CHAMPION BAND

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 76, 26 February 1938, Page 2

CHAMPION BAND

. » PORT NICHOLSON WIN. SUCCESS IN SECOND TEST. The Port Nicholson Silver Band (Wellington)—a well-known contesting combLiation—followed up its win of the first test selection on Wednesday evening by annexing the second test honours last night and thus taking the New Zealand brass band championship. It was a comfortable win, the unfortunate withdrawal of the Wanganui Garrison Band leaving Port Nicholson with a commanding lead of 11 points over Timaru Municipal after the first test, and (ast evening they increased that lead to 15 points. The Timaru Municipal Band was second and the Wellington Municipal Tramways Band third.

“I enjoyed the playing as well as at any contest I have ever judged,” said the judge (Mr E. P. Kerry, of Sydney) in addressing the public afterwards. The performance on the whole was up to good A grade standard, there being, on the part of the first three bands, a demonstration of good good tune and expression. There was no reason, added Mr Kerry, why New Zealand should not become the home of band music in the South Seas, and he urged the older bandsmen to foster the efforts of young players. The big fault with New Zealand bandsmen lay in production, and he urged every player to get right back to the beginning: The Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) congratulated the winning band on their fine performance and thanked the public for their patronage. Details of the placings are: A GRADE SECOND TEST SELECTION.

(“Romeo and Juliet,” bv Gounod.) PORT NICHOLSON SILVER BAND (conductor, Mr J. J. i Drew), ...137pts. 1 TIMARU MUNICIPAL BAND (Lieut. R. J. Simpson). 133pts. 2 WELLINGTON MUNICIPAL TRAMWAYS BAND (Mr E. Franklin), 130pts 3 Ist Battalion Auckland Regiment Band (Lieut. G. Bowes), 123pts. 4 Palmerston North Garrison Band (Lieut. C. Pike), 118pts. ... 5 Auckland Artillery Band (Capt. G. Buckley) 115pts. 6 A GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP. AGGREGATE POINTS.

withdrew from the competition after the first test (in which it came second) on account of bereavement. POOR ATTENDANCES. PRESIDENT DISAPPOINTED. Considering that the A grade championship final was l>eing decided last evening, the attendance was very poor and the fact was commented upon bv the president of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association (Mr E. Palliser). “Throughout the week the attendances at the evening performances have been most disappointing,” he said. The reason, he added, was unaccountable; the playing had been of the highest possible standard and had not been exceeded at anv previous contest. Towns with onlv half or a third of the population of Palmerston North had produced better attendances. The lack of support must be disappointing to the local committee and the guarantors, as well as to the competing hands. Mr Palliser expressed the hope that to-day’s attractions would provide the desired improvement in public interest and support. YOUNG TROMBONE PLAYER. H. Croucher (Bawera), the winner of the trombone championship, who is 15 years of age, is the grandson of Mr 11. Croucher, of McGiffert Street, Palmerston North.

Port Nicholson Sil1st. Test 2nd. Test TI. ver 142 137 279 Timaru Municipal ... 131 133 264 Wellington Tramways 130 130 260 Auckland Regiment no 123 233 Pal. N. Garrison ... 114 1.18 232 Auckland Artillery 115 115 230 *Wanganui Garrison 136 *The Wanganui Garrison I and