ROXBURGH MUNCIPIAL SILVER BAND.

Mt Benger Mail, 26 April 1933, Page 3

ROXBURGH MUNCIPIAL SILVER BAND.

D ISS2-1932. A RETROSPECT. It is mce to retrospect the past and to express our appreciation of those pioneers of our district who, while attending to their ordinary avocations, found time to devote to those public institutions which do so much to improve the status of one’s town. Rox burgh has indeed been fortunate in this respect. Right throughout its history it has possessed worthy citizens imbued with sufficient interest in its welfare and progress to give np some of their time towards the dcvlopmen! and furtherance of some public institution for its benefit, varied and numerous have these been and each having a definite purpose, its progenitors endeavouring to the best of their ability and with Hie means at their do p"sal. t.> establish it on sound line' that it might stand the test of time. • v proof against di'sention, and st-. ad fast in ii> resolution to cany on even it! adversity. Such an iii't it at ion was tin- box t-uigh Band founded of years ago, tie Jubilee of which is being celebrated tiiis month. Looking back over its history as recorded in its records it is evi ten) t fiat Roxburgh in its corly days pe.-si-ssed citizens who wen- bent on <!o eg something for the musical status ■’i the town. Musically incJincd they i < Hint nothing could be more eon ■bn :ve to (In happy life of the com ; ■anility than bright martial music and -til. idea of a town band was eoticeL • u. An everlasting debt is due to these ■en who in the face ol dillicuit ifs a: .ust i asitniioiini a i-le, cstaldished the wand and io their successors also, who spite of many di-coin ag. incuts ha 1 1 e-'M able io I- ach an ideal w hi. hj had -er been in-fort- tie 11' predecessors but • ■ad prov hj! ipi-y mid !in ■ i icat-h. It was m S.-picmb, r o! I"2 that M . del loi d conceiv ed tin id. a of a wn band. In this he had the p;.,,-' 'iipport of many pni.it- spirited ciG t*' who iiiieraily >isi<>t-rit•<*«! to th j , a.'chase of :ii'' l aments and known a- j Mi. Monger Hiass Hand, on >ep - j a.b.t li'di I ssf, i! opened its book - | ■ it hj a total -übsi-rip! ion -.! £2l. 'IT, j 1 i■ es,;l l~\ insirumeiits were immedi- [ i ti; 'I cos! £2. i 'oii-pieiiou- i • L nns I’.-li who wn- tlie tils! condu i it. Hu U-Lv i UuWV.V-s V .vvvp. pvv-’wv.vsfvV , \ •bo acted -ecu tiny, the la!.- 'Adi.mm { M.-tcer and M.-s'i-s Wiiiiam and (ieorg. j ! li-ud. i'he j day mg no-mi., i- nun. | -• :cd thirteen and eon-i-t.-d of Mr-! - j ■' . id-:; cm.dm to: . .1. !’. Sm 1! W, i L H'ord, 1., TelfoM, W. Mercer. -n. ' i'ioi'. i oop ,1 , me- ,vi orrin. i ’hal ie- ; o -i- n.;Hi.l. .1 S.I ith. S, \V , la-d g n . (iim.omi, \\ , M -;gan and I'. i! . Dam an. Of 'lie— M - -si- W. and 1., ..’!;i. >. U Loiige ;i j : d J. l *i:m-11 i j ' li. ol igiliii. .11 urt house witit li lot. j ini in- pai o! the I'li siiyteiian Sunday j ■ o.i I: inter removed Jo she in : nr ro-..m ..! th.- m-i put.ln %,-ho.d ■ad oI; it - in . naiing a man b- ipai band LH "i. th. iioiongii i 'i,iun-il erect, d suitable baud u* >:i. for it- :n-c-*m n-iatio::. The Band . arly hist-uy wa- one ,[ | liny np- a loi t li'ixblifgh O' | imig and g-ni.g -o that mini! -iitli j ■ it!’ y v-yis experienced keeping ;t j i ■ ted 1 MU)! !"2 till Iss | aad urn- -m; i • ■:■ i by Mi Widiain d'e I mi who cai j it-.i on null. About th.s time j ' w;;- having u -'i.igg ■ to iniiiataii. ,’s j ...i-j, i.iv arol a -pi ciai ■ ibnl was mad.' I 0 recruit new members and *■ nlist j ;i. at. I pubiie intei e-1. fhi (Mlold j Ig im.'l, -iicre'sfu,i and I’ll le eb-l.t j -,.tti it was tie- arrival in tin- di-l! el j .f Mr .S’ . K. McLean, a gentleman -H 1 r.-ntera 1 - c musical ability who vva - | n entlm.'iast in band music and wloj, dad ly .on,r.’ci to take charge. In j , et hi- control and tu Lion the Blind j ,;-.de rapid strides. Malty new membe.i.dned up and in 1 it vv as deem. -I ! dvi-alde to piaci-e the band on u l»<*t ! -■ . er lilts!,'. New III:.' Wire drawn Up. it,, ial. Mr \\ . li. W ilke- was, uppoin- i ed secretarv and Mr Wiliiam IVU'ur-l | leti'un-r and the gr.-a’est enllius a-m i.-vailed. Idic paliiic were imw vlia ■ laving keen inlercs! in it' prog res' nd in ! sji.‘> uiiinginat.-d a bazaar which , as li.-'d on May 2 Bit, then the (Queen’s in tidily, and iv'uited in a net mini j f crib quite H good effort in those j ay a. One <*f tin. keenest supporters j 1 the band al that lime was the lat.-l Its Bain w!io was i.-spon-ibb- for the , i.Led ion of £l2 of the total amount! 'hi- enabled Hie eommitU-e to pm I.use some in-w instruments and th u! li of the money was expended in j !u- manner. A.- the result ot tins mii in- (lie band iicqu ri d considerable liieien. v and in J S**7 it attended the , and coniest at Alexandra and succeediin getting second place. The foi- . wing year it look part in the Indus--1 ttl Exhibition contest in Dunedin nd wa- placed fourth. Daring this ear the public again came 1 upward ith an organised effort and the funds itiefited to tlm extent of £bl). The ext ten or twelve years passed without ..-'(lent. Under the fonduetorship of li W. Kinaston. who filled that office -cm bS!»7 to 191") except for two brief ' i tiods, tlit* band continued to prosper ml took its place in the fe of the eomniuuity. giv ig its services freely when mi wherever required. In 1911 it iadded to hold an aiuiuai concert on ew Year’s night and this; Ims been ‘ ! a.tinned ever since, the public aecor—

