MUNICIPAL BAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1937, Page 4

MUNICIPAL BAND

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Greymouth Municipal Band was held in the Band Hall, last evening, Mr. J. S. Robertson (president) presiding over an attendance of thirty-five members. The annual report, as previously published in the “Star,” was adopted. The treasurer (Mr. W. Garth) submitted the following balance sheet for the year ended March 31, 1937: — Receipts: Cash in Bank 31/3/36 £126/3/-, cash in Post Office 9/4, cash in hand 10/6, lion. members’ subs. £95/3/-, rent of Hall £l4/1/6, Borough sub. £6O, engagements and carols £46 13/6, donations £l/5/-, sale of work £l5/10/6, refund V. Mcllerron £2, booking at Concert £2/8/-. solo entries £l/11/-, total £365/15/4. Expenditure: —Hon. members’ concerts £25/2/-, electric light A/c. £2 18/8, gas £2/1/2, petty cash £3/10/-, insurance £3/6/2, expenses for engagements £lO/5/-, cartage and coal 17/9, social A/cs. £l3/10/11, music £ll/19/4, contest nomination fees £3 10/-, N.Z.8.8.A. fees £2/10/6, collecting subs and secretary donation £24 16/6, V. Mcllerron £6, printing and advertising £3/19/3, conductor’s salary £Bl. bandsmen’s travelling expenses £l3/16/-, piano £35, presentation £3/15/-, wreaths £l/2/6, new hat 18/9, repairs Band Hall £2/10/10, sale of work expenses £2/16/-, sundries A/cs. £l/1/9, Bank charge and cheque book 14/-, repairs instruments £2 12/6, balance at Bank £lO5/11/5, in Post Office 9/4; total £365/15/4. Assets: Instruments £540, Band Hall £lBO, uniforms £234, music £69, furniture and fittings £22/10/-, pianos and crockery £53 (less old piano written off £l3) £4O; total £1,085/10/-. Balance at flank £lO5/11/5, in Post Office 9/4, grand total £1,191/10/9. Liabilities: Nil. The balance sheet was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The election of officers resulted: — Patron: The Mayor (Mr. W. Meldrum) (re-elected); President: Mr. J. S. Robertson (re-elected); Vice-Presi-dents: Members of the Borough Council, chairmen of all local bodies; Ven. Archdeacon J. A. Jermyn, Rev. Father J. Long, Messrs. J. O’Brien M.P., F. M. Dennehy, J. Keating, A. J. Fairmaid, F. Garth, H. Prescott, F. Bowes, T. Crankshaw, J. MacLeod, W. M. Stewart, H. Eatwell, J. W. Grcenslade, K. Balchin, J. Emsworth; Conductor, Mr. G. Kerr (re-elected); secretary: Mr. J. Henderson (re-elected); assistant-secreary, Mr. H. Leach (reelected) ; treasurer, Mr. W. Garth (reelected); Band-Sergeant: Mr. T. Lim (re-elected); librarian: Mr. A. Cornell (re-elected); Band Corporal: Mr. B. Goodall; custodian: Mr. W. Garth (reelected); Bandmaster: Mr. R. Jackson; Committee: Messrs. E. V. Ellery, J. Carruthers, P. Griffin and J. Contessa. The appointment of the drum-major was held over. Prior to the election of Conductor, Mr. G. Kerr suggested that the Band would do better with an outside man, and referred to the disappointing attendances he had had at practices. Mr. W. Garth said that he thought Mr. Kerr had done well with the Band since he had had it, and he did not think they needed an outsider at the present time, as they did not intend to go contesting for some time. He thought the Band would do quite well if the members rallied round Mr. Kerr, and gave him their support, and he did not see why Mr. Kerr should not bring the Band up to contest standard. Personally, he would like to see Mr. Kerr take the position again. A number of speakers paid a tribute to Mr. Kerr’s work for the Band, and he was unanimously re-elected. Mr. J. Contessa suggested it would be a good plan if the players got together and worked to go to the North Island next year. He thought that it would act as an incentive for players to attend practice. Mr. Kerr said that when Mr. Francis left he did not wish to take the conductorship, but since he had been asked, and had accepted, he had done his best, but only twice had he had a full muster at practices. If Mr. Francis had had to put up with that, he would have turned grey. Right through the Band there were some wonderful players, and the only thing they were lacking in was cornets. The material was there, and if the players would .only attend practices, wonderful things could be done. He was not blaming the Runanga players, who had been consistent in their attendance, but the Grey players had to wake up. His advice was not to talk about contests, but to get the players first. On the suggestion of Mr. Lim, it was decided to set up a social committee, to conduct dances and euchres during the Winter months, and the following were appointed to the Committee: Messrs. J. Phibbs. E. Carruthers, T. Lim, H. Eatwell, H. Leach and I). Haglund.

