CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9662, 10 February 1903, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir, — I wish to endorse the remarks made by Mr E. N. Sidebottom m the "Herald*' of yesterday, relating to the .impolite criticisms indulged m by Mr Ord Hume at the late baud contest. .They would ihave done credit to a third-Rite vaudeville much less a fine art such as music. A musician is by nature sensitive, and it is anything out encouraging to the young men especially who met together from all parts of our fair colony for contest, and more particularly to' gain experience. It was well known, before hand by numbers of bands, and individuals that they had no chance of winning first prize, as 'music competitions ore not like horse races with weight for age and speed, and numbers went there to learn, to find out their defects m playing, never -for one moment dreaming they would be subjected to such coarse remarks as fell from tie judge. Fair musical criticisms they expected, and I venture to say tliat Mr Ord Hume has killed the musical spirit m not a small percentage of those who came under his ban. I trust the Gisborne players will overlook his remarks as it would be a serious loss to everyone if our bandsmen threw down their instruments m disgust. I do not iti any wayreflect, on Mr Ord Hume's ability. I believe him to be a gifted and clever musician, but I do not think that the public of New: Zealand^ conductors and members of bands, consider that blaring of instruments strong enough to burst a drum head or smash windows at 100 yards constitutes real good band-playing. --I am," etc., -AN OLD HAND.