BAND AT WAITARA

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1935, Page 11

BAND AT WAITARA

ANNUAL MEETING HELD. NEW CONDUCTOR APPOINTED. The annual meeting of the Waitara Municipal Band was held on Tuesday night, the Mayor, Mr. J. Hine, presiding over a fair attendance. The chah-man of the band committee, Mr. T. Taylor, reported that the year had been very satisfactory financially. In spite of the purchase of new music valued at £3 Os 7d, the credit balance had been increased by £9 14s Id. Early in the year a difficulty existed in regard to the position of bandmaster. Twentytwo applications were made for the position, but none was acceptable as each applicant wanted work of some kind. It was found impossible to secure suitable work for the conductor selected, so the idea of obtaining a new conductor was dropped. Afterwards, however, Mr.. C. Murfitt, Inglewood, was engaged, and the band had progressed musically. Attendances at practices were not satisfactory, and as the solo-cornetist had left the band could not play out as much r it would like.

The band played during carnival week, on Anzac Day, and on other occasions, including a concert at Urenui. It was regretted that three players had resigned. Special thanks were due to the committee responsible for a series, of dances, especially to Mesdames F. Locke, I. Faigan, S. Mills, Misses Fulcher, B. Kibby and Faigan, also to Mr. Hamlin for auditing and others who had helped the band. Including last year’s credit of Ils Bd, the balance-sheet showed that receipts totalled £52 12s 4d and expenditure £42 6s 7d, leaving a credit of £lO 5s 9d. The Mayor, moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, said the band had I improved its position. He realised the difficulty bands in small and sometimes large towns laboured under. Mr. Murfitt, in answer to a question, said he was sorry to say most of the instruments were not in a very good ' condition. He pointed out that he had only been appointed conductor tempor- ■ arily and he had found it difficult to : run the Inglewood band as well. He i trusted that a permanent conductor . would be found. * A long discussion took place regarding the number and state of the instruments. The Mayor said it was obvious tb- i t? band would have to repair its instruments and, if necessary, buy new ones later on. The first question was

( rer.’ly one of finance and the next was to obtain a resident conductor. The band could not expect Mr. Murfitt to visit Waitara for 10s a week when he also had his own band to conduct. The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, the Mayor; president, Mr. T. Taylor; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. Richards, J. Parry, M. Fahy, P. J. Allen, I C. E. Gaustad, W. R. Johns and H. M. Madsen; secretary, Mr. I. Faigan; comI mittee, Messrs. D. Muir, J. Brough, D. | Laing, I. G. Newton and the secreI tary; auditor, Mr. J. W. Hamlin. Referring to the question of a con- ' ductor, the chairman pointed out that it was obvious a conductor could not be appointed at once. He suggested the preliminary work of obtaining a conductor should be left in the hands of the committee. This suggestion was adopted. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring secretary, Mr. S. Mills, who is shortly leaving Waitara, a tribute being paid to h i for his work. At a subsequent meeting of the com- . mitte c it was decided to approach Mr. C. H. Sampson to ask him to accept the ■ position of conductor. | Mr. Sampson was interviewed yesterday by Mr. Taylor, who later stated that ■ Mr. Sampson had been unanimously appointed to the position, which he had j accepted.