STANMORE BAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10257, 27 January 1894, Page 6

STANMORE BAND.

Last evening Mr E. C. Bishop invited the members of tbe Stanmore Band to his residence. The men turned out for the first time in their new uniforms, and presented a very smart appearance. The material of which the uniforms are made is dark blue superfine cloth. The jackets are officers’ patrol jackets, with scarlet collars, and they are trimmed with black tubular braid. On the right sleeve are a silver crown and wreath. The trousers have rich silver braid down the sides. The caps are after the French style, and are also trimmed with silver braid. The crossbelts are enamelled and fastened with white metal buckles. The pouches are ornamented with a silver crown. The bandmaster’s (Mr D. M’Killop) uniform is of the same material, gold braid being used instead of silver. The jacket is trimmed with flat military braid, being after the style of a Major’s uniform jacket. The band played a number of selections on the lawn in front of Mr Bishop’s house in a really creditable manner. Refreshments were kindly provided by Mr Bishop. In proposing the health of the band, Mr Bishop congratulated the members on their success in obtaining such a good uniform. They bad been striving for some time to get a complete sat of uniforms and instruments, and now their efforts had been crowned with success, as they possessed a set of Boosey’s class A instruments, and the uniforms were as good as could be seen in the colonies. The expenditure on both represented £6OO, of which all but about £IOO had been paid. This spoke well for the self-sacrifice of the members, who, to attain this object, had allowed all their earnings to accumulate. Mr M’Killop, in replying, expressed his gratification at conducting a band which so readily responded to his efforts to obtain a first-class equipment. The healths of Mr and Mrs Bishop were drunk with enthusiasm.