THE BRASS BANDS' CONTEST.

Evening Star, Issue 10817, 29 December 1898, Page 2

THE BRASS BANDS' CONTEST.

A start was made this morning to clear off the remaining solo competitions. The soprano cornets came first. Their piece was a fantaisie varie on a German theme, arranged by L. H. Merck. Five players competed. M'Grath (Invercargill) drew first place, but, being momentarily absent, he was by consent shifted to the last place. J. Scott (South Canterbury), H. Hofland (Engineers), J. M'Ara (Vallev), and C. P. M'Glashan were the other performers. While they attained to a fair standard, it cannot be said that the class as a whole was a good one. The tenor horns came next, using the same piece with some amendments by the selector leaving an optional reading in certain passages. The performers were: H. Davie (Kaikorai), J. M'Kersey (Dunedin Navals), J. Boyd (Engineers), R. Nicholson (We! lington), and J. Dickinson (Engineers). It was a capital competition all round, and whoever wins may count it a high honor. The last of the solo contests, for B flat cornets, was taken this afternoon. The men who competed were :—T. Rodgers (South Canterbury), F. iHatton (South Canterbury), G. M'Caa (South Canterbury), C. H. Hoskin (Kaiapoi), E. Kerr (Kaikorai), T. M'Kersey (Valley), G. Baker (Wellington), J. Parker (Engineers), and G. Buckley (Wellington). The best of the playing came quite up to expectations; but as a whole the competition showed no improvement on previous years. The ' Falstaff' selection this evening brings the meeting to a close.