MUNICIPAL BAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1929, Page 6

MUNICIPAL BAND

ANNUAL MEETING HELD. Th annual meeting - of the Greymouth Municipal Band, held in the band room last evening, was attended by over twenty members. The President, Dr J. W. Mcßrearty, was voted to the chair. The secretary, Mr W. D. Murray, expressed the pleasure of members at the presence of their President, after his recent illness. Dr McBrearty was always an inspiration to the Band. . . The annual report, as published in Wednesday’s “Star,” was read and adopted. Prior to the election of officers, Dr Mcßrearty stated that during the past year he had been no help to the Band at all, and at the present time he was not much better. He hoped, therefore, that they would not consider him as President again, but would appoint a keen, active man. He appreciated the honour done him by the Band in past years. While he had a kick in him, he was only too pleased to put it in the right direction, but he was now seriously handicapped by ill-health.

The Mayor (Mr J. W. Greenslade) was re-elected as patron. Mr Murray, speaking on behalf _ of the Band, said that he did not think they would take any notice of Dr Mcßrearty’s remarks. He was one of the finest assets of the Bgnd, and they could not do without him. The re-election of Dr Mcßrearty as President was moved by Mr Murray, seconded by Mr H. Leach, and supported by Mr A. McMaster (conductor), the latter stating that Dr Mcßrearty had always shown a wide, keen, sympathetic interest in the Band, and had proved himself one of its best friends.

Returning thanks, Dr Mcßrearty stated that he would do the best he could, despite his handicap. Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., and the chairmen of local bodies were elected as vice-presidents. In nominating Mr McMaster as conductor, the President stated that the conductor had seen the Band over many rough roads and hard work. The nomination was seconded by Mr Murray, and the re-election was unopposed. After a ballot for the position of bandmaster, Mr A. Smith was elected, receiving fourteen votes against seven for Mr J. Henderson. The retiring bandmaster, Mr Vincent, did not offer himself for re-election, as he intends to leave the district. The ballot for the position of bandsergeant resulted in the election of Mr L. Halls, who defeated Mr Henderson by twelve votes to nine. The re-election of Mr A. Cornell as librarian was proposed by Mr McMaster, who said he did not think it possible to pick a better man for the position. Mr Cornell had been of great assistance to him. In seconding the nomination, Mr Murray said he did not think Mr Cornell could be equalled in New Zealand as a band librarian. Mr Vincent said that in his nineteen years’ experience with many bands, he had never seen music kept as well as it was by Mr Cornell. The President also paid a tribute to Mr Cornell, and the re-election was unopposed. Mr W. Garner was appointed assistant librarian.

After some discussion regarding the appointment of a drum-major, it was decided on the motion of Mr Vincent, seconded by Mr Halls, that the matter be left in the hands of the secretary, to carry out the suggestion made by Mr McMaster, that Lieutenant Moore, of the Defence Department, be requested to recommend a suitable man for the position. Mr H. Leach was elected as treasurer, unopposed. Mr Murray, in acknowledging his re-election as secretary, unopposed, stated that he had not intended to accept the position again, but, seeing the unsatisfactory financial position the Band was in, he would carry on. The following were nominated as members of th© committee: —Messrs J. Smith, J. Henderson, E. Barton, J. Contessa, R. Nash, W. Forsyth, and H. Anderson. The ballot resulted as follows: —Smith 17, Barton 14, Henderson 13, Forsyth 13, Nash 12, Anderson 11, Contessa 8. Messrs Smith, Barton, Henderson, and Forsyth were elected.

Mr Murray stated that the auditors, Messrs J. Owen and W. Bring, were not anxious to be re-appointed. Mr Leach said that a member of the Band should be elected as one auditor. It would be more satisfactory than having two outside auditors. Mr Cornell agreed, pointing out that a non-member did not know the affairs of the Band so well as a member.

Mr Murray said lie knew that the Borough Council would like to be represented, and he proposed the Town Clerk (Mr F. H. Denton) as one o£ the auditors. Mr Leach then withdrew his suggestion for an inside auditor. It was decided that Messrs Denton and A. Naylor be appointed, subject to their consent. On the motion of Mr Barton, a special vote of thanks was accorded to Miss B. Adkin for her services as accompaniste at the Wanganui contest.. On the motion of the President, a vote of thanks was passed to the Press, for its assistance during the past year. The Press had such power, said Dr Mcßrearty, that its help could not be done without. A vote of thanks to the ladies’ committee, moved by Mr J. Smith, was carried. The ladies, he said, did a lot of good work for the Band. Mr E. V. Ellery pointed out that, three years ago, it was decided that the annual meeting should take place on a certain date, April 1. It was a “little belated” this year. He gave the secretary credit for having had a strenuous time recently, but thought he could stretch a point and get the annual meeting over in the summertime, instead of the members having to “sit there in winter and freeze to death.”