SOUTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20317, 27 January 1928, Page 6

SOUTH OTAGO.

BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS. (From Our Own Corbesrondent.) BALCLUTHA, January 26, BOYS’ BRASS BAND. The Balclutha Boys’ Brass Band re > turned last evening from its five weeks tour of the Dominion. The band played in about 30 towns, extending from Temuka in the south to Auckland m the north, and had a wonderful reception everywhere it went. Die boys ie turned full of health and spirits, and manifestly benefited by their tour. They were met on the arrival of the express by a large crowd of townspeople and by the Balclutha Pipe Band, which played “ See the Conquering Hero Comes, ’ or us equivalent in pipe music followed bj the hearty cheers of all. Afterwards the Pipe Band played the tourists to the Dalton Hall, where a civic reception had been arranged, the principal item being a bounteous supper, to which the boys and some 100 guests did full justice. The Mayor (Mr S. V. White), who presided, called for cheers for the boys and the adults who had accompanied them, namely, Messrs John Gold (manager of the tour), Andrew Wood (bandmaster and conductor), R. S. Close, and Thomas Wilson. This part of the .function closed with a haka by the boys, an accomplishment picked up in their tour of the north. At 8 o’clock the Boys’ Band gave a concert in the Oddfellows’ Hall before a packed house. The programme opened with a xylophone solo (with band accompaniment) by Mr Andrews, of the Ivaikorai Band, Dunedin, who had accom named the boys on their tour and assisted by giving xylophone solos at the various performances. Several selection from the band showed that it had improved immensely by its experience on tour, its playing being in the nature of a revelation to the audience. Recitations were also given in a manner to elicit the heartiest appreciation by Miss Winifred Tosh (of Sydney) and Miss Betty Reid (Christchurch). Speeches appropriate to the occasion were delivered by the Mayor, who aaia that from letters and telegrams he ha,d received from the north the boys had earned nothing but iheir behaviour had been excellent. The boys had established the fame of Balclutha as a town of some importance in the South Island. The speaker concluded by expressing thanks to the conductor (Mr A. Wood), the manager (Mr John Gold), and to Messrs Close and Wilson for their good work on the tour. —(Applause.) Mr John Gold said they appreciated the welcome from their own home town, ihe Mayor had been right when he said that Mr Wood and his band boys had put Balclutha on the map of New Zealand. He concluded on the note that more interest should be taken in tbe band by Balcluthans. Mr Tom Wilson said that in their nve weeks’ tour they had visited the Ring Country, Auckland, Taranaka. Hawke s Bay, and Wellington. The had covered practically the whole of the North Island, and had been welcomed everywhere. There had not been one incident to mar the trip in any way—(Applause.) , f Mr A. Wood, the conductor, spoke Jt the splendid behaviour, discipline, and punctuality of the boys, who had never failed to be on time for all performances. Mr Cold then presented each of the boys with bis railway ticket uiving the names of all the places visited on the tour, which the secretary of the Railway Board had kindly consented to being retained as a memento of the trip. Hearty cheers, on the call of the Mayor, for all 'those identified with the success of the trip, and the singing of ohe National Anthem brought to a close an enjoyable function. it is satisfactory to know that the tour proved a financial success in that the takings will clear all expenses.