The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-07-06
SUVA IS IN A FERNENT
HER CITIZENS ARE WILDLY
INDIGNANT.
Curtis Colored Minstrel Band ordered
to Stop Playing on the Streets-The
Police Are Denounced.

NJ b. Curtis and his colored min
strelS who passed through here on the
Miowera a month ago going to Austria
liza, and who gave a performance in the
opera house, were the cause of a COM
motion in Suva which had not subsidized
when the Aorangi left there.
The inception of the trouble is thus
ChroniCled in the Fiji Times
Per the mail steamer Miowera, which
arrived from Vancouver and Honolulu
early on Monday. en- route to Australia,
there was a combination troupe of Afri-
can mnstrels numbering some forty in
dividual performers under the manage
ment of a Mr.. M. b. Curtis. Had cir
cumstances permitted, the company in
tended to have given an entertainment
here, but as this did not allow conse-
quent upon the MiOwera resuming her
voyage the same day, a portion of the
handsome twenty performers-elected
to play a few airs in the triangle oppo-
site the post office, and were much APP
preciated by the public. A couple of
hours later, after the members thereof
had had a run round the town, the band
assembled and started up the parade.
A little after and an emissary of the
commissioner of police, directed the
band to cease playing very much to the
disgust of many of the citizens. The
band then returned to the post office
played the national anthem and after
wards two other airs. 1t then went on
board. Many of the citizens are desr-
Gus of learning the why and wherefore
of the police interfering with an amuse-
ment which was affording them an I'M
usual pleasure. While at Honolulu on
the way through, the band gave an en-
tertainment at the opera house there.
and, it is said, played to $500 house.
The troupe proceed to Australia under
engagement.
Since then every issue of the Times
has teemed with letters from indignant
citizens, denouncing the official inter
ference The ebullient state of public
feeling in Suva may be judged by the
following extracts from some of the let
ters published.
Edward Magnus writes: To-day
whilst a band of excellent musicians
were playing some pleasing selections
in front of the custom house affording
us in this quiet town few moments of
enjoyment. Mr.. Paymaster Thomas
Molloy was sent to stop these musicians
from playing music. He told the leader
of the band that they were prohibited
by the commandant of the armed con-
stabuary from further playing. Your
subscriber told the leader that Mr..
Francis the commandment of the A. n.
c., or colonel of the Fiji volunteer force,
had no power to stop them playing as
long as they caused no public obstruc-
ton or became a public nuisance. They
accordingly played God Save the Queen
and two other oVertures
TT is time that Mr.. Francis was eth
er removed or restrained from making
himself such tyrant and INSTRUCTOR of
the public welfare and pleasure and
| that we had a civil superintendent of
police instead of the man now annoying
US
Freedom" writes: May L ask ii
your attention has been drawn to the
action of the superintendent of police In
ordering the band landed from the mail
steamer to discontinue playing? 1t is
very seldom we have a chance to hear
! good music, and why that pleasure was
denied us by the interference of the au-
| thorities / cannot understand. Really
matters are being carried on with a
high hand and we have had nearly
enough.
"Citizen" writes: "Our usually quiet
town was greatly enlivened today by q
band of musicians( colored minstrels)
off the mail steamer, who kindly treat
ed us to some very excellent music.
"But strange to relate this music hac
no charms for and did not soothe the
breast of the superintendent of police
who sent orders to stop the band play
ing in the street. This gentleman seems
to delight in making himself obnoXi-
GUS -