Spectacular Street Parade

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 44, 22 February 1938, Page 4

Spectacular Street Parade

Crowds Watch Colourful March OFFICIAL WELCOME The New Zealand brass band championship contest, the major attraction in Palmerston North during the present week, opened yesterday morning with the solo competitions and continued in the afternoon with the street march and the civic reception. The contest is being conducted by the New Zealand Brass Bands Association, with the full co-operation of an enthusiastic Palmerston North committee with Mr. C. V. Day as the organising secretary. The officials of the Brass Bands Association are as follow: Patron, his Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Viscount Galway); vicepatrons, Dr. H. T. J. Thacker and Mr. H. D. Bennett; president, Mr. E. Palliser; vice-presidents, Messrs. T. Lindsay Buick, J. W. McLeod, G. H. Bailey and J. H. Walker; secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. G. Osborne; executive committee, Messrs. C. G. Baker, A. G. Homer, E. R. Hopwood, T. Goodall, W. P. MacLachlan and C. Patchett. The Palmerston North committee is: Patron, Mr. J. Hodgens, M. P.; president, the Mayor (Mr. A. E. Mansford) ; executive, Messrs. Mansford (chairman), B. Abraham, W. H. Brown, A. Clarke, E. W. Drake, D. Dennison, C. Greening, C. G. Haywood, E. R. B. Holben, F. Jackson, W. Kells, P. S. Larcomb, J. Le Cheminant, J. A. Nash, W. O'Hara, C. S. Pike, L. I. Plimmer, G. Tremaine, H. E. Townshend, S. Wilson and J. H. Whyte; treasurer, Mr. J. P. McDavitt. The contest officials are: Musical judge, Mr. E. P. Kerry (Sydney); assistant musical judge, Mr. T. Goodall; supervisor, Mr. W. P. MacLachlan; assistant supervisor, Mr. A. G. Homer; official accompanistes, Mesdames V. G. Clift and I. K. Rickard; military judges, Palmerston North Defence Department staff; official time-keepers, Messrs. N. D. Stubbs and C. P. Nash; judge of instruments, Mr. A. J. Berryman.

So that visiting bandsmen may feel at home in the city a “father” has been appointed to each band, those acting as such being as follow:—Mr. G. Tremaine (Auckland Artillery), Colonel J. H. Whyte (Ist Battalion Auckland Regiment), Messrs. C. G. Haywood (Port Nicholson Silver), G. Jardine (Timaru Municipal), W. H. Brown (Wanganui Garrison), A. Hopwood (Wellington Municipal Tramways), B. Abraham (Ashburton Silver), E. R. B. Holben (Christchurch Municipal), C. N. Rabone (Dannevirke Municipal), W. Kells (Feilding Municipal), T. Craigie (Hastings Citizens), H. C. Blackwood (Hawera Municipal), L. I. Plimmer (Wellington Boys' Institute), F. Jackson (Te Awamutu Municipal), A. Clark (Wellington Artillery). The solo competitions resulted as follow: — E Flat Soprano Comet. (“Kelvin Grove.”) E. WEBB (Dunedin Artillery), 82pts. 1 C. C. Hutcheson (Ashburton Silver) 80pts. .. 2 D. Taylor (Timaru Municipal), 78pts. 3 Also competed: C. Peterson (Timaru Municipal), 70pts.; T. Fleetwood (Feilding Municipal), 76pts.; J. C. McKeown (Dannevirke Municipal), 76pts.; W. Francis (Wanganui Garrison), 77 pts.; R. McKechnie (Auckland Regimental), 74pts.; C. W. Thompson (Palmerston North City), 77pts.; G. Lester (Palmerston North Garrison), 73pts.; A. Hyndman (Timaru Municipal), 75 pts.; L. Hookway (Auckland Artillery), 72pts.; J. Bannin (Wellington Boys' Institute), 74pts. E Flat or EE Flat Bass Solo. (“The Ash Grove.”) L. JACOBS (Wellington Boys’ Institute), 78pts. .. ... ...... 1 J. P. Cowlishaw (Palmerston North Garrison), 74pts. 2 V. Abraham (Timaru Municipal), 72pts. .. .. .. 3 Also competed: B. Morgin (Te Awamutu Municipal), 51pts., E. Foster (Hastings Municipal) 63pts., S. Pike (Palmerston North Garrison) 60pts., H. Denne (Waipukurau Town) —, R. C. Moore (Dannevirke Municipal) 62pts., A. Cross (Auckland Regimental) 69pts., E. Tollentine (Wellington Municipal Tramways) 50pts., G. Patterson (Wellington Municipal Tramways) 03pts., F. Holloway (Ashburton Silver Band) 45 pts., G. Bull (Auckland Artillery) 66 pts. The Street March. The major attraction of the day was the street march, in which all the bands took part. They formed up in the Square at 2 p.m. and left at three-

