PONSONBY BOYS' BAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 10

PONSONBY BOYS' BAND.

TOUR OF CANADA.

UNDERTAKING NEXT YEAR.

The tenth ailimal meeting of the Poneonby Boys' Brass Band was held last evening in the All Saints', schoolroom, the president, Mr. W. Cecil Leys, presiding over a good attendance. The Teports presented showed that there -were 58 hoys in the senior hand, and 28 in the junior. At the New Year an extensive tour of 2000 miles to the Dunedin Exhibition and ,the West Coast was undertaken. Among the places visited were Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Hokitika, Greymouth, Eeefton, Westport and Nelson. At Dunedin and Oamaru the band was entertained by the Rotarians. At Easter a tour was made to Te Aroha.

A new band hall with a floor space of 40ft by 24ft has been erected, and will be ready for occupation within a fortnight. During the past six years the band has not missed an official or military parade. It is hoped that the Government subsidy will this year be increased from £25 to £75, thus making it the same as that received by other military bands.

The financial statement showed a deficit in the year's account for the first time in the history of the band. This amounted to £290 7/2. On the exhibition tour there was a loss of £161 16/3, and £150 has been written off instruments in the course of the year. The revenue of the band is derived from open air concerts.

Arrangements are now in hand for an educational tour of Canada to commence in April of next year, and to extend over a period of about three months.

Mr. Leys, in addressing the meeting, stressed the great educational benefits to be derived by the boys from the various tours undertaken. It was stated that the boys while in Canada would be shown over a great number of the large Canadian factories. This will be the greatest tour ever undertaken by a boys' band.

The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. W. Cecil Leys; committee, Messrs. V. Johnson (chairman), J. D. Hurfit (secretary), T. Vivian (treasurer), W. Jackson, W. Saxon,' J. Whitfield, R. Short, W. Dear, C. Wheeler, R, Morgan; conductor, Mr. F. C. Lawn.

The meeting then took the form of a social gathering. The band played selections at Intervals throughout the evening-