BAND ENTERTAINED.

Timaru Herald, Volume C, Issue 15284, 27 February 1914, Page 5

BAND ENTERTAINED.

ENTHUSIASTIC FUNCTIONS

LARGE ATTENDANCES. Last evening the 2nd South Canterbury Regimental Band, champions of the Dominion, were the guests of the Borough Council and citizens of Timaru at' a complimentary banquet and concert tendered , to . them % on account of their victories at Auckland. The Mayor (Mr W. Angland) presided at the banquest, which was held in Hutchison's Arcade Cafe, and there was an attendance of close on a hundred ladies and gentlemen. Seven tables were arranged in the spacious dining room, and a..happy company partook of the sumptuous repast provided. T'ne Mayor proposed the toast of "The King," wmch was drunk with the usual nonours. "The Army and Navy" was proposed by Councillor Maling. In this Dominion, he said, we realised the uecessity of keeping open our trade routes, so that , our exports, which were the life-blood of the country, | might be preserved. Germany »vas increasing ner navy, and their popalation was increasing so that thoy needed an outlet. Britain owned a fourth of the habitable land of the World. Though it was .essential to maintain a supreme navy, it would also be essential to have the land forces trained. The civil army was now being efficiently trained, and they could rely on it that the men in vthese islands could uphold our rights. The men they were entertaining were part of that civil army, and had brought lustre on their regiment. (Applause.) He coupled the toast with the names of Mr Hole, chairmdn of the Navy League, ahd Major Barclay. Mr Holo said the Navy was never further forward than it was to-day. It was important that we should have a superb navy, and New Zealand had done its share in maintaining it by giving a handsome ship. Timaru, through the energy of its member, had also given a gift to that ship which was much appreciated. He was sure the toast which had been proposed would always be drunk with the greatest enthusiasm by Britons. ■Major Barclay the proposer and those present for'the manner in which they had answered to the toast. In regard to compulsory training system, he hoped that the country would never go back on that system. Rich and poor

were put on one level, and any country which fostered such a. scheme possessed the essence of democracy'. He hopea' all would be willing to prepare themselves to do their duty for their country. As Huxley said, "When a man had a duty, to do ' he should do it, when he should do it, whether he liked it or not.'' That ~was the essence' of compulsory training. • He was very proud of his Band, which had worked extremey hard. He congratulated Conductor Schnack on the standard of music he hao reached. He hoped the Band would be the best military as well as the best musical band. It seemsd to be thought that he was Antagonistic to the Band, but he Vished that notion to be got rid of. He hoped to make arrangements for the Band to play at other places Be thought they should plav at Temuia, Geraldine iand Waiimate. Timaru had subscribed admirablv for the Band, and he thought it was the duty of other places of South Gauterburv to subserous <i-SO. E[o "tlumked. all for coupling his name with the toast, and expressed his appreciation of the manner the' people of Timaru had assisted tb* I Band. The Mayor proposed the toast ox-' "The Band." He congratulated them? on their performances at Invercari'll f and Auckland. It was now three vears f since Conductor Sc'inack took over ihs = Band, and in that time he had raised it-! from the .lowest to the highest position— f < champions of New Zealand. He hoped i they would long hold, that title. 1 i ill- Craigie, speaking to the toaii, : :said he cons.dereu it all iionoar to bpeak \ on that occasion. He joined with ad m congratulating the Band in the honour ; they had brought to themsaives and to I imam. limaru had distinguished it- ; self by the Fire Brigade and other "things, and the Barjd had now made a good reputation for themselves. One thing stood out plainly, and that was that they had an artist as their instructor. Any man who could keep thirty men together, have discipline, and win the success they had won, was fit for .any position. It they were,going to maintain Bands he hoped the Marine Band would go next and bring home honours and prizes. He did not like to see a band going round practically begging to eke out an existence. They could all cheer, and enjoy the music, but all should pay. He thought tho right thing was to take money out o? the rates, and subsidise the bands. Those with properties who liksd music but d.id not like to pay for it would then have to pay. The time had arrived for subsidising the bands and getting more music on the Bay. Mr Axel Newton also congratulated the bandsmen on their victories. There; was one setiment he couild not endorse, and that was that the jfyegimentn.! Band would always be champions. He could not do so in fairness to his own Band He spoke op the friendly feelings between the bands which was

