AUCKLAND ARTILLERY BAND'S VISIT TO TARANAKI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5882, 7 October 1885, Page 2

AUCKLAND ARTILLERY BAND'S VISIT TO TARANAKI.

We take the following account of tho Auckland Artillery Band's visit to Taranaki from the Auckland Star :—": — " We had made arrangements for a concert at Now Plymouth on the Monday evening, and our intention was to proceed there direct, but the fates ruled otherwise, and we were compelled to remain at Waitara till tho next day. Tli3 New Plymouth people were terribly disappointed, and no wonder. They had a four-in-hand waiting at the breakwater from daylight, and when the steamer passed into Waitara there wero fully 2,000 people there. However, wo had to make the best of it ; if the New Plymouth people were vexed, those of Waitara were not, and showed that they intended to make the most of us. We mnrchsd up to Holmes's (lato of Auckland) Masonic Hotel, and were welcomed in a hearty manner by a number of old friends, including Mr. Hanna, Mr. West, of the Freezing Works, and Mr. Day, in charge of the police. In the evening the band played at tho hall a programme consisting principally of sacred music, but not wholly. Nearly £4 were gathered in the room from a few friends. We expected nothing of the sort, and it was a welcorno surpriso. With the railway difficulty ahead, we woro very glad of it. Mr. Hunter returned thanks on bohalf of the band. We wero shown over the freezing workß in the morning by Mr. West, and left at 9.20 for. Now Plymouth. On arriving there we woro met by a largo number of those who were disappointod the day previous. Wo marched up the town, and on stopping in front o£»* Craig's Hotel, where we put up, a gentleman in blue stepped up and touched our sergeant on the shoulder. Wa began to think some of us were in trouble, and wo were. Tho explanation was simple. They have a Salvation Army in New Plymouth, and of course they olso possess a brass band. And such a baud 1 The civic authoiitiea voted brass bands a nuisance, and passed a by-law prohibiting any band from remaining stationary in any publio thoroughfare. Knee drill being a common amusement, traffic was stopped until tho Army finished ; hence the law. Our sergeant collapsed, and for some time did not completely recover. We found that a splendid programme had been prepared for the evening's performance in the Alexandra Hall. The conductor of the Philharmonic Society, Mr. Garry, deserves credit for their state of efficiency. Some of the soloists would be a credit to any of our musical societies in Auckland. The pianist and double bass were the bright particular stars. Our arrangement was to take half the gross receipts, and we netted nearly £16 by the transaction. I might mention that Mr. Jones, tho music seller, engaged a trap at his own expense, and took us to all tho sights in town. Captain Ellis, of the Rifles, called his company out, and we marched — Colonel Stapp, himself, and them — en mass, to tho entertainment. Captain Ellis, being determined to see ub comfortable, accompanied Mr. Hunter to the station-master, to arrange about the passes ; but we were compelled to pay. Mr. Pardy also did his best. If we pull off the honours, there will be one man in the world very glad, and that man's name is Pardy. At Hawera we were met by Walter Hunter, formerly of the Thames Scottish Band, who is in charge of a very young band there. We gave a concert and dance, and netted a few pounds. We received information by wire while at the concert that the Stormbird would leave Wanganui on the next Wednesday evening at midnight, and we were^ compelled to forego tho concerts at Putea and Wanganui, although it meant a big loss.

At Patea it cost us Over £7 for rent of hall, advertising, etc., and I will give them credit; they would have their pound of flesh, although they would not give it the boys. All got up hungry from tho dinner table. We went straight through to WanJ ganui tho satno evening, and then another growl re the concert there.

On the retura of the Band from Wellington, the writer goes on to state: — " We arrived at New Plymouth at half-past five in tho. afternoon. The next day we gave an afternoon performance in their Botanic Gardens, and i may here remark that those gardens take the eiiiae oat of anything we have seen in Now Zealand. We played for two hours, and then left in brakes for Waitara, where wo had a complimentary ball. We could not enjoy it for any length of time, as the Gairloch left at 10 bliurp. After a splendid passage, we jrii/id utOno hunga. We can. honestly say that during tlie whole of! that time not one man conducted himself: ia any other that a gentlemanly manuer, and certainly brought no discredit on the place that sent them.