BANDSMEN'S COLUMN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7203, 14 September 1901, Page 6

BANDSMEN'S COLUMN.

FROM PAR ASD KEAII. (Specially compiled for the "Star.") (By TOM-TO^L) " Music, the poor man's Parnassus." — ilmerson. ANSWERS TO "cORR ESPOXDENTS._ " E Natural "' (Napier>, "" Ruddigore, ' " Pnn-ce-'s Ida" r- cl "Yeoman of ,ne Guard. ~- Write Mr Herd', of Wellington.. It. Smith and Co., addrejs 188, Strand, London, W .C. BAND NOTES. Tlie Garrison Bit-r.d will mu?tsr to-mor-row (Sunday) at lO.iO a.m., ;;Jid play -the Natives' Corps to St Luke's Church, on the occasion cf the tmnual church parade qf the company. Belle Vus contest. July, resulte-J as folIctvs ■:— Ist Irwell Wprings, " L-rd \Vingare - .s Temperance [s> close tji:ug).' 3rd Earlstoun Band. 4tli Rotherham Bcrough, sth Rochdale Old. Test- piece " Lucia, cii liamnwrmoor." The Sept-sm'ber contest, for Jie bjst twenty (bands, was fixsd for the 2nd -test piece " MirelU>."' f - At a recant meeting of representatives of various Canterbury bands it was decided ts> hold periodical meetings to foster a better condition, of matters affecting bandsmen. On Wednesday evening last the second of these was held— Mr J. Gower (Marin-s Band) in the chair, at which it was, decided to hold a Quickstep Contest at Lancaster Park en Christmas jjny, an-d to hold about four ■ massed bai..d parades prior to that date on bsh-alf of 'the lunds. str E. Leaver, the honorai'y .secretary, has put in no little work, and the various representatives intend doing >t[h.2 utmost to make their new departure a success. Mr James Morey, secretary to the New* Plymouth Band Contest Committee, 'has forwarded circularsf to colonial bantis. The following is the schedule of prizes: — First £100, and gold medal for each player and conductor; second, £50 and silver medal for each player and 1 conductov, and th.rd £25, together \vjth the usual priz.es for the marching, quartet, solo competitions, etc. The date suggested) is late \n February, or early in March, 1902. New Plymouth is par.ticularly well favoured Avith regard to conveniences for carrying out a contest. It possesses splendid ground— the Riecreatfion Ground — for the mnrohing, and theatre,, where the contest would bs decided, and has plenty of practice halls for the a<ccommodation of visiting bands. , The North Island Association is still the same vigorous body. Each year a capitail contest—and no bye years! With so many advantages, and a.n energetic body of workers,, the prospective congest Dids fair to be equal to any former one held in the north. I have to thank-Mr James Morey, the secretary, for. his early attentions. - Temperance bands do not prosper here. Reports concerning a local one are not encouraging. In England, Wyke Temperance is simply magnificent, and raaks alongside the best! Wingate's Temperance Band, for instance, is decidedly high-class. From 1892 to 1900 it won upwards' of £1000. Its list of wins is r.fi follows: — Forty-four firsts, thirty-five seconds, eiglitenn third?, eighteen fourths, seven fifths, two sixths, and twenty-four specials— a total of one hundred and forty-eight. In 1895 it won the Lancashire Association Challenge Cup, and in the following year, 1896, "Witf-j gate's " w T on more prises. than any other bland I in the kingdom. Last year Jt won over! £200. Sucli is the reward of perseveriiice,; backed up by good>tuition. Here, 'temperance bands appear to lack energy. J The long death-roll of Stanmore Baud has been. added to recently by the death of ,Mr John Clarke. .The.'. ' deceased j was an old member, and played a B flat from the early days till some few years ago. Always ready to do his duty, both in and out of t<hs practice-room, and of a genial nature, Mr Clarke made many friend's and no enemies To the okUr generation, the deceased -was best known. At the Oamaru* Dunedin, and Wellington contests, Mr Clarke" was a frequent player, and his services to Stanmojre Band were many. Both in and out of Canterbury, the news of his death will be regretted by those that knew him, and by bandsmen; specially. A short stay in the* North Island did not improve his health, and shortly after his return home he succumbed. " Cuivres." ' itu " WrJght' and Round's Jour- . nal," writes: — "Their Majesties, the King and Queen Alexandra, have graciously signified their intention" to continue the Royal patronage to the PhilaTraonic Society and other kindred societies. So, also, is tbsir royal patronage . given to the two great training schools, tjhe Royal Academy and the Royal College. On his part, his Majesty has oidered that the playing of military bands in the royal parks- shall be resumed, and continue through, the season, proving thus once more that the rational pleasure of the people stands before private consideration." At a recent concert held in London, the J late Sir Arthur Sullivan's " Golden Legend " was given by a band and choir 3000 strong, under the conductorshtp of Mr Manns, at the Crystal Palace. Following the above was a mammoth military band contest, of upwards of six \undr,ed players, compi'ising the bands of t\e brigades of Guards — mounted -md foot— the Royal Artillery and Infantry, Royal Engineer?, the "boys" of Kneller Hall, elc. Tickets wexa one guinea each, acd the proceeds were devoted to the helping of Service charities. Owing to tho Boer war. there has been a steady drain en Service fund's, but the various Line and other bands have rendered yeoman assistance thereto, and continue to dp so.