CITY BAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13645, 27 March 1915, Page 7

CITY BAND.

ANNUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of the Gisborne City Band was held at the bandroom last night, Mr F. Pettie presiding over a fair attendance of bandsmen and sympathisers. Amongst the latter were : — Messrs J. Townley, J. Brown, G. . C. Munns and J. Webster. Mr A. Townsend a. member of the executive of the North Island Brass Band Association was also present. Apologies were received from Major A. G. Beere, Lieut. Slipper, Messrs Palairet, F. E. Gaddum, R. A. Mitchell, J. R. Kirk, W. L. Clayton, E. D. Smith, F. R. Ball, .and M. L. Foster. The report was read as follows: — "There havo been ninety-foiir practices held m the bandroom, at which the average attendance has been eighteen. The band has paraded on fifty-nine occasions, as follows: — Rotunda and other open-air conceits. 17 ; theatre concerts, 8: military parades, departure of volunteers, etc., 12; assistance to concerts (other than patriotic), 2; patriotic and other gatherings, 15; engagements, 5. The average muster of the band on parade has "been twenty-three. The band at the end of the financial year i shows that the receipts have amounted to £321 ls 9d and the expenditure to £230 14s Bd. The assets are. valued at £473 10s, and the liabilities are £103 7s 6d (Bank of New Zealand £100 7s Id). Thc principal items m the receipts were made at Christmas (when the band were indebted to the hank for £225) by carrolling and various donations by generous citizens, totalling about £94. The band has tendered for the supply of music at several race meetings and sports gatherings during the year, and on every occasion the tender has not been considered, and the members consider, as this is a public band, they are not receiving fair treatment. The engagements for the year have amounted to £22 8s (Times Office £5, Tennis Club £2 ss. A. and P. Show £10, Baptist Fete £2, and Poultry Show £3 3s). During the year the bsind has lost several good players through various causes, principally unemployment. The following are new members .'for the year, Messrs Nunns, Barkell. Hart, Edmonds, and Campbell. The band are m need badly for a new uniform and also the instruments are not m good order. A Queen Carnival is now' being organised by the citizens and with a good result, the above should be remedied. The thanks of the band are due to all those citizens who have so generously donated towards the funds during the year and whose names are too numerous to correctly detail m this report. The gentlemen who have collected for the band on various occasions are to be thanked also, while Mr Murphy, cornetist of the Opera House, is to be also mentioned for the valuable aid he has rendered the band on many occasions. In conclusion, the press have to be specially thanked for their assistance at all times to the band."

The chairman, m moving the adoption of the report, said he thought a very satisfactory position was disclosed considering the amount of work the band had put m; They were practically £100 better off than at the close of last year.

>Mr E. R. Miller, m seconding the motion, said it was one of the finest reports they had >had for some years. It was very creditable that the average attendance at parades had been 23. The report was adopted. The treasurer, Mr E. R. Miller, read a balance sheet, which is summarised m the above report and it was duly adopted. On the motion of Mr C. J. Knopp, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Miller for the elaborate way m which he had prepared the balance-sheet. The chairman pointed out that the figures showed that the band could not he run for nothing, as some members of the public seemed to think. 'ITie satisfactory state, of affairs showed that the band had not been asleep m the bandroom, but had been doing hard

work.

The secretary (Mr T. Donovan) remarked that since the year closed on February 28 about £40 had been received.

Mr Miller said tho hank balance now stood at £88 18s.

Election of officers resulted as follows : — Pa/tron, Mr E. * MtfTphy ; president. Mr F. Pettie; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Townley, I. Mirfield, C. J. Hamilton. T. Adair, G. C. 'Munns, D. Porter, W. G. Sherratt, C. Adair, M. L. Foster, W. Webb, D. J. Parker, C. H. Ambridge, S Thacker, D. J. Barry, W. F. J. Anderson, F. E. Gaddum, A. Cassin, W. H. Langlands, H. D. de Lautour, J. Brown, .}. Webster, W. L. Clayton, F. Harris, and W. F. Cederwall, Rev. Father Lane, and Major Beere.

In conneqtion with the election of working officers, it was decided, to appoint a conductor for six months, at a salary at the rate of £60 a year. Mr A. E. Lawrence was re-appointed to the position. Other officers elected were : Drum -Ma] or, Mr R. Somervell (re-elect-ed) ; chairman, Mr C. J. Knopp (reelected); treasurer, Mr W. Dayman; committee, Messrs Jackson and Nunns; bandmaster, Mr J. Davies (re-elected) ; secretary, Mr T. Donovan (re-elected); auditor, Major Beere. As a mark of appreciation of his long connection with the band and the valuable assistance he has always given, Mr J. Townley was elected an honorary life member of the band.

The chairman referred to the Queen Carnival, and urged that bandsmen should give every assistance possible, as it was hoped to* make a big success of -the undertaking.

Mr Townley said t^iey could not give any particulars about the carnival until Mr Lints arrived. He suggested the band should make a list of their requirements, so that it would be known what was wanted. There was. no reason why the carnival should not raise several hundred pounds. At Timaru £10,000 was raised, including £6000 from the voting for the queen. Mr Donovan said they could do with £1000. They wanted to pay off the overdraft and get uniforms.

Mr Townsend thought something was wrong' when only £19- odd was received for engagements. The Wanganui band received £90 a year from the Racing Club alone. "I don't wonder at you men being disheartened," added the speaker. "I don't know what the public institutions are thinking of." He pointed out that the band was a public institution, and when they were called out on public occasions for nothing he thought public institutions should give them engagements. He considered the executive snould go into the matter.

Mr Donovan said the only engagement they had m view was the A. and P. Show. They had always put m a tender to the ' Racing Clubs m good time, and also sports clubs, but they had been declined.

A vote of thanks was accorded the outgoing officers and to the chairman.