BANDS PLAY FOE CHARITY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21355, 24 December 1934, Page 14

BANDS PLAY FOE CHARITY

♦ ROTARY CLUB'S APPEAL CONCERT IN HOSPITAL GROUNDS The band concert organised by the Rotary Club in aid of its Christmas Hamper Fund Appeal was held in the grounds of the Public Hospital yesterday afternoon and resulted in the collection of £7B 4s lid. Last year the fixture was abandoned because of bad weather, while the year before the amount collected was £llO. In addition to the sum of £llOs 10s Id collected by the street appeal and by private donations, £ls 17s 2d was received from the exhibition of Lord Bledisloe's photographs at the D.I.C. The total amount brought in by the appeal, therefore, is £1199 12s 2d. Between 4000 and 5000 people attended the band concert. The grounds of the hospital were eminently suitable for the occasion, the shade of the trees and a pleasant breeze from the north-east tempering the heat.

Eight Bands Assist The bands assembled in Cathedral square, and were under the control of Mr R. B. Hean, secretary of the Bands' Association. The Woolston Brass Band, 29 strong, under Mr R. J. Estall, headed the march to the hospital grounds, leaving just after 2 p.m., and it was followed at intervals of three minutes by the other bands in the following order, the strength of the bands and their conductors being given in parenthesis:—Derry's Military Band (43, Lieutenant H. Gladstone Hill), Band of the Scottish Society of New Zealand (17, Pipe-Major J. McLachlan), Band of the First Canterbury Mcgiment (38, Captain C. H. Hoskin), Canterbury Caledonian Society's Pipe Band (22, Pipe-Major C. Gibson), New Brighton Municipal Band (30, Mr J. A. Nuttall), Christchurch Scottish Pipe Band (23, Pipe-Major A. McTainsh), Christchurch Municipal Band (28, Mr J. Annand). The Stanmore Silver Band was unable to be present owing to sickness among some of its members and the inability of others to obtain leave from work. Hundreds of people congregated in the square while the bands assembled, and followed them to the hospital grounds along Oxford terrace, while many people stood on the footpaths to watch the bandsmen. Indeed, the majority of people at the concert seemed to come with the bands, apparently finding the marching of the bands and their music a source of interest. The programme was begun with the playing of the National Anthem by the Band of the First Canterbury Regiment.

The Mayor's Thanks After several items had been played, the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.), who was introduced by the president of the Rotary Club (Mr J. Mawson Stewart), addressed the gathering. Mr Sullivan said that he had been asked by the chairman of the appeal committee of the Rotary Club (Mr Denys Hoare) 1o thank sincerely the bands of the city for coming out the tenth year in .succession to help the work of the club in providing Christmas fare for the distressed of the city. Mr Sullivan added his thanks on behalf of the residents of Christchurch, and commented on the presence of Die Scottish pipe bands, saying that he was very pleased to see them in attendance. A great debt was due to the bandsmen, he said. Last year it. had rained on the afternoon of the concert, and the bandsmen had been drenched, but they been quite prepared to go on with the concert. This year, he understood, Mr Mawson Stewart had prayed every morning and evening for good weather, and his efforts had been so successful that he believed that the farmers were now writing to him asking him to stop praying. (Laughter.) Mr Sullivan then apologised for the absence of the Stanmore Silver Band.

Continuing, Mr Sullivan said that | the Rotary Club had concentrated very largely on providing hampers where there was sickness in the family. Approximately 1160 hampers would be delivered, including 177 to people on the list of the Returned Soldiers' Association. However, there was still about SI 100 needed, but he was sure that every person present would do his best to sec that this amount was made up. "True Spirit of Christmas The work of the Rotary Club was being done in the true spirit of Christmas—the spirit of regard for the welfare of (heir fellow men and women, said Mr Sullivan. By their work the members of the club were bringing light and comfort and happiness into the homes of a very great number of Christchurch people who would otherwise suffer deprivation. As Mayor of the city he wished to thank the people, for their help and for the loving good service they were giving to those in distress. He also wanted to commend and express thanks for the work of the Rotary Club and the men of the bands, who had never failed to give their services when they had been sought.

Mr Mawson Stewart said he wished only io endorse the remarks of the Mayor io thanking the people and the bandsmen for their assistance. He regretted to have to announce that only £6O had been collected by the concert, and he appealed for further donations. However, in spite of the smallness of the amount, the distribution of the hampers would not be affected. "Rather too much credit is paid to the Rotary Club for organising the collection of food and distributing the hampers,'.' said Mr Mawson Stewart. "The credit and thanks should go to all you good people of Christchurch who find the money which allows the Rotary Club to do this work." Mr Mawson Stewart then gave some figures dealing with the distribution of the hampers. There would be 1160 hampers delivered, all containing groceries. Altogether there would be 18,583 packages of a total weight of 14 tons. In addition 5434 pounds of bread and more than 8000 pounds of meat would be sent out. The families benefiting numbered 1160, comprising 7116 persons. In conclusion, Mr Mawson Stewart spoke appreciatively of the work of the newspapers of the city, which, he said, had given valuable assistance. The Programme The massed bands, under Captain Hoskin, opened the programme with, the march, "Farewell, My Comrades." The other items were:—Selections by Scottish Society's Pipe Band, "Dovecote Park," "Maori Melody." March, "Challenge"; hymn, "Fierce Raged the Tempest," Christchurch Municipal Band. March, "Through Bolts and

Bars"; overture, "Morning, Noon, and Night": Christmas carols, Derry's Military Band. Selections by Caledonian Society's Pipe Band: "Loch Duich, "Dougald McColl's Farewell to France," "Dorrator Bridge," "The Brolum"; march and waltz, "Dorothea Stewart Murray's Wedding March?' "Believe Me, If all Those Endearing Young Charms." Carol, "O, Come, All Ye Faithful," accompaniment by Woolston Brass Band. Overture, "Zauberflote" (Mozart), Woolston Brass Band. Carol, "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," accompaniment by Woolston Brass Band. March, "The Flying Squad"; hymns, "Winchester Old," "Stuttgard," Band of the First Canterbury Regiment. Selections by the Christchurch Scottish Pipe Band: "Glenfmlas." "Hot Punch," "Reel o' Tulloch," "Dornoch Links," "Heroes of Culloden." Fantasia, "Clarendon," New Brighton Municipal Band.