ANNUAL BANQUET Following the meeting, the annual banquet of the Band was held, there being an attendance of about 100 members and supporters. Apologies for absence were received from the Mayor (Mi-. W. Meldrum), Crs. R. J. Williams and J. B. Kent and Mr. F. A. Kitchingham. In extending a welcome to the visitors, the President said that it was a pleasure to see many of the old faces back again. After the Loyal toast, Mr. J. Carruthers proposed the toast of “The Greymouth Borough Council.’’ He said that the Band was vested in the Council, which was the trustee of its property, and they expected its help. They had always got it fairly well, as was up to the Council, as it owned all the property that the Band had accumulated over a number of years.

In reply, Cr. A. M. Carroll said that he could assure the Band that it afforded him great pleasure to take part in such a cheerful gathering. He could assure rhe Band that the Council fully appreciated the work that. it. was doing for the town, anil the high class music that it provided whenever it was called upon. They realised that a good band, like the Municipal, was an asset in the town. They had only to look back upon the records of the Baud to see that in the Municipal Band they had something that they should be proud of. The record proved that the latent talent was hero and only required bringing out, to ensure that the Band would give as good an account of itself in the A grade a J it had done in the B grade. He could assure them that the. Council appreciated the services that the Band had rendered to the town and felt that the money given them annually was well I spent. It was a matter of great satis-1 tion to the Council to see the Baud's financial position as it was at the present time. He could look back on the j timo, not so very long ago. when the

position was giving the Council seiious thought, but now the debt of £7OO had been wiped off and in its place were assets valued at over £lOOO and in addition £lO6 in the bank. It showed the amount of hard work that was going on, not only by the playing members, but by Mr. Garth and his associates. He had recollections ot Mr. Carruthers going away and coming back as the champion trombone player of New Zealand. In conclusion, Cr. Carroll wishet the Band members success and prosperity in the future, especially when competing in the A grade. Proposing’ the toast of “The Band Mr. T-I. Prescott said that it was not for the bandsmen to get their tails down because they had lost a conductor. They had a good crowd of players, and he could assure them that in Mr’ Kerr they' had a goou conductor too. What he had seen Mr. Kerr do with other bands, he was sure he could do with the Municipal Band, if the members gave him their co-opeiation. He knew that Mr. Kerr had not wanted the conductorship, but he (Mr. Prescott) did not know where the band was going to get another as good as him. He had had the experience, and if the members stood by him he would make the Band a success. As an A Grade Band they would have to toe the line more than when in the B grade, and he would remind them that they could not do it without practice.

In reply Mr. W. Garth said that he could claim to be the oldest member of the Band, and when he would have liked to slip out of office, they had again elected him to look after their finances. In past years they had had ups and downs, but now Mr. Kerr ha<l taken over it was up to the members to rally round him and give him the same support that they had given Mr. Francis. He was sure that Mr. Kerr could make a. success of the Band. Mr. E. V. Ellery also responded, referring to the assistance that Mr. Prescott had given the Band since he had been in Greymouth. In calling upon Mr. P. Griffin to propose the toast of “The Ladies,” the President paid a tribute to the work of Miss S. McSherry, as accompanist and referred to the help that she had given. The toast was responded to by Messrs L. Flails and L. Carruthers. Other toasts honoured were, “Kindred Societies,” proposed by Mr. E. V. Ellery and responded to by Messrs R. J. Logan (Philharmonic Society) and L. Carruthers (Orchestral Society), and “The Press” proposed by Cr. A. M. Carroll. PRESENTATIONS The President, said that when they had had to get a. new conductor Mr. Kerr had slipped into the breach, and he could assure Mr. Kerr that the members appreciated his work. They felt that they could not let the opportunity go without making some little presentation, especially as he had not received any salary. On behalf of the Band members he (the President) had much pleasure in asking Mr. Kerr’s acceptance of a cheque. In returning thanks for the presentation, Mr. Kerr said that, like all good bandsmen, he wanted to see the Band progress, and he had only tried to do his best. He only hoped that the members would do for him what they had done for Mr. Francis.

The President also called upon Mr. A. Cornell (Librarian) to accept a set of pipes. He said that Mr. Cornell had been associated with the Band since its inception and Mr. Francis had said that he had never seen a man wno had taken so much interest in the position as the librarian of the Municipal Band. The work had been a hobby with him, and the members had thought that they could not let the opportunity pass, after he had given so many years’ service, without making a. presentation. Mr. Kerr also paid a. tribute to Mr. Cornell’s work, stating that, like Mr. Francis, he had never met a Librarian like him. , Mr. Cornell returned thanks for the presentation. During the evening items were given by Misses 1. Turner, and G. Wallwork, Messrs W. Stolz, W. Baird and J. Carruthers, the accompanists being Miss VJ Millar and Mr. Stolz.