ROYAL ARTILLERY BAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 9

ROYAL ARTILLERY BAND.

< PROPOSED TOXTR SOUTH. |y 'AUSTRALIAN PROJECT. . -,'"r. ABANDONED. ft fgaißmON-S CHIEF DRAW? jn'IEAVE BEGINNING OF MARCH. f fte main topic of discussion Uiy the I 'Silica Finance and Music Gommit--j- yesterday the Royal Artillerr Bind, and how "rts service.- r-linuld te'utili-od during the month's extension -njn;ed by the Home authorities. ..."lie Finance Committee, which met (M tfas presided over by the president im r . G. Elliot) who explained that as I -jjc result of inquiries, it was found 'that ii steamer would be leaving Adelaide March sth, but that the fare deeded was £40 per man. which lis considered too high. - Regarding a question that the band should be sent L tour through Australia during the extension of time, he had come to the ! toadiision that they would not be justiiti'lor tbe sake of profit-making, in sending the band to Australia. The British Government had granted the extension solely owing to, representations Bide 'respeetins Josses through the strike, smallpox epidemic and bad •weather, and as a. matter of fact, appliatfOlß for visits for British military knds to Australia had 'been previously refused. The band, said Mr. Elliot, was oß ]y lent to New Zealand, out of compliment to the Dreadnought gift, and he . doubted very much whether the iHome | authorities would sanction a visit to' Australia. Such a trip would undoubtedly be a financial success, a representative of Messrs. Tait (Bros, having exnrctsed the opinion .that a profit of at leisf £3,000 could be made out of an i Australian tour. (But the profit question could not be allowed to dominate tie situation. j SAND CONTEST AND MAORI CHOIR. The president then proceeded to oot- ; line a, suggested! New Zealand tonr for tie. band, including a holiday at.Rotorua. leaving Auckland on February Ist, the members of the band could visit the thermal district, and return to Auckland on the 4th, giving a concert at Hamilton on the tray down; play at the Exhibition on the, evening of the 4th, and leave the Kit day' for a Sotrthern tonr. embracing New Plymouth. Wanuwui, Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christehurch, Timaru, Qamaru, Danedin, and Inrvercargill, arriving back ii Auckland on February 22nd. He pointed out that on February 9 some 30 bands would be here for the band contest, lasting a week, and it would never do to have the Artillery Rand playing at the came time, as that would kill the other bands. For the balance of the period during which the band would be away, the executive had been trying to ' arrcnge with the Maori Choir of Roto- ! ( roa to give performances. He had dtscussed the question of sending the I band' to Australia with the Prime 1 -Minister, and Mr. Massey agreed f thai it would be wise to abandon the idea.'.' By sending it South, "however, it I TftluJd he giving people in' other Tpart6 : I of New Zealand an opportunity to hear it. When the Hon. Mr. Herrics was I lere on Sunday, he would see him about j jetting free railway passes for the member;. As to the Maoris, a band of 40 entertainers had been offered them at '£250 for a week, the Maoris to pay their own expenses. If an arrangement trere arrived at, the Maoris would start their entertainments, afternoon and evening, on Monday, February 16.