ding its generous support. In 1014 the <)Ui‘slioii of registering tlie hand and vesting its property in the Borough was considered and negotiations were opened tip with the Bor. ongh Council. Tliese were satisfactorily completed in 1015 and the baud then became known as the Roxburgh Municipal Baud. it rendered splendid service during the period of the Orem War and was always available on the many special occasions that arose. Bcv, era! of its members gave their servics it. actual combat, two making the supreme sacrifice, Messrs J. H. Conuuck and C. McLennan. Another earlier member in Mr Peter Oeorge, gave his life in the South African War. The years following the period of the war saw renewed strength in the baud’s personnel and in 1025 it decided to compete in the C grade competition at the Band Contest at the Dunedin Exhibition and was placed first, it is worthy of note that the remarks of the judge on the band’s playing were very complimentary ami on its return it received a great ovation and a public reception. Its conductor on this occasion was Mr l M ! . McMahon and to his splendid leadership must be at.

[fributcd much of tho band’s success. | While waiting on the draw for places I ho confided to one of the leading mem. | bets that ho hoped they would draw third or fourth place and not first. When the draw came out, to his disap. point incut Roxburgh had to play first | and his remarks as he conveyed the information to his players, indicate the bader he was. Approaching the band he said, ‘‘boys, w've drawn the very place 1. wanted, first. We’re set and must win.” Hy these remarks he inspired them with confidence with the ivsuit that they put up an excellent perlio.mar.ee and won the competition. 1 he public further showed its appreciation of (he band’s success by organ, king a monster (lueen carnival bv which the handsome sum of CSHi was tai.-ed tor tiie purchase of new instruments. This enabled it to purchase a splendid n• ■ 1 of Havvkes Instruments n silver finish which had been specially ■cut out for the Exhibition and was ac. i, cow lodged to be the finest set of Hand instruments in the Dominion. 1 p t 1 Dial time this was the biggest wish ■'al tor band iiistruiiieais that had la. ■cn p ace in the Dominion. Latci its '..embers were supplied with new uni. t< inis and to day it can boast that it is ac of till' best equipped bands in the i li minion. The Ham! possesses a splendid a i*s siibsiiiiaty. the juvenile band el-irli. under Mr K, S'lio han, has made wiiolerlni progiess and has on its own and in einjunetion with the senior band j :• adeic.j excedent s- rviee in the public .merest. As its members acquire gi--ater efficiency tlow are transferred to ‘he senior band and the Cue: that rent ! masters have brought the pin;. ing strength of the Infer up to it no tuber', sp-ak- volumes for .; > iin port ace and value ( Diidiictors, ■ The band ha< been singula riy fori on,a e in its conductor' and to these a.en much of its success i - due. Its firM eor.diic* or, M i dame. Pi'll, was a keen musician. ll.* wa, | rime.! by Mr Wiliiam feifor 1 o: | Mona it a ny a. 'aid that there was no I ■oi 7 years when In lesigioai in fir. - ;: of Mr Me lea n, aa d imr -nt husia- 1 ; eotisiderabb’ musical ability who .