TENTH M. R. BAND

Marlborough Express, Volume LII, Issue 83, 12 April 1918, Page 2

TENTH M. R. BAND

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Tenth Mounted1 Rifles Regimental Band (late Blenheim Garrison Band) was held last Friday, when some 23 bandsmen were present. In presenting the annual report, the secretary stated that some 28 members of the Band had left New Zealand on active service, several of whom had made the supremo sacrifice. In spite of the claims made by the war on the members, the Band still showed an active strength of 25, which, under the circumstances, must be considered very satisfactory. During the year the Band attended some 41 public functions, 28 of which were of a patriotic nature, and when the fact was taken into account that a large number of the men were engaged on the land, with its insistent demands for long hours, it would be seen that they had more than fulfilled the ordinary requirements of bandsmen. Great credit was due to Mr C. A. Forrest, the energetic conductor of the Band, for the excellent and capable manner in which he had, fulfilled, his various duties, and the retiring Committee also der served warm praise for the businesslike manner they had attended to. all matters affecting the welfare . of the Band.

The balance-sheet disclosed that the income of the Band, amounting to £156 17s lid, was made up as follows : —Results of Xmas carolling £35 ss, Honorary Members' subscriptions £33, donations £9 Is, proceeds of Honorary Members' concerts (four being held during the twelve months) £76 18s 6d, sundries £2 13s sd. The expenditure amounted to £155 19s 3d, comprising: Theatre hire £40, Conductor's salary, honorariums to secretary and librarian and fees to artists £66 18s, advertising £14 13s 6d, printing £13 14s 6d, sundry expenses £20 13s 3d. With reference to honorary members, the secretary stated that there were at present 129 members on the roll, 65 of whom were in arrears with their subscriptions. During the year about 50 names had been taken off the roll on account of their subscriptions being long overdue. In closing the report great appreciation was expressed at the generous assistance rendered on various occasions by Messrs L. C. and A. Bartlett, R. Dunckley, L. Collier, and others who at the different concerts given by the Band had so willingly worked to make them a success.

Following are the chief executive officers of the Band for the ensuing year; Conductor, Mr C A. Forrest; secretary, Mr F. E. Sheridan; treasurer, Mr J. Shore; librarian, Mr A. Thomas.

Great interest has been aroused by the fact that Mr Forrest has presented a set of four medals to be presented to the" best musical quartette in the Band, and these are to be competed for within the next couple of weeks. Mr E. Rose has also given four medals for second prizes. At the conclusion of the business portion of the meeting, light refreshments were handed round, and several items rendered by various bandsmen, amongst them being a solo by Mr F. E.. Sheridan, "Alice, where art Thou," and a recitation by Mr George / Holdaway, "How I won the Iron Cross," which were warmly applauded. Mr Forrest also a highly interesting series o card tricks. ,