For many years Mr Truman was a resident of Dunedin, where he studied under Mr Barth, and was a choir boy at St Matthew's. He is a son of Mr E O Truman, who held an important position in Messrs Briscoe and Co.'s warehouse about 25 years ago, and will also be remembered as organist of St Matthew's at the same time.
Mr Ernest Truman's musical career has been a very distinguished one.
He is the composer of many pieces, some of them having been declared by Paderewski to be among the finest ever penned by a musician.
Since Mr Truman's appointment as city organist, in August, 1909, he has given 134 recitals, not including the recently-instituted Monday midday half-hour recitals, at which he has played 476 programme pieces, or counting encores 600 pieces.
They included every description of music, from the severely classical to the lightest musical comedy.
The Wagnerian performances have been particularly interesting and highly educational.
In short, Mr Truman seems to have earned the highest encomiums.
• The bleak wintry weather yesterday somewhat interfered with the plans laid for the ceremony of opening the new Cottage Hospital at Port Chalmers, but nevertheless a large and successful gathering was held.
The new building is a handsome white structure, with red roof and facings, and is situated on the slope just behind Mussel Bay Station and close to the upper railway line.
The building contains a single ward, a sitting-room, and two bedrooms, a kitchen and storerooms, and the usual lavatory conveniences.
Included among the fittings are an operating table and an instrument case.
The neat, fresh appearance of all the rooms occasioned much favourable comment from those inspecting them.
• Mr John Craig, of Owaka, writes to the Clutha Leader enclosing a cheque for 10 for the purpose of assisting in the immigration of boys and girls of selected class from Britain.
He recommends the scheme to the consideration of the local Farmers' Union, and suggests that the secretary of the Glasgow Newsboys' League, or the Message Brigade, would be glad to select suitable lads.
He points out that the country is in great need of boy and girl labour, and says: - "Unfortunately, there seems no prospect of a change for the better unless the farmers and employers of labour interest themselves in the matter, and the only feasible plan in view is, as has been done in other parts of the Dominion - namely, to bring out boys and girls from Home.
• A new dance has been invented in San Francisco called the "Turkey Trot".
The dance imitates the strutting, the proud bearing, and the courting of the turkey.
A contemporary says it is immensely popular in San Francisco.
- ODT, 2.2.1911.
