NOTE! The
cache Coordinates are hidden in the picture, not at the given
location.
"Anthem House"
( Cnr Lismore & Lancaster Streets
)
John Joseph Woods
— Composer (1849-1932)
At first glance
John Joseph Woods was a man few would have picked to compose the
music of 'God Defend New Zealand'. The son of a soldier, born and
educated in Tasmania, and 'four-square' middle class all his long
life, he seems to fit much better to the role of county clerk which
he became.
Yet he was
talented, very musical (able to play 12 instruments, primarily the
violin) and creative. He was aged about 27 when the Advertiser ran
its competition for a musical setting to Bracken's 'God Defend New
Zealand' and was then teaching at the Roman Catholic School in the
gold-mining town of Lawrence. It was 9 o'clock at night when the
Advertiser reached him there. 'On reading the beautiful and
appealing words,' he wrote to A. H. Reed in 1927, 'I immediately
felt like one inspired . . . I set to work instanter and never left
my seat 'till the music was completely finished late on in the
night'.
It was this spark
of inspiration which has given 'God Defend New Zealand' its
enduring character and an ability to survive recurrent criticisms
that the anthem lacks musical distinction. In many ways it is the
ideal complement to Bracken's verse, which itself expresses the
aspirations of ordinary people with little academic or poetic
pretension, but with notable spirit.
On Christmas Day, 1876, 'God Defend New Zealand' had its first
performance in Dunedin's Queen's Theatre. Played by the Royal
Artillery Band and sung by the full complement of the Lydia Howard
Burlesque and Opera Burle Troupe, the patriotic hymn found
immediate support and favour with the Dunedin public.
EYE TRICKS
Puzzle
The puzzle is to find the cache co-ordinates
in the following picture. Not all people can see these 3D
stereograms.
Good luck.
:-)
At the cache site you will be looking for a camo painted 200ml
snaplock container with logbook and swaps