BAND CONTEST.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 9001, 25 January 1906, Page 5

BAND CONTEST.

THE GARDEN PARTY.

A VERY SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION.

1 Beautifully fine weather favored the attendants at the Garden Party, held in ihe Show Ground on Wednesday afternoon. The sun shone brightly, but the fierce heat was tempered by a delightfully cool sea breeze. Much to the delight of '.the numerous visitors the sky, in the early part of the afternoon, wae practically cloudless, and Egmont, standing in bold relief., provided a magnificent background to the landscape.' Mr Cohen, in the course of one of his addresses, made reference in terms of rapture to the glorious eminence, and if his wor#s describe the impressions of the -visitor I upon seeing Taranaki's landmark for the first time a great treat must have been enjoyed by many on Wednesday afternoon.

The bands assembled at the post office at about half-past one, and shortly afterwards began the march, for the Show Ground. Wanganui led the way, playing '•The King Carnival" (Sullivan). Then followed Woolston, playing the march. "80/ da;" Taranaki (New Plymouth), playing "Geelong" (Pevcy Jones); and South Canterbury Battalion (Timaru), playing "Indepenctentia" (R. B. Hall). Palmerslon Xorth came next, but did not play, as they had no big drum. Hawera brought up the rear, playing "Loyal Hearts" (E. Sutton). WELCOME SPEECH BY THE MAYOR.

Shortly after the arrival of the bands, the Mayor (Mr Bobbins) made a speech, from the steps of the pavilion, officially welcoming the judge (Mr W. S. King), the President of the Association (Mr Maurice Cohen), ihe officials of the Association, the bandsmen, and the visitors'. He said that the committee felt gratified at having so many bandsmen in attendance, and though they were sorry that some of the bands had not come to compete, they were rewarded by knowing that those* which had come were of the first order. He trusted that besides being a success the contest would be instructive, and that patrons would bear pleasant recollections of it. He admitted that Ha-wera had not much to offer the visiting bandsmen by way of attraction, but reminded them that "our best is at jour disposal." (Applause.) -Some people thought it a big order to have a first-class contest in Hay.era, but' he- referred them to the secondclass contest held here a few years ago. which, was such »■ success' that the people were not satisfied till they had been assured that the 1906 contest would take -j-.lace here. He hoped the present contest would be as successful as the one he had just referred to.^^le did not profess to be a critic of music, but claimed that New Zealanders were among the most musical people in the world. (Hear, hear.) Proportionately, there was not a oountry with so many brass brass. Local government bodies in New Zealand recognised that money was well .spent in subsidising brass bands, and he wished that ratepayers would recognise it also, and think of the good done by bands meeting like this in healthy rivalry. (Applause.) He trusted that the visits to the^ contest would be pleasant ones, and that the bandsmen attending and the musicians throughout the colony would benefit by the event. (Loud applause.)

EEPLY OF THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.

The President of the North Inland Braes Band Association (Mr Maurice Cohen) thanked the Mayor and committee on his own, hehalf and on, behalf of the bandsmen of the Association. Mr Cohen, said it had been difficult to understand the enthusiasm of such a small community which could prompt them to agitate to have a first-class contest held in their town, but when one viewed the arrangements, which j i had been carried out in a very able manner, the cloud was lifted and the whole thing could lba easily understood. No place in which the annual contest of the Association had been held had been aheadof Hawera in the matter of arrangements. t (Applause.) ' He trusted that "the weather, which had now turned smilingly towards 1 them would help the committee to recoup 1 the benefit which was so deserved. His hope was that the contc&t of 1906 would be a brilliant success.- (Applause.) REPLY BY THE JUDGE. The Judge (Mr W. S. King) thanked the Mayor and the Committee, and in referring to the bands remarked: "If we- have not quantity we can certainly claim we have quality." Judging by the calibre of the soloists, he wa6 sure the performances in the test and the quickstep would be very fine. He would like to see the local government bodies universally subsidise local bands and thought bands ought to combine in pointing out that subsidy wae necessary and would be profitable to the Councils. (Applause.) PRESENTATION TO PRESIDENT COHEN. Mr Holben (Secretary of .thei Association) then called the conductors of the various bands to his side and announced that a presentation woe to be made to one of the pillars of the Association— Mt Cohen — for 10 years' valuable work in the Association's interests. (Applause from the bandsmen). He thought no one knew better than he did the value the Association placed on Prreident Cohen and J he attributed the successful work done to his judicious management. He epoke of the enormous amount of work done by their President who, he hoped, would be long spared to stand- by them and build up the Association. (Warm applause.) The Mayor, in making the presentation, said the event was unique in the history of the. Association. He called for three cheers for the recipient, -which, were responded to heartily by bandsmen, officials, and public alike. • ■?-... ■ The piece presented was a handsome silver table centre and candelabra, standing 2ft- 3ins high and being adorned ".by two large and beautifully-worked p j alm' representations arid a stag in silver. ■ The base was massive and -of rugged surface which added to the beauty of. the '-work, which was executed' by Mr Mortinsen, of Palmerston. A solid silver-plate- hanging from one of the arms bore this inscription: "Presented to Maurice Cohen, Esq., by the affiliated bands of the N.1.8.8.A., in appreciation of his tea -years'- service ac president; . to-l-Ob." • ;-"• \. Mr' Cohen' said that he thought his efforts had been '(magnified - far 'beyond their worth. ' (Cries' of "Nof ' from the bands.) But though 'hie" aim had been, to' -instil: a spirit of love tor beautiful music/- hw--ex-pectations had'beeu exceeded by the way the band* had progressed, and the public would that day hear music that the whole , colony "would feel proud of.- - "I- can't .tellyou how, proud I am ot this gift," he concluded, I can't say any ' mote*, ' but I hfjartily " thank you."- (Prolonged ap-" plause.) -- • . .»•-... „

Mr Holben then called upon the bandsmen to give three more cheers for Mr Cohen. The invitation wae responded to in real hftarty fashion and after another cheer for the Mayor of Hawera, the bands proceeded to entertain the audience, which by this time had grown to large proportions.

Afternoon tea was served in the rooms beneath the pavilion, where the bandsmen were entertained by a large committee of enthusiastic laditjs.

The pieces played by the various band 6 on the rotunda were as follows : — Wanganui, "The Lost Chord" (Sullivan: arranged by Ord-Hume) ; Woolston; "Queen Elizabeth" ; South Canterbury Battalion, "Hypathia" (Ord-Hume)j "PalmeTston, "Mount Washington" (Lingwood) ; Ha; wera, "Geordie Waltzes" (Pettee);'Taranaki Battalian, "Gardes dv Corps" (R. B. Hall).

Each piece was greeted with- merited applause, and the-.fine playing must have gone far towards promoting the large attendance that patronised the . first test selection in the evening. -

Shortly before the conclusion -the South Canterbury Battafion^Band gave an exhibition that evoked the greatest admiration. Under Drum-Major Elgin the band went through the spiral march, playing that exceedingly pretty piece "Greetinge from Egypt." The drill" was almost perfection, much of the success being due to the admirable judgment of pace by the DrumMajor. Twice did he lead them through the movement and each time he timed ins pace so accurately that the euphonium solo occurred at the most intricate part of the maze,' leaving- practically all the other instrumentalists free to- devote their whole attention to their marching. At about half-past four the bands and people began to leave for the town. The Hawwra Band again took the rear-most position, playing the same piece as they did on the way up. As the "locals" passed the Central Hotel the South Canterbury Band gave them tharee ringing cheers.