WAIMATE BRASS BAND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12282, 8 July 1914, Page 3

WAIMATE BRASS BAND.

(From Our Ova Correspondent.) Oil Monday evening about- 40 bandsmen and ex-Bandsmen met at the Band. Hall as guests of the trustees, Messrs J. Black, W. E. Evans and W. J. Wills After doing justice to a supper served by Mr J. Symon the usual toast list interspersed with musical items was gone through. In proposing the ' 'Army and Navy,"" Mr Joseph Williams s&'.d that- he was proud of heing .-in Englishman and belonging to an Empire whos6 navy if not its army could not b« beaten. His personal experience only related to the Old Volunteers of which he had been a continuous member for 6 years. He knew little about the Territorials but it was evident that while the Old Volunteers and Cadets could shoot and shoot straight the shooting education of the Territorials was not given the attention that should be accorded the most important qualification of a soldier. In reply Mr Sanders, another old volunteer with medals for I'2, 16 and 20 years continuous service, referred to the important work done by the navy at Ladysmitb. He endorsed Mr Williams remarks about shooting. The old Wai~ mate Volunteers had one season won 13 matches in succession and had put up the biggest team score in New Zealand on the old snider rifle. Nowadays if one did not join the Navy League and the Honorary Territorials he was liable to be called disloyal but as a matter of fact some of the men who were now shouting their loudest in praise of the defence system were men who had never done half a day's drill in their lives. He himself had the pleasure of taking the rough edge off about 50 recruits who had went from AY aim ate to South Africa and these men had done credit to their country. In aH liis experience he liad never seen an Englishman who was not prepared to fight for his country when called on. Mr F. Sauer. an ex-eontingenter, also replied. Mr W. J. Wills, in proposing the "Waiiuate Borough Council," was of the opiniou that a great improvement had been effected in the personal of the Council during the past ten years. The Borough was now an up-to-date little city and thanks were due .to change in the arrangement of the various committees for the very improved l manner in which the Municipal work and business was conducted.' After a long light, water was brmight into the town seven vears ago and no one would now do without it. Lately . underground drainage was installed and altogether tho town had a Council ajive to its duty and prepared to earry.it out. A word of praise had also to bo accorded to Mr Dash, their Town Clerk, who was an excellent officer. ' Councillors Evans, Saunders, and the Town Clerk replied'to the toast, remark being made as to the friendly feeling of the present Council to the Band; . . Mr Evans, in.proposing the 4'Band. spoke cheerfully of the prospect of the Band, the-only drawback he saw was tho smallness of the pupils class. The success of a band depended greatly upon the new material coming on from which, to fill vacancies. _ Tho speaker gVve some amusing incidents in- tho past history of the Baud. '.The toast was replied to by Conductor Anuaud and Bandsmen Sauer and Kirby. In. proposing "Band Veterans" Mr Dash referred to the fact that there were quite half a dozeu gentlemen present >vho were members of the Band over twenty years ago. Great credit ivas due to men. in the past who had: carried on the work of the Band and there was no reason why present members should not jvork up to contest form and do as well as had been done in the past. Messrs Sanders and Williams replied

and related several amusing incidents in the Baud's history. ~ Other toasts were the Ladies, "The Pipe Band," ' The "The Performers," and TheCateiei. During the evening a- presentation was made to Bandsman Oates, w_io is leaving the district. . Needless, to say the musical piogramme was of a very high ordei. -lie Band nlaved a march and three members played a trio. Songs were grveii bv Messrs J. King W L Hay, F. Palmer, —. Steele. Mr A, Kir by gave a recitation and Mr J. Annand played a, cornet solo. Mr J. Black made an efficient chairman.