FIRST TEST.

Northern Advocate, 25 February 1925, Page 5

FIRST TEST.

B GRADE BANDS. OTAGO SUCCESSFUL. AUCKLAND, This Day. At the Ban'd Contest last night the bands played the B Grade first test selection "Knight Errant." Results are as follows: — Otago Field Artillery 1 New Plymouth Citizens .. v ... 2 Greymouth Municipal 3 Others in order of merit are:—Feilding Municipal, Waihi Federal, Gisborne' City, Whangarei Municipal, Port Auckland, Waikato Regimental, Hamilton Municipal, Onehunga.

Mr Percy "Code, judge of the B grade, said that much of the playing was fairly even and he had difficulty in separating several competitors. The standard had not quite reached what he expected. The test piece contained plenty of variety and no outstanding difficulties, even for B Grade bands. The playing in' instances was of high Grade B standard.—Press Assn.

j WHANGAREI'S POSITION. BANDSMEN CHEERFUL. (Special to " Northern x Advocate.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Unfortunately the "WTiangarei Band only secured seventh place in the B Grade test, but critics declare that dt put up a very pleasing and satisfactory performance. The position is: not really one of grave disappointment because many bands in the B section could qualify for the A; : Mr J. H, Walker expresses the opinion that the whole secret of lack of ✓ success is that the band has not been long -enough together to get the necessary combination. The result has not disheartened tho men; on the contrary, they are determined to put an additional effort into the second test, the march and the hymn test. There is reason to hope they will retrieve the position in one of these sections. . The contest lasted until after midnight and the men .were not home till 2 a.m., but all were well and cheerful this morning.

Speaking generally, Mr Walker considers the contest a great success. Everything is running smoothly.

TODAY'S SOLO TESTS. AUCKLAND, This Day. At the band contest today the trombone solo, "Village Blacksmith, *' was won by J. Aldridge (Auckland Artillery), H. Wells (Malvern Tramways) being second.—Press Assn.