he could, and enjoyed the life to the full, which he described as living in a new world. His stay in the Homeland lasted for some time, Mr Santley taking the greatest interest in all that pertained to the New Zealander's musical training, and was delighted when he saw his protege finding his way by sheer merit into the best musical circles in the metropolis. Mr Prouse became a general favourite because of his free and easy colonial style and his unassuming disposition. The aged Dean Jacobs, of Christchurch, who had not been in the Homeland for 40 years, went Home in the Tongariro with Mr Prouse, and Mr W. K. Howitt, of Devonport, was also a passenger, a young man on his way to a college in Scotland. |