THE BANDS CONTEST.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8658, 22 October 1896, Page 2

THE BANDS CONTEST.

THE QUICKSTEP COMPETITION, (By Telegraph.) DUNEDIN, October 21. The New Zealand Brass Bands Association’s annual contest was commenced to-day. The morning broke beautifully fine after yesterday’s rain, but it was too fine ior thunder clouds commenced to gather, and shortly after the quickstep commenced a shower fell and was followed by others, rain for some time falling in a perfect torrent, making it very uncomfortable for the bandsmen who had to play in it. The sun shone out at intervals, and the showers became less frequent, but the spectators could not all get into the grand stand. A very large crowd gathered in the streets, and the Octagon where the bands formed up was a living mass by about 1 o’clock. About 1 15, the ten bands who were taking part in the quickstep competition were massed together and marched to the Caledonian grounds where the contest was held. The volume of sound was rather disappointing, but the bands were so hemmed in by the crowd that many of the players could not use t ieir instruments.

There was a very large attendance at the Caledonian ground and very shortly after arrival the quickstep competition was commenced. Mr T. E. Bulch (of Melbourne), the judge, occupied a tent in the centre of the grounds, and the military judges (Colonel Webb, Captain Milne and Mr Callan) took up their places, Mr Wills acting as supervisor. The march piece for the competition was “ The Moa,” which was composed by Mr Buh’h, the prizes being a gold medal for the first and a silver medal for the second place, and the conditions that the bands were to be judged on music, marching and drill* Each band had to

marclh once round and then 100 yards up the centre of the ground, this straight march to be done in 120 paces. The Dunedin Citizens led off, and were followed by Waimate, Invercargill, and Kaikorai,. when - rain commenced to come down* some of the following bands playing in a regular downpour. The resuit was as follows

not compete. The winners were, perhaps, fortunate as- regards weather, Dunedin Citizens and Waimate, who played before the rain fell, had a decided advantage. Each band that followed had to play in the rain, which must have interfered more or less with the players. When the turn of the Dunedin Navals came the rain ceased though the turf was greasy and heavy The public gave them a hearty reception at the conclusion, as it was evident that they were considered the winners. Invercargill Garrison played too slow, while Wellington Garrison erred in the opposite direction. The following are the results of tonight’s solo competitions in connection with the band contest:— Trombones. T. Graves, Invercargill Garrison, 16 points 1 F. Horne, Dunedin Navals, 15 points t W. J. Siddall, Invercargill Garrison, 15 points ... t R. Pellitt, Kaikorai, 15 points ... t They play off to-morrow. J. MeCrae, Timaru Garrison, 13 points t H. Cummings, Wellington, 13 points t Four others competed, E Flat Bombardon. J. Sinclair, Oamaru Garrison, 18 points I A. Millar, Dunedin Navals, 16 points 2 H. Dixon, Wellington Garrison ... 3 R. Herd, Wellington Garrison ... 4 Tlu-ee others competed. The solo contests will be continued to-morrow. The annual meeting was appointed to be held in Dunedin during Easter.

.2 *53 9 i s ft o H Dunedin Navals 16 9* 25* Invercargill Garrison... 17 8 25 Kaikorai... 15 8* 23* Wellington Garrison... 13 8* 21* Waimate .. 1 ... 12 9 21 Invercargill City 13 8 21 Dunedin Engineers ... Timaru 12 8 20 12 7 19 Dunedin Garrison 11 8 19 Dunedin Citizens 11 7 * ■ 18* Stanmore and Oamaru Garrison did