■l,dueted until i H'd, wln n !o left the ■■iri.t, Mi Telford again taking the at on. lie conducted foi a lurthei f mar ami then Mi W. Kiiaston took is piaee, and except tor two io ief e. riods whe a lie was out of the district, j , • ce 11 ]>if■. 1 the position for Id gears, re. ( -using in If Id wh.f he removed to), )> i a,■din, It would he impossible to over ! , t m.-iti the \ nine of Mr Kii.n-tn;, ‘s | , tv ices 1 1 the band, j-.a rl ieitlariy dm j ■ Mi ye,o wV u cu'Wmsm was at ' e w ebb, 11. was .me of the faith j . ! , few who never ,o- (a,th and when | . ••• av s tow ~r of si length and eneoiu j ; q;. in. ill to Ihoot in r member'. M• | \\ : ii.n-n Mete. r. anotloa stalwart j ■ 'i..-s , .ato ot mu wS’ hj the band go ■- j oik a s.o't ... : !s ineeptioti. i* idv ! ... in. ten fro n If I 7 and 192 I and | ~• in f; on, i;e.M mil i! !■'_■'• 1; is per •p- nolle as a on! net player rather lan a eon'!in' 1111 that !m s best known oi in, b. an undeisiudv was initiated. •■ -jvn- l!m Rile!, II J j ■no !■■■. Mr W 11. W iik. s who for | 1 a iii years was custodian of its pro ■ i' \ an ! np till his d. at hj in Dull had | ' ■- ha-' ditiin. He w;,' also seer, taiy non. P-'.H ..II IsiC. Tin- -mall ■ if.is,. .|av« wn! ever rctm-mt.er In' : \ ,-rent form :»•» !o took up h:s posi- j M ; d played out and many a one of | i-ehi. v oils in’eat narrowly missed a|‘ Int ..f the dttun sll. k. His heart an i j .0,1, were it; the band. Pur man- | v, j., the band room \v a - in the old . hool budding and 1’ was as the ho.v • hollo, him. I’ll* various ihstni- 1 .a!-, pa i! icntarly the double bass. ais'essed a paiticiiiar fascination H>r do average '. ho d !.o\ and many were •' ilo- appear for a idow. bid they foil deaf eti's Ml Wilkes regarded ii.-m as sjoied trust and in his dentil * band lost a fai'iifu! servant and ..ember, , i 1 TribuT. to men outstanding in the . i \ ice of he band would not be coni j *' dele without li Ie I elo'e being made 1 1 ' ( le who while no'. actually a member. * ,i.,k a deep interest in it and did much o improve it- elliebmy. the late Mr i, Briggs, of Dunedin, lie was a

i -1 v been baud-miui and in connection -. Hi his busines,- made periodical visit- . Roxiuirgh and , n those occasion- he i.ok tin- band in hand. Special prtie j -I. - weii heid and a" these he gave j ill t«' li! in mi m»t only to the baud a- a | i h,ke but to the individual player, and ~ :i re-uit it attained high siandard if -Hie eiiey. At both contests. \te vaiidrn in 1n97 and Dunedin m s'.is. Mi liriggs cunduete.i and the sue s- iit-hievid in competition with lands from much larger 'owns was elmjl.t'iil :-iituoiiv to his ability and zea.. 1: was not until 1920 that 'he mom • ,i i- of the band decided to enlist the II vices of public Spirited citizens ill is government, and at a juib! c meeting , d Hint year it elected its first presicni in Mr H. Henderson, who held of until 1927. when Mr G.Straehan ias appointed. lie was followed in <»;,) fiv Mr , George who filled the of iiv until this year when Mr J. • ouk ,a- elected. Mach of these gentlemen ave given of their best and greatly s- Ist«wf in its management and disciple'. A baud is essentially an institut 'ou peraiing for public benefit and in this onaecHoii the Roxburgh Bund haone its dutv nobly and well. It i s i.t to say that no worthy object or nblic function lias i ver Iteeii without