(By TROMBONE.) PASSING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8351, 24 June 1905, Page 7

(By TROMBONE.) PASSING NOTES.

The Christchurch City Council is* advertising for bands to supply the music for the municipal concerts for the 1905-6 eeason. The conditions ,can be seen at the City Council's office. Applications must be 6ent to the town clerk by noon of .Friday next y June 30. ' During the week I had the pleasure of being Bhown some of the principal prizes for the Engineers' Band Art Union, which is to be drawn during the carnival proceedings at the Colosseum next November. The first prize is a nugget of gold, valued at £25; the second is a very handsome carved sideboard, valued at fifteen guineas; the third is an overmantel, on which there Is some beautiful work; the fourth is a rery fine pair of oil-paintings by the Well-known Otago artist, Mr G. Garrington, and the fifth is a pretty oilcolour of the Bluff harbour, by a firstolass artist-. There are some thirty other prizes, of good value. After seeing the collection I am convinced that the Art. Union is sure to catch on, and those who win the beautiful prizes may be envied. I understand that the works of art will be on view shortly, in the windows of the various firms. The many friends of Deputy-Band-jnaster R. Simpson, of the Elite Band, will be pleased to hear that he has been rofficiently restored to health to resume work. Mr Simpson has been selected, from among a very large number of applicants, for the position of caretaker of the Royal Exchange Buildings in Cathedral Square. • Mr F. <F. Chapman has resigned his position as solo cornet player in the Timaru Garrison Band. Bandsmen Will be sorry to hear this, for Mr Chapman is a most conscientious worker and a capable cornetist. I hope to hear that the band. will endeavour to retain Ids services. An earnest player is worth encouragement. Mr Arthur Dtiggan, conductor of tho Elite Band, who has gone turough a very severe illness, has almost recoverpd, The members otthe Elite Band are pleased to have their conductor back Again. At a meeting in Temuka on Thursday ft was decided to hold a second-class bands' contest on or about October 14. Mr T. Buxton (Mayor) was elected president, Mr A: A. Hint? secretary, Dr Paterson treasurer^ and a committee of Messrs Croxfprd, Chapman, Rissel, and /Harrison was appointed to manage the contest. The Elite Band held its annual meeting last evening. I hope to give detalk next week. Bandsmen of New Zealand will be delighted to hear that Mr James Crichton, the talented conductor of the Wanganui Garrison Band, has, at the urgent request of a large number of the band's supporters, decided to retain the oonductorship. Mr Crichton's personality has done much towards keeping the members of the Wanganui Band

I bound in a solid musical union, and though Mr Crichton has worked hard for some years to make hie band proficient, and lias gained notable suooesses',' he has still something to accomplish and something to work for, and this is New Zealand's honour at the coming international . band contest which will be held in connection with the Christchurch Exhibition, for it iscertain that two or three of Australia's best bands will take part in that event, and we shall want our premier bands, such as Wanganui, Wellington, Kai- : korai and others, to be at their best in the fight for the championship of Australasia. ' Miss Freda Brandon, the cornetist ; who is on the Fuller oircuit, and who was playing in Dunedin last week, has gone to Auckland, where she is now appearing before and pleasing the patrons of_ the popular entertaining firm. The report on the recent West Coast band contest, with the judge's remarks, has been printed in pamphlet form. I desire to thank Conductor Seymour, of the Grey Battalion Band, for his kindness in sending me a copy. The Coast people are to be congratulated upon the excellent manner in which their contest committee catered for the bands of that district. TEe success was due to an enejgetie committee and a good, live secretary. The financial result was exceedingly satisfactory, and- goes .to prove the of the 1 contests. It must be very gratifying to the committee that so many bands attended the contest. STAR BAND r {Lieutenant Herd, of Wellington, who is agent for Messrs. Smith and Co. 's '-Champion Journal," has sent me some sample copies of selections, waltzes, marches and other pieces suitable for bands of all grades. The selections include Godfrey's beautifully-arranged work, " Gems of Mendelssohn," which was the great test number at the Auckland band contest; "La Cenerentola " : (Rossini), the special test of the last contest, held at Gore, by the Otago and Southland Brass Band Association; "Tha Mikado".; "Gems of Irish Ma-