THE BAND CONTEST.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 9003, 27 January 1906, Page 4

THE BAND CONTEST.

Haweta has had ite special carnival week, and the big band contest of 1906 is- over. It was recognised at the brginning that . the venture wae a heavy one for so small I a community as Hawera to undertake, but as time wore on and difficulty after difficulty presented themselves the real nature of the task began to be understood. Quite in the early stages, but after the Contest Committee had so far involved thctmselves that they could not withdraw, it became evident that very few bands would compete, and rumors began to circulate throughout the colony that the contest was falling through. As the misfortunes piled aip and it was ascertained that this band and that band would not compete, the prospect of possible failure communicated itself to the local Contest Committee, and it speaks volumes for tha character and ability of thie secretary (Mr Conroy) that he succes&fuly fought against - the growing pessimism. Is is a splendid tribute to the local management to be able to say that notwithstanding that the Committee, labored under an accumulation I of disappointments the members of the Brass Bands Association who were pre- | sent were unanimously agreed that no previous contest had been run on better lines. Indeed, some of them went so far as to say that the arrangements and method were much better at the Haw«ro contest than at any they had previously attended. From a musical point of view there is no doubt the public were as well served by the five bands' which, attended as they would'have been had a dozen come forward.' As it^was the programmes were of just the le'nglh to please and the concerted mnsic never became tedious. It is not yet known what' the financial result will be, but it is thought that a slight loe6 is inevitable. The expenses of running the affair weTe inecessarily ve*ry heavy, and considering all things the lesson seems to be that first-class contests, where the prize-money is big, can only be run with financial profit in large centres of population, or in towns which from their situation and surroundings would attract holiday-makers. Musical competitions of the kind furnish an idea.} method of enteTtsv ; n;* and refining the people, and there s?eme to be. no ; reason why

every district in the colony ' should j-not have its cont-e6t, if not annually, at any rate, once in every two or three years.,' If in Hawera, for instance, a handicap contest were held, with a prize of, say, £50, it ie probable that every small band between Palmerston and New Plymouth would attend. Each>band would have its following, and with' the aid of the handicap each would be in the tunning. The result of such a gathering ought to leave a surplus in the hands of the promoters. Apart from the financial point of view the contest just held was a magnificent success. Beyond , a few exprcesioics of • dissatisfaction — inevitable where men competeone i against another — the utmost good feeling prevailed. Of the five Bands the Indefatigables from Timarti installed" themselves" as- favorites in popular estimation, simply because- of their desire to pilease the people. The Wanganui Garrison have reason to .be proud of their record in Hawe<ra. . With bands, as with race-horses, the public, : to uso a colloquialism, are good' "pickers," and the judge's .decision, no doußt coincided with public opinion. Wanganui take home the Beasoii Shield, first prize moaey and medals for tfie" Quickstep, Tests, E fiat horni B flat trombone, B flat baritone, quartette, trombone trio,, and second medals in B flat euphonium, G trombone, flugel horn, and E flat oowiet. That is a grand record, and one which will live in the annals of musical contests in thus colony. The rannetns-'up in the Test were Wodtaton and they will be able to refer with pride to the fact that they lost the fiTst prize only by a single point, a sHade of difference so slight as to be^of small musical consequence. Woolstbn soloists were also successful and carry off eight 1 medals. The. SoutE Uanterbury Battalion got second in the Quickstep and third ia the Test. From thet outset it was plain that the fight would find its centre with Wanganui, Wookton and South Canterbury and the performances they gave fully justified expectations. Palmerston were only the least bit behind South Canterbury, and have no reason to be ashamed of their position, in the lists. Taxanaki came expecting Jittle as a number of their bandsmen werer beginners, but they also did well. Everything possible was done for the comfort and convenience of the visitors and they gave frequent evidence of tEeir appreciation. On all hands there were comments of approval of the manner in which the whole affair passed off, and many pleasant memories will Temain of the Band Contest for 3906.