often misinterpreted. The feeling was timply cue of friendly rivalry. Conductor Schnack, who was received with enhusiastic cheers, thanked all for the manner they liaa toasted them. Ho was not proud of himself but of having such a. band of beys under him. If there was ono institution which was harmony throughout it was the Regimental Band. He took them to Christchurch throe yera-s and they wore badly beaten there, and although some people said things about them he could aay that tlio men stood loyally by him. At the last practice in Auckland he told the men that if any band beat them they would congratulate the winners. Those who had spoken had referred to the honour of Tima<ru.< and that was the feeling which prompted his men. He did not look upon his Band as the champion players of New Zealand. No doubt they had won two contests but after alll that was only the opinion of two men. They happened to please those men and they got their money and came away home. (Laughter). In conclusion he said he felt there was no better-run institution so far as business was concerned, and this was soMy due to their energetic Secretary, Mr McKenna. From the time they left Tima.ru every little detail was arranged for them, and it was a compliment to Mr Mclvenna that, they had returned victorious. He hoped the Band would keep together for another year and repeat this year's performance. He looked upon his Band as part and parcel of his life, and the •approbation of his bandsmen was a large consideration to liim. He thought their success was the outcome of really hard work by his bandsmen. He tl.ankcd.tlie speakers for the way they had assisted them. He hoped the Marine Band wouM go on and prosper and that the tradespeople would rally round the Band and do what they cc-u'.d to keep his men together. (Loud applause). The toast of "The Visitors," coupled with the names of Major Barclay, and the Mayor, Mr Biaek, and the chairman we're afterwards proposed and fittingly responded to. The company then adjourned to the .Drill Hall.

