A BOYS' BAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 179, 28 July 1916, Page 6

A BOYS' BAND.

ANNUAL MEETING AT PONSONBY.; The report by Mr. D. Callinan, oa, behalf of tbe committee of the Ponso-by . Boys' Drum and Fife Band, presented"-*." the annual meeting held in theJLeys ._-, Institute last night testified to. the.con-.'! tinued success of this excellent organisation for boys. There are now 130,0n . the roll, and applications have to be fre- . quently refused on- account of limited . room and scarcity of instruments.. Hie . , band has improved wonderfully - under the instruction of Bandmaster jH. T. Tuck, assisted by G. Fearn. Gb—f-ervMe 1 has also been rendered In this department by C: Atkin, E. Rammage, and ; _. Sneddon, whose work the conunittee gratefully acknowledge. T_e great event of the year was the Southern tour, which; proved a complete success,; leaving ft; balance of £15 19/4, after payment of" all the expenses. The Mayor of WeHing- < ton, Mr. Luke, "did everyth—ig in -j- i . power to make the boys' stay in hie'city > a pleasant and happy one. llr. MdTar-' ! lane also took a great interest in .the ' band." In connection wi—t local oners- : ; tions, the report points out that efforts" 1 are being made to build a hall' that' will;•;'<. be of use not only to the bandj.iUt'wßl provide a club-room where the boys who are not musically inclined may take' som- - form of amusement .which will --ft, of • benefit to them in later yean. An art union 'has been promoted to assist the fund, and will result in. a su_sta_tiil amount. Liberal donations have also been promised by various citians. _he - band has played during the year for nfr : ous patriotic carnivals and benefits," and. ■'" on board the Japanese wai—lups. Thanks are returned to the Ponsonby School Committee for the useof the __h6oli_—tt:for practices. The balance-sheet _ccb_- : panying the "report shewed that the lanis in a sound financial position. ,-- Mr. T. W. Leys, president of the band, who occupied the eha-.r,\ In moving the adoption of the report, eulogised the work of Mr. the band manager; the bandmaster, and the committee. He also spoke of the • excellent- influence which the discipline and musical ihstfiretion associated with the operations of the band had upon the boys in Pon?' sonby. ■ : The report was unanimously adopted. ? The election of committee resulted in the return of Mr. T. AY. Leys, president; \ Mr. A. M. Myers, vice-president; Messrs. Barton, Edwards. Mickleborough, Lar- ' kins, Pitcher, and Bennett, members of. ; committee. Enthusiastic votes of thank- . to Mr. D. Callinan (band manager), the - bandmasters and assistants, and the committee brought the meetings' to a close. . ' ' '..,' j . The public drawing of the-art union was then proceeded with, -and . rosulte-. ' in the results announced in our advertising columns tu-nigiit.