GARRISON ARTILLERY BAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 203, 25 August 1916, Page 7

GARRISON ARTILLERY BAND.

Colonel W. 11. Hazard. Officer Commanding the Auckland Garrieon Artillery Division, was entertained at a smoke concert last nrght by the members of the Garrison Artillery Band, in recoffnition of liis effort* to srcuro for the band the fine new set of silver-plated Boospv instruments which it now possesses. The bandmafiter (Hon. Lieutenant ('■. F. Cater) presided, and amongst the giicste were Colonel 0. A. Ward (General Staff officer), Major Coles, and a number of officers of the G.A. Division, Mr. E. A. Alison (exMayor of Devoriport) and a number of old members of the band, and representatives of other bands nnd the various local musical societies.

Mr. Cater. in propoeing Colonel Hazard's health, rrfcrrnd to the efforte of the band prior to the war to secure an up-to-date sot of instruments in plarp of tlip old set—a misteellaneone collection of many different makes and agee, some of the pieces being 25 or 30 yours old. The war. he continued, ruined all their plana, but the matter was taknn up by Colonel Hazard after the band had henonie officially connected with the Garrison Artillery Division, with tlin frratifyinjr result that the hand new possessed as fine a set of instru- | nienta as any in bhe Dominion. Mr. Cater then presented Colonel Hazard with an enlarged photograph of the band, hearing an inscription on a silver plate attached to the frame. Colonel Hazard, in responding, eaid that the credit for procuring the new instruments was due mainly to the officere and men of his division, who had made the purchase possible. He valued the band's appreciation, and -wished it every suecees. In the course of the evening the healths of Mr. Andrew Hunter, handmaster from about .1370 till Wo 6— n period of over 35 years—and of Sergeant John Williamson, the band secretary, who has a record of nearly 30 years' service, wero drunk, and responded to by both gentlemen, Mr. Hunter giving some amusing reminjeccnccs of the early day* of the band, -which, has a history of nearly ihalf a century. The band contributed several selections, and a number of other musical items wercsralsa.-gßwn, I