PUBLIC RECEPTION. j AT THE DRILL HALL. After ilie banquet tlio two Bands in processional form marched along Stafford vStieot to the Drill Hall. When 1 tli3 bandsmen arrived there the Hall . was comfortably filled and the large concourse accompanying the Bands soon utilised arty remaining- space there ! was. A suitable platform had been -j erected, and the Mayor presided, those ; suDportine him baing Mr : J. Craigie, , M:p,, Mr J. Black, Mayor of Waimate, j Conductor Schnack. Mr John Hole and | Major Barclay. The members of the I Marine and Regimental Bands were | also arranged on the platform. 1 The Mayor, hi his opening remarks, « expressed his pleasure at seeing such a | large gathering of citizens to do lion- 8 cur to the ch-am pi cm band of the | Dominiicn. (Applause). He expressed jj the pleasure it had afforded him tliat 1 his "Worsliio the Mayor of Christchurch i (Mr Holland) welcomed the Band on ! their return from the contest, and saying that tli9 Band was a credit to 1 the South Island. He had not the slightest doubt but that the citizens of Timaru heartily appreciated the •: honour that the Band had brought to the town. (Applause). It was now, only three years since Conductor Schnack assumed, charge or the Band., and at the first contest he went to his Band was placed at the bottom of the list. . (Laughter). But since then a very great' amount of work had been put in by the Conductor and his men, and their perseverance had gained its reward. A few days ago, said his Worship he received a letter from the secretary or the South Island Bands' Association, asking him to call a- meeting of the citiaens to discuss the advisability of ho.dins the next band contest m Timaru seeing that- Timaru had the champion band. < Applause). He hoped to fulfil that at an early date. He endtc.-_d a ir-fde fc-y Mr Craig.e at tflfe ea>sgic&t taat whether the cant' = ; - f-'d t not. the citizens ssnossMi hfm.p ih& finan- | cially, arA tL**» ? &<*■* in Kcypmg the ! (:\u - t , i*' tssj ; Jv. tir - f;m, car.'* iCtsjfl. that if > thi -S"/« d to Baßsrat th-y I v.'o-iUs vproi.! 'Ad £?/. rf-p**tft&y i hud (isexA < Ji Mr €**:«» * tl.' Jfpepker, | and in &wse C« eho&fcn { remark* (ft*? w'fTU*'! ma | ikn4uc~o? <»T. ;!> rwif thay hsid bro '• - ',=/ f r'\ < thy;r I fcttTf, is. • , v-, <' •• r / r < ' » J- | repuSa:-»«» c it &&«/. w Tifiti'tfl j -'--r.'S /f. . r'f' ' /l * i J Tiina rti »'> <-* ° iV/V < r > i 'I * ( > port, b, tho J r'?T»«4.atvftrt {fhteh t/»e mental iJ/y '»blt' W»f-. nccfcSs.-»rv in ft sort i;k<: Tumnt, ihxv ihcf motM hav<s y..roii a-wd Jr<« .IW>fW.igh Ixftw-'H n*-* pr<Vx;rited &] n 6i tim eGfiirtivtiil-;/, :>nd he tbt f » r-y (<> mote> in. \v;iy t i Stodi/'fi' b jJi'l ) ) tlio rutra t) t ;/ i >'i if> Uiy past. it / UiiO'U/iihi^l, thought, for tbfi )< #?ci //t ?t«v/ Zealand to li:i.v<; If* jbi, f".r« U> house on a Chmtwaa maniimt in order to mon«-y to 1 i j> i (Applause), jii ' < it h' ' ! ' '■ eitizemt would do ; frif I h' y coiiid f-0 help Tima.ru'a cltarti(!' n< lir and also thoir !>an<b, (A sipitju^,; Mr Axel New tori, cmidwjUir of f-lio Marino Band, hi» ov/ri and 'his band's congratulations i<j ( Vhhltr#rfcf*i* Schnack and hk viefcori<w. ImrifL ff« referred to,the goodfdlowship w*hk-3i existed between tb» two band*, ;wid flgi t'od with Mr Craigio that CbHsttnfla h«iyifhut, was br no moans appro-fiaiAfl by btiwlsu men, but thoy had to do it in otib-r to

make ends meet. It <vas good for a town to have two bands, asi.t stimulated a love for music, and in Timuru there was good material. He concluded by congratulating the conductor arid bandsmen, very cordially, on their meritorious and magnificent victories. (Applause.) Conductor Schnack, in t-lie course of a characteristically racy speech, thanked the public for the many congratulations he and his band had received since their visit to Auckland. He attributed much of their success not to % his own efforts;, but to the Lpyalty and perseverance of his men. For himself, he not oxpress his thanks adequately for the kindnesses, he had received. _ The enthusiastic reception they received on returning from Auckland, lie considered, was ample recompense for their labours. The bandsmen had fully retained the fair name of Timn.ru by their behaviour at Auckland, and he was sure they were the envy of many of the conductors at the contest for behaviour and attention to duty. He thanked their many Mend> for the encouraging telegrams which had be?n sent to them. Those messnrcss- had imbued them with confidence and had not a little sav in their victories. (Applause.) He hoped that, because they were now a titled band to a certain extent, the peonle would not in asking them to help at any public functions. They had . received much from tho. citizens, and they were only too willing to pav it back. (Annlauso.) There, might be times when either the Regimental or the Marine Band needed assistances. and he honed the public wonhl the "enero«'tv thev had shown in the He concluded by thanking nll ivi-•> had joined in givi~ lr r.t'- , em fir-h a wel""'eeeivfiO'U. (Tor.d ponlnrcr^ During the evening a very eh.ioyah'e programme was sustained, those talcing na.rt being—the Marine and Regimen*"! Ban/js, and Messrs. Alex Moo.m. a.url 10. B'xld, to™lists. "Win. Osborne, oorn-at ro'io. and the Osborne Bros. Booth and An "and insinnuent.il auartette. Ths DroceedinSsS. .wbi»> were of an •",i----tbiisimstic natnr» tTirouclic.ut. or>n?lud°d with three rousing cheers for the band.