THE AUSTRAL BAND.

Otago Daily Times, Volume 13694, Issue 13694, 10 September 1906, Page 7

THE AUSTRAL BAND.

Well attended as the Sunday meetings of tho Salvation Army usually nre, the audiences lhat assembled in the Barracb yesterday to:hoai- tho Austral Hand play were a long way in exccss of any seen in the fortress previously, even on special occasions, Tho hand played at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m., and on oac-h occasion, '■ hut. more particularly in the evening, the largo biiilying iillfv] to oversowing. Tho band, whidli.is composed exclnsivelv of jvomeii, nuin!:oj-s 21 performers, mid is under the leiulersliip of an old New Zealand officer in the. pel-soil of I'.rigailiei- Veal, fls tiead(|iittrters are in Melbourne, and it is ali; present touring the colony with uie ebjeel; of raising funds for tho Army to carry on its good work. I'he band reached 3)|inediu on Saturday, having landed at- the llluff soma few d-jyi ago, and workinff its ■way norlb,'made a ahnrt stay at Mosgiel lirfore (Oniiiig on to town. The.playing of tho band i.s excellent. It- is quite evident tliat .all tho performers aro good instniJiientalisls, and have devoted much time to tho, study and practice of music. They play with good combination and good teste, and only the hypercritical could find any fault with their instrumentation. Their leader lias thoni well under control, and her idea of tho. interpretation of the various selections t!i?y play is adrrtirahlo. The band'-includes a really first-class flinging company, and ft fc'loe phrty, and tho vocal jiowcpj of the-handswomen aro but very little inferior to their playing. Several voettl items wore piven yesterday, all with very pleasing effect. Action songs a;fc a specialty with the vocal portion of tho band. The public will have another opportunity of hearing the band this evening, w-hen it will givq a couple of hours' entertainment in the Barraoks in aid of tho missionary operations of tho Salvation Army. The 'band leaves Duncdin tomorrow morning, and njays at Port Ohaltters beforo proceeding farther north.