ROYAL ARTILLERY BAND

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 54, 5 March 1914, Page 7

ROYAL ARTILLERY BAND

DEPARTURE £OR ENGLAND. The Royal Artillery Band, which tame to New Zealand tome three and a half months ago tinder engagement by the Auckland Exhibition authorities, leaves for England to-daj by the Ruapehu. Tho band landed at Port ChAlniers from England on the 22nd of November, and after giving two concerts at Dunedin, Christchurch, and Welling' ton, and one at Timuru, to Auckland, where it has given concerts twics daily at the Exhibition, with the exception of a short concert tour to other cities and a few days' rest and change at Rotorua. Captain Preeston, officer in command, desires, on behalf of the members of the band, to express their hearty 'iippre^ elation of the splendid receptions they have everywhere been given at their concerts in New Zealand. He also wishes to acknowledge the liberal treatment accorded to them by the Exhibition authorities, who, he said, did everything they could to cii&tnc tlicii 1 comfort. " Wo arp," he said, " very grateful for the hospitality which hat. been everywhere shown to us, and carry away pleasant memories of our stay in New ZeaJand. " .Speaking pe«onallv, Captain Precbton said that what struck him most in the South Island was iis similarity to parts of ilie Old Country, untl when he came to the North Island he was charmed with its primeval lorests and amazed at its thermal wonders; "and as to sport," he ."Aided, " well, I have had the best tiout-lisliing in my life at Taupo." The members of the Royal Artillery Band had very few opportunities of hearing bands in New Zealand, as they were fin tottr during the band contests ilt thrf' Exhibition, but the feeling is expressed that wood-wind instruments are required in our bands, and constant practice, /.<•. essential. On it« way to New B Zealand the Roya-I Artillery Band practi&ad' on an average four hold's a day. l