minute intervals for the Showgrounds, where the civic reception took place. Their route Jay past the post office, down Rangitikei and Cuba streets. Both sides oi the route were thickly lined with spectators, a large portion of whom consisted of eager-faced children. For them the marching bands and martial music had their greatest appeal. It was a fine spectacle in the city streets. Gay flags and bunting overhead added colour to an already resplendent scene of gay uniforms and instruments glistening in the bright sunshine. Perfect formation and faultless movement wau a feature of each band as it swung along to the stirring strains one can associate only with brass bands. The street march contest resulted in victory for the First Battalion Auckland Regiment; with 56J points. Second place honours were shared by Auckland Artillery and Wanganui Garrison, each with 56 points;. Palmerston North Garrison were fourth on the list with 55 points. To the 17 bands competing points were awarded as follow: Ist Battalion Auckland Regiment, 561 pointu 1 Auckland Artillery, 56 2 Wanganui Garrison, 56 2 Palmerston North Garrison, 55 .... 4 Te Awamutu Municipal 54, Wellington Boys' Institute 54, Hastings Citizens' 54, Ashburton Silver 53 J, Christchurch Munici pal 53, Timaru Municipal 52, Hawera Citizens' 52, Wellington Municipal Tramways 51, Port Nicholson Silver 50, Wellington Artillery 48, Palmerston North City 46, Feilding Municipal “~r**virke M —-cipal 46. )-‘ - civ::c RECEPTION As each band entered the Showgrounds it ceremoniously marched across the oval before halting and dismissing. When all the bands had entered they reassembled and formed up on the oval for the civic reception. Mr. A. E. Mansford (Mayor) extended a warm welcome on behalf of the citizens of Palmerston North. The city, he said, had been closely associated with ba:id contests. At the last Dominion contest held here he himself had been secretary and Mr. E. R. B. Holben, another Palmerstonian, had been president. Mr. Holben had been interested in band contests for many years, and the speaker said he was glad to see he was still taking part. Every effort was being taken to make the bandsmen's visit to Palmerston North an enjoyable one. He thanked the local supporters and businessmen foi their necessary guarantee towards the expenses of the contest, which would probably amount to about £1250. He also thanked the business houses for their share in providing the inter-house sports, Mr. C. Wood in assisting in these sports, and the ladies' committee for providing afternoon tea for bandsmen. He hoped the weather would be favourable for the remainder of the week and that all visitors to the city from distant parts would have happv recollections of the sojourn in Palmerston North. The Mayor concluded by wishing all those taking part good luck. That much depended on the weather’ was the sentiment expressed by Mr. J. Hodgens, M.F. He hoped the weather of the city would be good to the bandsmen as the visit of the bandsmen was always good to the city. The music of the bands was the music of the people —particularly children. He sincerely trusted that every effort would be made to make this a successful week. The committee would leave no stone unturned. Mr. E. Palli.ser (president of the New Zealand Bras;3 Band Association) expressed his appreciation for the welcome extended to the bandsmen, and said that Palmerston North was noted for its hospitality. People said band contests brought out the materialistic rather than the artistic side of music but the speaker was of the opinion that the competitive spirit always brought out the best in band music. It was a means to an end—not the distribution of prizes and medals —but something higher. INTER-HOUSE SPORTS The First Battalion Auckland Regiment Band, w inner of the street matching contest, played the music for the inter-house sports as an expression of goodwill. Five teams competed in these sports, these being O. M. Ross, Woolworths, Manawatu Knitting Mills, Glaxo and P.D.C. The results of the competitions are as follow ; Marching: Woolworths 49£ points 1, C. M. Ross 49 points 2, Manawatu Knitting Mills; 48J points 3.

Relay race: Manawatu Knitting Mil’s 1, P.D.O. 2, Woolworths s. Circle ball: Glaxo 1, P.D.C. 2, C. M. Ross 3. As a result of these competitions P.D.C. were placed first with 63 points, Manawatu Knitting Mills second with 58i points, Glaxo third with 58 points, Woolworths fourth with 55i points and C. M. Ross fifth with 55 points. Sergeant-Major Holmes judged the marching. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME The New Zealand Brass Bands Championships will be advanced a further stage to-day, when the flugel horn and bass trombone solos will commence at the Opera House, at 9 a.m. Mrw E, P. Kerry will preside as adjudicator, whilst the boy's solo will be decided in in the Municipal Hall under Mr. T.

Goodall. At 2 p.m. the quartettes will be judged by Mr. Kerry at the Opera House, while the side drum and bass drum solos will be decided in the Municipal Hall under Mr. Goodall. This evening, commencing at 7 p.m. at the A. and P. Association Showgrounds, Cuba street, the ten B grade bands will compete in tho first test selection under Mr. E. P. Kerry. The prize-money for this selection amounts to £BO (£45 to tho band receiving the highest marks, with £25 and £lO for the second and third highest respectively). Mr. Kerry will announce placings only at the conclusion of the first test. Markings will not be disclosed until the result of the second test selection on Thursday evening. If the weather is in any way doubtful the test will be played at the Opera House and if so this fact will be broadcast by 2YA and 2ZB at 6.30 p.m. in

the evening. In addition, a flag will be hoisted on the band rotunda in the Square if the test is to be played at the Opera House. The admission charge is 6d for the sessions at the Opera House and Municipal Hall to-day. This evening the charge will be Is free). Reservations for Quickstep Day on Saturday next may now be made at Messrs. Collinson and Cunningh&ine's. There is no extra charge for booking.