SCHOOL BAND

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 6

SCHOOL BAND

BALCIjUTHA BOYS ARRIVE. The Balclutha School Band, consisting of about thirty boys attending the primary and high schools at Balclutha, arrived by the express from the north at one o’clock yesterday, Mr Andrew Woods, well known by bandsmen in Southland, was in charge of the boys. They were met by representatives -of the Education Board, the School Committees' Association, the Invercargill bands and the North School. The boys proceeded to the band rotunda in front of the Port Office where they received an official welcome. Mr A. W. Jones, chairman of the School Committees’ Association, welcomed the boys on behalf of that body and hoped that their stay would be happy. He was sure that the North School boys, with whom they were billetted, would do their best to make their stay enjoyable. They all greatly appreciated the Balclutha boys’ coming to the assistance of the North School. Mr Jones congratulated the band on its many successes since its formation, making special reference to its victory at the Dunedin Exhibition. He wished to let the public know that the boys were giving a concert in Victoria Hall on Saturday evening and trusted that there would be a large audience. Once again he expressed his appreciation and pleasure at the visit of the band. Mr A. R. Wills, on behalf of the bands of Invercargjll also welcomed the boys. He understood the visit of the Balclutha band was to be the forerunner of the formation of school bands in Invercargill. He sincerely hoped this would be the case, for such boys’ bands would be very valuable feeders to the adult bands. Balclutha had a school band and he believed Wanganui also had one; and there was no reason why Invercargill should not follow suit. Mr Woods thanked the Invercargill people for the hearty reception the band had received. He knew that the boys would all enjoy themselves and hoped that their concert would give pleasure to the public. The band then played the march “Round the Town.” As an indication of how well the march was played it may be stated that after the first few bars the space round the rotunda became thronged with people, who testified by their loud applause when the piece was concluded how much they had enjoyed the boys’ playing. The visit of the band is being made chiefly with the object of encouraging the formation of school bands in Invercargill. The boys give a concert in Victoria Hall this evening, assisted by leading local talent, and it is hoped that headmasters of the various schools and the school committees will be present to note the wonderful progress the Balclutha band has made under Mr Woods.