BAND GOSSIP.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1785, 20 June 1895, Page 3

BAND GOSSIP.

[By " Rondo."] With this issue, " Rondo " makes his first appearance, and will, with the assistance of " Tom-tom," endeavour to •' serve up" 8 few items oecasiocally As the heading denotes, the column will be devoted to items of interest to bandsmen, especially m connection with the forthcoming Band Contest. Will the secretaries assist me, by forwarding any items concerning the doings of their bands ? Address,. 4 ' Rondo," Box 19, P.O. Timaru. JFrom a letter received, I hear that the Wellington Garrison are m good form, and mean business next October. Tlie many friends of Mr T. ilerd, (formerly bandmaster of the Timaru Garrison Band), will be glad to welcome him and his splendid band. The Guards' Bandi (Invereargi.il) are now busy running an Art Union. This band js noted for their efforts to provide funds, and I trust that the latest venture will, m every way, be satisfactory. The Canterbury Engineers' Baud are In a very flourishing condition. The band have made great headway of late, and will prove an exceedingly hard nut to crack here next October. The local Garrison have evidently settled down to work, for I have had the pleasure of listening to some really good practices lately. The test selections, from Wright and Round, and Boosey and Co., should soon be received here by our worthy Mayor. The first named firm is well known, but Boosey and Co.'s arrangements will strike New Zealand bandsmen a bit strange. From Christchurch we shall have Engineers', Sydenham, Garrison, and Stanmore, witli a possibility of Lyttelton, so that North Canterbury will be well represented, and should have a, big say m the prizes. I see that F. IJatton is again 'Hipping" fche soprano m the Timaru Band. Are there not other good players m the town who would be a decided acquisition to the ranks ? Considering the population of the colony the number of bands m both islands is surprisingly large. From a list kindly supplied by " Tom-Tom " I find that there are no less than 96 bands m New Zealand. Surely New Zealanders are very musical, and specially fond of brass band music.