WAIHI BRASS BAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6496, 27 May 1899, Page 7

WAIHI BRASS BAND.

• ■■•' Motto:- '"Semper paratus. adjuvare." ■?■■ v ( (By:>.piccqi;O.^; ; The WaihiVßand was formed some nine, Eago aatong-jft- number of men who, minera,- had gravitated- to-jWaihi in of'wbrk. The players had been members of -title Thames Navals or Scottish Rifles Bands, pr. th#y ;hji4 . cpme-.from- the near Thames farther etfield' from -tAustralia' and -South Island. The Band had '6 small' beginlnng; bpt ,'the -members man- • tared W 'Stidc 'together, 'and "sbon, besides, '•playing for^ /their owit amusentent, they.betame.^ubnc'fentertainers.'. Tier^ /occurred fe-^'Waihi' syMnct5 yMnct those ups and downs i^hichfoltow'e^e^- mining' district, and so the Band struggled' on with varying" success.^ Abotit.fsbc^years ago the Band "was run in connection with . the 'local football club,' 'ihe f unds for '-Briuch "n-ere raised by athletic spirts by the joint institutions. Mining' then "began to look up, and.members fcommencijjd to flow in. Work became plentiful, and a : gojod" many men of the ."windjjamming; persuasion -"- arrived. ; ; Soon" the Band was. twenty-eight strong, and "had. a big rep'.utationj It" was under the conductorsbip^ of Mr "E.,.; Bjestie. . ; Its .playing, though not' Tip;,to/ti"e oack bands of the «outh, 'was, x neverfch'elessi- really worth listening to. .:•■■ :• "•"■■■-:■■■■'■:.'. :':'■ _ ■ ; ''■■■•' ■■•■ •■ Shortly, afterwards'thjß Banii came under ■ the conductorship of Mr-J, M'Mihn (a West ■ : - Coaster). .Then it had its first taste "of (contesting.' :; A; contest for" country bands =was organised at'Te Arohai and the members , entered for it with great enthusiasm. Their • pieces were "'Torqtiatp :.Tasi3p ."; and " Gems bi Columbia." - r The' entries" were small, and iWaihi. won 1 ; with a-; great 'many points- to spare. They'then cast "their eyes about for fresh worlds' to -conquer. The South Island Association's contest was too distant . admit of ,attendiirg.it,v but shortly after .the North Island 3rasj3 Bands Association Vpas formed, and with their usual enthusiasm the Waihi Band joined, and went down to 'Napier, where they did not disgrace them«elves by anyjneans. They were then under the baton of Mr Joe Hemus, a musician of no mean ability:, ....." Nothiiig. daunted by : th4ir failure to. win, they still, persevered. During 1898 they ... Were under the "stick". of Mr Woods; and ' f"? 11 , $&; Auckland Exhibition contest was '.;:^ lke 9 ■"-,<?*• Mr : p.; H: Lawn., (another Wesfct •eoasterJ-'-becaffiie I bbnductof:- r Wa'M' "was _ then' -piepafefr 'tdfgo! 'rW^stdtt: >tn, -■•■&* MCI. '*- : '■■*&s£?"'■&'*- bad' . luck" --the Exhibition ; 'contes!t' : died :an unnatural death: Having entered'for the Pal/North conteSti kll^attention was . tarn&tf^hat -way, and^hafd' practice was in-?-:dulged in.- iMr«Lawn>'cpuld not attend to ;t jband niatters -through family ilmess, and Mr ■:.J.. Gordonj ' who waavthen in Waihi, was thought, most smtable : 'fpr the conductorBhip. The sequel showed. he was,. for Waihi finishlßd,third,,only, seven' points behindthe ■OTMk- Wellington Garrison Band. During last year, the band' became attached to the Third .Ohinemuri Rifles, and there is every promise/of their being the band of. the Second Auckland Battalion. They are thought a great 'deal of by their company, and by the Waihi public, and/ justly so. The band is ever ready to assist in any undertaking for ohain/ty or public purpose. The membership at present is -upwards of thirty, with a large number of honorary members;- • > '■ ■■■ -■. . - ■ '■'■ ' The following. are the active members • -Mr JohnVGordon, conductor, and solo crir--aet-j Mr r E. Bertie, solo cornet ; : Mr C. H. -lawn, sbloi'Cornet ; Mr R. Seoblejvrepiano. conaet ; Mr Jv'. Lever,, tepiano-- cornet j;, Mr ■••vjJ.:-GolUey-;»flEirani)^r.-I(fi'i! i W. .-.Banlbii, second Z:.. cotnet<s IffpVW.^Steerrand-.Mr- H. :Robson, second .cornets ; Mr B. Pascoe, jun., 'tiur<i ! -'■:cbrnet';vMr- G: :Haxtmann,solo tenor horn • '■• Mr- G. -'Marsh: and "Mr T: Bear, firstr,tenors ; ■v::Mi*'P.^Hismiessey vand Mr--: G: . Giles, second -•tenors.^ "Mi 1 . J.. Newdiek, first baritone; Mi % E.SmithjV second. baritone; -Messrs j; ■"■ H:- LamV B. Lawn,' A. sanlon and A. iWiUiains, tenor trombones ; Mr G. Atwood, bass trombone ; Mr J. M'Carthy, euphonium ; Messrs H. Witherden, W. Penno and J. M'VVilliains, E flat .basses; Messrs J. George arid B. Pascoe,= BB flat basses ; Mr H. Isarriaby, bass drum; '.and Mr T; Kevin, ■side-drumv .; : • • . -'•■• ; Mr Trussell,- - solo cornetist of Auckland Newton;-..Band;ias phiyed' twice with the •Jaund tit contests v'os professional player. At present the band, is working hard, and means to have another try. at Welhngton .next.!;. year; The hand..- whichi -beats 'them will necessarily have:to;,.b^.a-. ; good;.one.- . I :/-may ;here;i.-eni.ark; that. : Waihi :,Bahd stands ;calmpst:-. alone in- AucklaJ3;dt^rp.vjnce;. fpcoen-•-rt-hus^smx'ihvbandvmattei'Sj ;a%4..pontesfcing, in particular, a faci-jw;hic.hfcilj&w.eves, ? ivery regrettable to bandsmen generally, jnust De pleusinsj.to the members of the local band. There are -the makings- of several good bands in our pTpvince, but' I put down their lethargy to an enervation which possibly ? the effect of -our. relaxing atmosphere and ta.u>iu:>»;KwtAxuE; o-.iu.iusuaittfß.xai