BAND CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12190, 9 February 1903, Page 6

BAND CONTEST.

A YOUTHFUL WINNER.

[bt TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION - .] Wellington, Saturday. The competition was resumed yesterday, with the following results: —E Flat Horn: \V. Mellor, Waihi, 92 points, 1; A. Jones, North-East Valley, 89 points, 2; W. Mackersey, Denniston. 87 points, 3; W. Epproff, Southland, 86 points, 4; C. Forrest, Wanganui, 80 points, 5: R. Beythe, Wanganui, 75 points, 6; W. Nicholson, Wellington. 72 points, 7; Bauchope, Kaikorai, 70 points, 8; C. Yeoman. Gisborne, 70 points H. C. Strong, Hawera, 69 points; W. Whalen, North-East Valley, 69. points; Hull, Wellington, 56 points; A. Williams. Hauraki, 40 points. The •winner of the solo is a mere boy of 13 years of age. the son of the conductor of the Waihi Band. When the result was read out the audience insisted on the little fellow being brought on the stage, and he was accorded prolonged applause. The judge expressed extreme surprise on seeing the winner, complimented him, and remarked that he was a fine specimen, musically, of the youth of New Zealand. The winner was greatly cheered. [BY TELECEAFH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Mastertox, Saturday. Yesterday afternoon the E flat bass solos were played, when another Wanganui Garrison Band representative achieved a win, Signal, who scored 83, beating Johnston, of the Wellington Garrison Band, by three points. The final test selection, the concluding event of the contest, comprised the programme for the evening. When Mellor, a mere boy in knickerbockers, walked on to the platform, he was greeted with a round of hearty applause. He played with remarkable confidence, and in an easy, deliberate style, which gained him the immediate favour of the audience as well as of the judge, who, in his notes, praised his good tone and "is brilliant work in the variation. "A very fine general performance," said Mr. Orel Hume, "and certainly a very fine soloist." When the result was announced, amid great applause the boy, who was in the body of the hall, was seized and carried shoulder high, and brought up to be presented to the judge, who was greatly surprised on discovering the extreme youth of the player. "Well, this is a surprise to me," said Mr. Ord Hume, as he shook hands cordially when the lad diffidently walked forward. The winner, who is only 12 years of age, is a son of Mr. Thomas' Mellor, of the Waihi Brass Band, Auckland, and was trained by his father first as a cornet player. Two medals were gained by the lad at New Plymouth last year. He was born at Newtown, New South Wales, but came to this colony at an early age. The performance of the second test piece, the concluding event of the contest, began at five p.m. yesterday. The test piece was Mr. Ord Hume's arrangement of "Un Ballo in Maschera." The bands played in the following order: Southland vutalion, Kaikorai, Waihi, Hawera, Taranaki, Wanganui. Ruahine, North-east Valley, Hauraki, Wellington, Woolston, Denniston, Palmerston, Gisborne City, and Masterton. The first prize for the two test selections, carrying with it the championship, was won by Wellington Garrison Band, which defeated Wanganui Garrison Band by three points, and the Wellington Garrison Band also wins the Besson shield. The following are the detailed scores: —Wellington Garrison Band (Lieutenant T. Herd, conductor), first test selection 128 points, second test 147, total 275 points, first; Wanganui Garrison Band (James Crichton, conductor), first test 140 points, second test 132, total 272, second; Kaikorai Garrison Band, first test 126 points, second test 119, total 245, third; North-east Valley, first test 103 points, second test 126, total 234, fourth ; Denniston, first test 106 points, second test 125, total 231, fifth; Masterton. first test 98 points, second test 131, total 229, sixth. The scores of the other bands were: Southland, first test 104, second test 112. total 216; Woolston, first test 80, second test 130, total 210; Waihi, first test 88. second test 108, total 196; Hauraki, first test 95, second test 96, total 191; Ruahine, first test 86, second test 78, total 164; Taranaki, first test 80, second test 82, total 162; Palmerston North, first test 60, second test 89, total 149; Hawera, first test 68, second test 76, total 144; Gisborne City, first test 56, second test 80, total 136. The Besson shield, valued at £50, presented to the association by Buisson and Co., and won by Wanganui "Garrison Band last year, has been won by the Wellington Garrison Band. Thir. is awarded for

the highest aggregate points in the two selections, and for music in the quickstep competition, and the total scores were: — Wellington Garrison, 289 4-5 points; Wangauui Garrison, 237 1-5 points. Lieutenant Herd, as the conductor of the Wellington Garrison Band, which won the highest number of points in the test selections , hikes the gold-mounted ebony baton, valued at five guineas, presented bv Charles 1 egg and Co., Duuedin. There "was loud cheering when the result was announced, and Mr. Herd was congratulated on all sides. An enthusiastic greeting was given also to Mr. Crichton, of the Wanganui Garrison Band, in recognition of the plucky fight which that band made for the championship.

. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION-.] Wellington-, Sunday. The Garrison Band was welcomed home last night by a large crowd, inclvdino* Sir J. Ward, Mr. Seddon, and the Mayor. The two latter gave short addresses congratulating the band on winning the championship and the Besson shield.