BRASS AND PIPE BANDS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 27 January 1933, Page 5

BRASS AND PIPE BANDS

TARANAKI UNION. ELTHAM CONTEST ARRANGEMENTS. Arrangements in connection with the contest at -Eltham- on March 23 _ were finalised at a meeting in Stratford last evening or the Taranaki Brass am Pipe Bands’ Union. Mr: P. Skoglund (Stratford) presided and also- present were Messrs; W. Mills. (Stratford Pipe), H. J. Andrews, A. Beesley J. D McKay and G. Morton (Eltham Brass), J‘. Cosgrove and M- r Walker (Manaia Municipal), H. McCaskilL (Stratford Municipal), L. A. Wells and A. T. Heydon (Kapcnga Brass). A... L. Campbell (Hawera Pipe), J. L. Campbell (Eltham Pipe), P. Thomson (patron) and H. Burmester (secretary). The Hawera Municipal Band wrote reaffirming its decision not to.compete at the contest. - “I don’t think it is worth while worrying any further; we will just have to accept the decision,” said the chapman. The letter was received on his motion. , , . The music for. the massed pipe bands at the contest will be “Donald Dhu and “Tilth’s Farewell to Gibraltar. Unfortunately, Mr. McKay said, there would be only two B grade bands, but it ishoped all the O grade and pipe bands would Ik; present. Arrangements made by the Eltham committee were very complete and designed to produce a well-organised contest that would warrant the tuilest patronage by-the public. Two representatives of the committee, intended to call on the bands on practice nights o solicit their attendance at the coneStS‘ SERVICES APPRECIATED.

As one of the chief instigators of the movement which resulted m the formation of the Union and later as one of those responsible foi placing the union firmly on its feet and for developing keen interest m music through the medium of provincial band contests, Mr. Skoglund was honouied at the conclusion of the meeting with a presentation from the bands ol a | smokers’ companion. • . . . Mr Thomson said that during Ins term'as Mayor he had had many duties given him, but the one allotted that night was a pleasant one to him both as S Mayor and as patron of the union. He doubted if there was a more useful body in Taranaki than the union, which was in the fifth year of its- life. Come societies suffered with anaemia, while others were full-blooded; the union could be placed m the .la . Ca Sh work in a body like the union devolved on the officers, chief among whom were the president and the secretary. One. of these who took a leading part in the establishment of the umon was Mr. Skoglund and the union in electing him as president made a wise choice that had been repeated in the successive years. Mr. »KOgiund had. taken a keen interest not only in the various Stratford bands, but also in bands throughout Tai anaki. The bands affiliated to the union had felt for some time that thej would like to pav tribute m a -ible wav to Mr. Skoglund’s weak m band matters. It was With extreme .Measure that lie handed the gift to Mr. Skoglund. -at Mr. Skoglund said , l' 6 appreciated Mm kindly thought that prompted the crift The contests in Taranaki had had' the effect of creating more interest in music and he, hoped tlurcontest at Eltham would .attract Taianald bands. Mr. Skoglund gave ciedit to the secretary and to the hands foi the way they had worked to make -he contests successful.