VALEDICTORY

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 November 1934, Page 12

VALEDICTORY

A. McMASTER AND FAMILY. Conductor A. McMaster and Mrs McMaster and family were last evening farewelled in Perotti Hall by members of the Greymouth Civic Band and supporters, numbering about sixty. Mr A. Kilpatrick, President of the Band, presided, and also at the main table were Mr and Mrs McMaster, Mr G. R. Harker (Patron), Mr P. M. Outhwaite (the new conductor) and Mrs Outhwaite, Mr T. Tarrant (Drum Major), and Mr R. J. Williams. Duiing the evening presentations were made by Mr Tarrant of a gold watch, suitably inscribed, to Mr McMaster, a crystal vase to Mrs McMastei, and a silver wristlet watch to Master Ron McMaster; also a pair of gloves to Miss Kathleen Gieseking, who has resigned her position as official accompanists. After the loyal toast had been honoured, the Patron (Mr Harker) proposed “Our Guests.” He was very sorry, with the Band, he said, to have to say farewell to Mr McMaster, and he could say little more than all the good things that had been said about him during the week. The Coast was losing a very able musician, and even with the names of such illustrious bandsmen as Frank Traversi, Billy Stevenson, Tom Goodall, and Johnny Robertson, he felt that the name that would stand the longest in the history of bands on the West Coast was that of “Archie McMaster.” They had only to glance at his long list of successes as a bandsman, and they could well judge what an accomplished and successful musician the town was losing. In addition to his musical attainments, Mr McMaster had been a fine citizen. He had brought up a family of which any man might be proud, and had not an enemy in the town. His work with the Civic Band and prior to that, with the Municipal Band, was known all over the Coast, and it was with the utmost regret that they bade farewell to him and his family. Bandsman A. Tomkies also expressed regret at the departure of Conductor McMaster. The latter, he said, had had a hard struggle to place the Civic Band on the map, not because of Band opposition, but because of the bumps and setbacks they had received from things that were going round the town at times. He had won through, however, and his memory would always live in Greymouth. Other speakers were Bandsmen T. Forsyth, R. Hickling, J. Smith, O. Jackson, H. Michel, and Messrs J-. Gibb, F. Stent and H. McLauchlan. Bandsman Smith referred to Mr McMaster as having no equal as a conductor in New Zealand. All wished him and Mrs McMaster the best of health and success in their new home. When he rose to reply, Mr McMaster was greeted, with prolonged applause. He said he appreciated deeply all the kind/ words that had been said about. him,-and he felt highly honoured with such a large gathering of bandsmen and ladies present. He wished to thank them sincerely for their presence, ■ and all the speakers for their kind remarks. He felt he had a great deal to be thankful tor, for since he came to the town the public had been loyal to him as conductor, first of the Municipal Band, and then of the Civic Band. He wished to thank especially those men who linked up with him when he formed the Civic Band, particularly those who had played with him since his taking up band work in Greymouth. His thanks were also due in a large measure to the President, who came forward when there was something of a shroud about the Band, and gave very great support. (Applause). He also mentioned Mr W. Gunn (secretary until some 18 months ago), Mr P. Outhwaite (than whom he said, he had not seen a better band secretary), Mr Tarrant (who had done splendid work on the business side of the Band), and the Ladies’ Committee, who were always to the fore when required. The bandsmen had shown true loyalty and discipline, without which the best conductor in the world could do no good, and he was very grateful to them for that support. Different speakers had mentioned Mrs McMaster, and he would like to say that she had been a wonderful help to him and the boys, since his association with band work in Greymouth. His boys, too, had been loyal to him, and he was proud of that fact. He would like to say, with all sincerity, that during his association with the Municipal Band, as he raised them from a third grade band to an A grade, they had had lots of pleasant and successful times together. For about eight years nothing happened to mar his happiness or that of the bandsmen, but then a spirit dropped into the band, which resulted in a slackening of discipline, and no matter where he was, once discipline went, he went, too. In conclusion, he would say that the Civic Band now was playing at a higher standard than the Municipal Band when it was in the A grade. (Applause). He liked the Coast, and always had, and if ever he had the chance of coming back he would be delighted to renew his associations with bandsmen. (Applause). ' Mr McMaster and family were given three hearty cheers, and were accorded musical honours. Other toasts honoured during the evening were: —“The New Conductor,” proposed by Mr Tarrant and responded to by Mr Outhwaite; “The Patron,” proposed by Mr R. J. Williams, and responded to by Mr Harker; “The Official Accompaniste,” proposed by Mr Tomkies, and responded to, on behalf of Miss Gieseking, by Mr O. Jackson,; “The Civic Band,” proposed by Mr F. Stent and responded to by Mr H. McLauchlan; “The Committee,” proposed by Mr J. Williams and responded to by Mr J. Jackson; “The Ladies,” proposed by Mr J. Smith and responded to by Mr E. McHugh; “The Visitors,” proposed by Mr H. Payne, and responded to by Messrs W. Robinson and R. T. Bush; “The Borough Council,” proposed by Mr T. Tarrant and responded to by Cr. R. J. Williams.; “The Chairman,” proposed by Mr Harker, and responded to by Mr Kilpatrick; and “The Press,” proposed by Mr F. McGirr and responded to by Mr R. T. Bush.

During the evening, eulogistic references were made to the splendid work done by tLe retiring accoinpaniste, Miss Gieseking, who, in the words of one speaker, “had been a second ‘Archie McMaster’ in her loyalty and devotion to the Band’s work. Items were contributed by Messrs H. Anderson, W. Payne, L. Payne, J. Duffy, and J. Smith, the accompanistes being Miss Gieseking and Mr W. Williams. Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem concluded the gathering. Mr and Mrs McMaster left this morning for Addington. They were fare-

welled by a large gathering at the Greymouth railway station.