NEWCASTLE BAND.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18332, 16 March 1925, Page 7

NEWCASTLE BAND.

FAREWELL CONCERT. The Newcastle Steel Worke Band gava their final concert in the King Edward Barracks on Saturday night before an overwhelming and most enthusiastic audience. The spacious area contained a solid mass of people, many thousands in number, and-the patronage accorded indicated what a high reputation the band earned for themselves during the eeason. Every item on a. most excellent programme was received with acclamation and several encore numbers were P Thf 'conducter, Mr A. H. Baile, announced during an interval that he hoped the band would be able to make a two night return visit to Chriotcburch before leaving for Australia. . . , The sacred concert given by the band in the King Edward Barrack 1 } last night attracted a huge crowd. Practically eveiy seat was occupied and the band was given a very enthusi-iatic reception. (

VISIT TO SUMNER. Yesterday afternoon tlie members of the Newcastle Baud paid a visit to Sumner, where'"they were entertained at the Pier Tea Rooms by the Mayor (Mr W. H. Nicholson). Welcoming the guests, the Mayor said that he esteemed it a great privilege to give them, on behalf of the borough, what might be termed a quiet, family welcome to the borough. Their tour lasting now exactly twelve months had proved a triumphal march of well-deserved successes, and had proved that it was not necessary to go to the Homeland to hear the best brass band' music. He was glad that the band had not missed coming to one of the beauty - spots of the Dominion, although he was Borry that it had not been possible to carry out the programme originally arranged. He. hoped that their visit would prove some small return for the great pleasure they had given to thousands, of people in Canterbury. Conductor A. H. Baile said that m a few words he desired to convey his very sincere thanks for the arrangements that had been made for the visit that afternoon. They were pleased with the reception,, and the members were quite struck with the beauties of the spot. He thanked the Mayor for his reference to their successes. They had all felt when in England that they were doing their best not only for the reputation of Newcastle, but for the honour of bands throughout the Southern Hemisphere. They were really only a stone's throw from the Dominion. He was glad to find that the Southern Hemisphere could produce music that could successfully compete with the musical traditions at Home. He specially desired to thank the members who had accompanied them that afternoon from the Woolston, Christchurch Municipal, Derry's, and Ist Regimental Bands. The visitors were conveyed as the guests of the city bands, amongst those present being: Mr B. Estall, conductor, Woolston; Mr J. Noble, conductor, Christchurch Municipal; Mr C. Hoskins, conductor, Ist Regimental Band; Mr E. Derry, conductor, Deiry's Band; Mr A. Schnack, late conductor of Timaru Garrison Band; Messrs Sweney and R. B. Owen, and Mr W. v. Siddall, ex-conductor of Woolston Band, and Town Clerk of Sumner. '