BANDS AND BANDSMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 72, 24 March 1906, Page 10

BANDS AND BANDSMEN.

(By Presto.) A Second-class Band Contest is to be held at "Waihi. some time iii Xovcmber next, and there seems to be little doubt but that it will be well patronised by tlie bands invited to take part. Among those likely to compete are the. follow., ing bands:—Rotorua Town Band, Ivarangahake, Hamilton, Whangarei. No. 2 (Thames) Battalion. To. _Arolia. (.i.=bome City, Onehunga, Ist. A.M.R., and Hauraki. The Waihi Band, or~~*the Citizens, whichever it may he that is running t"*e contest, have chosen a very suitable date for the function. November being a month that is likely to catch the fine weather: and. owing to the interest taken in the (.teat. International Contest .it Christchurch by every band in New Zealand (especially those south of New Plymouth., there is no likelihood of opposition. I think too that the committee are doing the right thing by barring the Ist Battalion and Waihi Federal from competing, as there is no doubt that these two bands are superior to anything we have in the Auckland district ,

The Hauraki Band, which has .been having such a run of bad luck lately, is just beginning to pick up ohc-e more, and, like the plucky little crowd they have always been, intend to try to get a contesting band together once again. Mr. A. Williams (one of'- their -solo cornetists) has been elected bandmaster pro tern; and. being like his brothers, a ffrcat enthusiast in band matters, he is already beginning to make a marked improvement. Report says that this band is negotiating with a bandmaster in the Smith Island (who has just come over from Australia) with the hope that he will go to the Thames to live, and eventually take over the band; but so far there is nothing definite.

The Ist A.M.R. band through this column desire to thank Mr. H. Lloyd Brett and those others who so kindly assisted in working up the very successful concert and dance which was given at Takapuna on Friday evening last in aid' of the band's contest fund. The concert, in which some of Auckland's best talent took part, was held in the hail; and in spite of the inclemency of the weather the room was packed. At the conclusion of the concert those pre--sent adjourned to the Lake " Kiosk," where about sixty couples enjoyed a most pleasant evening's dancing. The band on this occasion received another donation from the officers of the A.M.R. of £7 7s, which is to go towards buying new musieV

A few Sundays ago. while in Waihi, I beard the Waihi .Federal -Band give- a programme in the Domain there. There was a very large gathering" of people present, and I was told that the collection realised a fairly handsome sum. I am pleased to know that their drummajor, who ran a crowbar through his leg some time ago. is out of bed and about again. The band, although far from being in their contesting form, played splendidly, and- their efforts were n_ oh p/ewnt. G f