Band Notes.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12583, 21 January 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

Band Notes.

(By ','jßass Drum.")

The Waimate Band is at present enjoying its annual holiday. ' The band goes on furlough for a month from the Ist January? and starts work on .the Ist- February. The members require the short spell, as they aro .kept hard at work during the! year. The band turned out in fair,numbers on Thursday/evening and attended the Flower Show, Bandmaster Wills . being in charge. Mr CJoldstone, conductor of the band, passed through Timarn on his way to Hanmer to spend a well-earned holiday, and I trust he: will be able to take'up his duties with freslv vigour when he returns from liis holiday; * ~ Thei Marine Band gave their first public concert on Thursday, evening in the Alexander Square rotunda; ■ arid a considerable, crowd turned oufr' io 'hMr the new band. .A short time ago '{Mr A: . C.; Thompson stated that he was impressed with, the crowd which assembles in phristchurch to hear band conceits,' and - that it would be the same in Timaru if the bands would /only play in the evening. - His words have c'ome true, as the. crowd which assembled in and about the Square numbered over. !'2OOO. Whether" tfiis ' is a sign that the Marines are popular or not I would not {like to say, . bu£ the 'way in which the audience applauded the' Band after each item showed that it has a very fair hold of the Timaru people. The evening was fine, and this no doubt helped to augment the attendance. 'The band played a march from their rooms through the town, "The Lads in Navy Blue," and in the rotunda gave the programme which has already been notified. There was a good muster of the players, about twenty-five being present, and their performance showed that the conductor, Mr Coombs, lias good material to work with, and lias been carefully preparing it. Taking the performance of the band, I have no hesitation • in stating that the Timaru people will not need to •be ashamed of the Marines, and it seems as if the "Lads in Navy Blue" are going to make "a, big bid for honours very shortly. I wish them luck. , Mr A. Briasco was. in town last week, and I noticed that lie could not resist the temptation to have a- blow with the Marines. He informed me that- he has taken a strong liking to the Lads, and that very shortly he' mightmake Timaru his home, and in that case would be only too happy to join the' Marines. Mr Briasco is at present in Alexandra, -and takes a

leading place in musical circle's down there, afld is, in fact, well known in New Zsaland as a first-class musician. ' Mr W. .Coombs, wMIB in Timaru, had ; turn with the Marines, and speaks ver , favourably: of the band. He stated tha ! the band was far before what he had ex pected, and. said that he would not bi surprised if it. took a leading plaoe witl bands before it passed, its first birthday. Thfe GfarHseil Band*: intends giving i sacred concert on.Caroline Bay to*3 Borrow. The Pipe Band gave a programm on Alexandra Square band rotunda oi Thursday evening and as the Army is alsi going to give ft concert shortly, it seemi as if the bands have at lust.wnkened up and Timaru is now going to have a de ligiitfili RSftsdii of music. . The Marine Sand itttfirids giving a sacre( concert some Sunday evening. ... yite Garrisqii Band held a meeting afle: practice oil Moi'day. evSniiig:, flerr Pau stated that hp intended helping {his banc as much as possible, and an agreeffiem was read between himself and pupils whicl provided for a fee of £1 Is per quarte: for pupils who would join the band, ant wlio complied with; the rules for two hal ' hours' private practice a weekj besides tw< isOftrs' Jbrdctice . & : UrMk in the bandroom 33ft afinoHnieinfflJ,. ,#a§ fgedved with a.p plause. A mofitfi's fiStidS t : 6, Jeave Tiai been received by the band f'rofii th§ trustee: of .the present bandroom. This will t)i rather awkward for the band, as no con venient rooms are available in Timaru a present. The- letter from the Council o the Chtltches was. again discussed, and' ; jfltftisn ijjftt,the .letter be received was car ried. The mind lias decided that in ftituri

only bandsmen and tioii. wotild be allowed in the bandvoom on practice nights. Thist is on account of the annoyance which lias been caused in the past through out-

siders interfupting practices. The Marine Band has opened a. list of hon. members, and up to last Monday somethiflg like 200 names, had been placed on the list/ " Cards are being printed, -and by /thg. end of next week the Committee expect {6 jiitvfe SQO names on the list. In reference to the ioflj ihfe'mfce.rs* list, I may mentibn that the subscriptiofi is Id' per week. Each subscriber receives a Card, which admit-s him to the annual concert !of the band; The subscriber can-pay " either" weekly; monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly, and collectors are appointed by the band, and call each week or month, etc., according to Jiow the collector wishes. The money goes to ifla'iiitsin the band. Any person wishing to become afi h6fi., Insmber I can do soi by'leaving his name and address either at the Dresden or-with the secretary of thtf band.' '

Mr McKersley, the noted tenor horn player, had the misfortune to break his arm' at Gisborne recently. Herr Paul informed me the other day thathe had been very pleased with what he had heard and seen of the Garrison Band. They were good material to work on, and apparently willing to work. It would not take long for him to get thoroughly into, touch with them, for the method of training that had been theirs did not differ greatly from his owil. Witlij regard to the formation of another band in Timaru, Hierr Paul very much regretted that there should be any ill-feeling between the two bodies.. .The. only excuse, the Garrison Band could have for objecting was that they might lose engagements, but he did not think bad b'ood should be caused spects there was room enough for two by business considerations. In other rebands in Timaru, and, as a musical corn-