WORK AS BANDMASTER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10386, 4 May 1925, Page 6

WORK AS BANDMASTER

LIEUT. OSBORNE HONOURED. A PUBLIC PRESENTATION. Lieutenant W. H. Osborne, to whose work as conductor of the First (Canterbury) Mounted Riflea' Band has been uue much of the success of that

band's organisation during the last live years, was Honoured by a public presentation on Saturday evening. i'here were about 35 people present m the Arcadia Tea Rooms, where the function was held. Tributes to Lieutenant Osborne's value to the band, and incidentally to the town, were paid by ttie Mayor (Mr It. Galbraith) ana Messrs K Curtis (Savage Club), T., J. Hunter, and E. Orr (Returned Soldiers' Association). The present took the form of a Studio Grand mahogany cabinet gramophone. The Mayor said he was probably the oldest bandsman present. He detailed His experiences, and remarked upon the difficulty the smaller towns such as Ashburton had in keopmg such good bandsmen as Lieutenant Osborne being enticed away to cities. The metropolitan bands could offer lucrative, positions to men in return for their services Were it not for the goodness of Messrs Tucker's Ltd., the speaker believed the town would not have had Lieutenant Osborne's services for very long. The firm had the bands interests at heart, especially since Lieutenant Osborne had been employed The playing of the band at the time of the lledfern Band's visit had been an eye-opener, continued Mr Galbraith. It was a testimony to the Lieutenant s leadership. The band would no doubt have given a good account of itself at the last Auckland contest had not its ranks been depleted by players leaving the town. He trusted the next contest at Dunedin would be attended. The band had made a name for itself there, and would recoive a right royal welcome. The town and County, of Ashburton were unanimous in their good wishes to the guest of. the evening, and he trusted the services of such a highly-qualified conductor would long be* available for the district The o-ue 3 t of the evening had proved nimhelf a bandsman, a soldier, and a man. The making of the presentation was followed by applause Mr Curtis spoke of the great help given by the Lieutenant as conductor If the Savage Club's orchestra, and of his value to the town. << I do not know on whose behalf to speak." said Mr Hunter, "so I will represent West Street. I am entirely in accord with the previous speakers remX, and recognise that the town owes a great debt of gratitude to Lieutenant Osborne. Mr Orr prefaced his compliments J>y twitting Mr Hunter over his seeking to divide the town into two sections. This was bad form, especially in view of the recent controversy in the "Guardian." (Laughter.) The Returned Soldiers' Association was deeply iSebted to the guest of the evening for the band's assistance at practically all military funerals This was a credit both to Lieutenant Osborne and to the firm by whom he was employed. . In reply, Lieutenant Osborne said it was particularly good of the.people to have made him such a handsome presentation. He could truly say he had done his best, but without the loyalty of every member of the band his work would have been worthless. The townspeople had been generous' in their active and financial support. the members of the Redfem (Sydney) Band, unon passing through Ashburton, had been almost paralysed by the welcome given to the local band on its return from the contest, m which it had been runner-up. The champions, on their return to Sydney, had two people on the wharf to greet them Music having fostered a brotherly feeling among the band members, the shaker keenly felt the departure to other towns of several of the hetter players. Only eight players had been supplied from other places during the last five years. Thirty, including four from other towns, had left in that time; consequently the town had been called upon to fill most of the vacancies If the band could by some means find positions in the town for four more bandsmen, it would have a much stronger combination for the next contest The gramophone, the presentation* of which to him was a reflected compliment to the band, would bo very useful, in that the finished playing ot the world's better bands would help in the hetter interpretation of ditncult Several records were played before the gathering dispersed.