TESTIMONIAL TO BANDMASTER QUINN.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3931, 29 March 1870, Page 3

TESTIMONIAL TO BANDMASTER QUINN.

There was on View yesterday, at the premises of Messrs. Upton and Co., Queenstreet, the testimonial which has been prepared by the Auckland Choral Society for presentation to Mr. Michael Quinn, bandmaster 2nd battalion 18th E.I. Regiment. The testimonial consists of a very handsome silver-mounted baton, and a casket of New Zealand wood, containing a beautifully illuminated 'and chastely engrossed address. The Mton was made by Mr. Seuferfc, the skilful wood-turner and cabinet-maker, of Wellesley-street, the carving beiug executed by Mr. Teutenberg, and the mounting by Mr. E. Bsck. The design of the Mton is mest chaste and elegant, and apart from the wood itself its origin is rendered more marked by the skilful insertion of a beautiful specimen of auriferous quartz at the larger end of it. On the lower ring of the silver mounting, there is the following inscription :—": — " Presented to Michael Quinn, Bandmaster, 18th X, 1., by the Auckland Choral Society, Febiuary, 1870." The casket is wholly of New Zealand wood, the main portion being of mottled kauri, and the bordering, &c, of totara and other woods, the whole being most beautifully designed and skilfully executed. On the centre of the lid, there is a design representing an open music-book, with a trumpet and baton crossed. The casket is lined with blue velvet. The address has been very tastefully illuminated and engrossed by Mr. T. Hall, whose proficiency in this style of decoration wo have often had occasion to notice on former occasions. The initial Tof the address is a most elaborate piece of decorative arfc, and indicates much originality and peculiarity of style. The illuminated portion of the address is as follows :— " To Michael Quinn, Bandmaster 2nd battalion 18th E. 1., from the Auckland Choral Society." The text of the address, which is engrossed in a clear bold old English style, i 3 as follows :— "The Auckland Choral Society, in recognition of the valuable time and zealous service which you have, during your residence in Auckland, devoted, gratuitously, to the cause of music, desire to present you with the accompanying conductor's baton. "It will serve to perpetuate in your memory the time when you conducted the first symphony that was ever played in the colony of New Zealand, possibly in the Australian colonies; and you will never again hear Mozart's No. 6 without remembering the evening when his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, President of the Society, wasjplaying'ainidst our first violins. "Your departure from amongst us has created a, void which, at present, we can see no means of filling, for, apart from the love of music for its own sake, which you succeeded in engrafting in your bandsmen .who chiefly supplied the wind instruments for" our performances, we can scarcely hope to meet again a conductor who will inspire hia performers with such perfect confidence in his skill, power, and presence of mind. "You will, of course, in the places you will hereafter visit, meet with better music than Auckland music, and better musicians than your old friends here ; but we venture to say that you will not, during your future career, find a more enthusiastic and united band, and one by whom your own rejnarkable talents and graceful skill will be more appreciated ; , and we hope you will occasionally think with pleasure on your days amongst us. ".F. B. Fenton, "Vice-President." We believe the address will be confided to the 'care of Colonel Elliot, who will leave on the 3lst instant.

M. Galand, whose revolver has been adopted for the IVench cavalry, has improved his weapon in a way which will allow of its being used as a carbine as well as a pistol. An iron rod with joints drawa out and can be placed against the shoulder, and this invention, "wluch adds but little to the weight of the pistol, enables the trooper to take a Steadier aim than if firing in the usual manner* The price of M. Galand's pistol is only 15 francs, and we see that a. French paper says that every honest man should Jha,ve one as a "defence against ruffians. A New York dentist claims to have recently extracted some of his own teeth after, putting himself to, sleep •withchlor. ofoym,