A BUNGLED TOUR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 222, 19 September 1903, Page 3

A BUNGLED TOUR.

BETURN OF THE NEW ZEALAND BAND. Twenty-three members of the Hiuemoa Band, which has beon touring England, returned by the Gothic. A Wellington correspondent of a Christchurch paper says that several of the members spin a deplorable tale regarding the disappointments of the tour, and allege mismanagement against unnameable persons. Though the players are shareholders themselves, they state they were kept in absolute Ignorance of the financial and other arrangements.

Since the 11th of June the men have received no pay, and no money whatever beyond £10, representing the difference between first and third saloon fare, refunded them by the Shipping Company. They were entitled to tra/vel back second saloon, but as the vessel has only first and third, and there was no money to pay for first, the men travelled third and accepted the refund.

One of the managers travelled first, which caused additional heartburnings. Lieutenant Herd remained behind, and is returning by another boat. There had been some talk about getting the band to make a tour through New Zealand in.the hope of making up some of the loss on the tour, but as no arrangements appear to have been made, the men will probably immediately return to tlieir homes. It there should be a meeting of the shareholders, tho proceedings will, no floubt, be lively.