THE BAND CONTEST.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 8999, 23 January 1906, Page 4

THE BAND CONTEST.

During the ensuing week it ie expected that HaweTa will be honored by an unprecedented number of visitors, drawn from all parts of the colony to be present at the North Isla^l Band Contest of 1906. Very general satisfaction was expressed at the businesslike! way in which the 1903 contest was arranged but tlie present venture is one which deals with vie foremost band musicians in New Zealand. Some 'disappointment ha 6 been expressed 'that a larger number of bands has pot come forward but the general public will have the satisfaction of knowing that the combinations . competing are fully representative of the) highest musical talent available. The Woolston band, which comes with a great reputation, ie said to be on a par with the famous Kaikorai band, the winnem of the 1904 contest. The Wanganul Garrison wer© the champions of 1905 and so far as they have been heard locally they have established themselves firmly as favorites. In tKe Palmerston North band there is a company, of the'prospects of whom the Mana-'watu'Times^Bpeakfr-in most iiopeful terms, whilst the Southr" Canterbury Battalion (Tim'aru)j under ithe "baton of Herr Fritz Paul, are. expected to* give a good account of them'sftlyeist. the New Plymouth band, under Mr-McConnell, performances of a high order -are expected. , With such a splendid array of talent it may .be confidently expected that Ihe competition will be of the keenest and higuest order in the test selections and the grand military marching contest. And in tlie eolos, trios and quartettes the performers are no lesß brilliant* In those sections no fewer than Revert bands will be represented including, in addition to those already named, the Canterbury Engineers, Fifth Ruahine Battalion, First Battalion (Auckland), Regimental Band, Ist Auckland Rifles, Wellington Gawison, and the ITawera Borough Band. The Contest' CommnTtee have, worked with untiring energy and arrangements are well forward in every department. At the show grounds adequate accommodation has bec-n provided in. every respect, while for the military marching contest the- commodious racecourse has been secured. So far as the train arrangement® are -concerned every effort has been made to make them as convenient as possible. There may be a number who may not be able to attend the military march on Thursday afternoon and to meet th© requirements of these theT© will be train facilities to enable .them to be present at the final test in the evening. Trains from New Plymouth aiid Wanganui will anive in Hawera som© time before eight o'clock; and leaving again for the north and south after the contest has been decided. Already there ha 6 been evoked a considerable amount of enthusiasm which it may reasonably be expected will be maintained throughout the week. Very heavy expenses have necessarily been undertaken in connection with th© venture, but the. confidence" of the promoters should be fully justified ■by a liberal patronage -from all classes of people in the province. W© hope the contest of 1906 will -prove satisfactory in ©very way to both competitors and spectators, and that its measure of success will reflect the brightest credit upon the borough of Hawera and the district of Taranaki.