DERRY’S MILITARY BAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17182, 27 October 1923, Page 12

DERRY’S MILITARY BAND.

On Sunday afternoon the public of Christchurch will be afforded an opportunity of hearing Derry’s Military Band on the Victoria Square Rotunda. This popular band has just returned from a successful concert season in Wellington, where the combination of reed, brass and strings proved an- irresistible attraction to the Wellington Public. The band played its first programme in the Town Hall to an enthusiastic audience, encores being the order of the evening. On Sunday afternoon at Oriental Bay an immense audience of some 12,000 to 15,000 people assembled to hear “ The Sousa’s of New Zealand”—as the band was by then known and accorded the members a reception quite as enthusiastic as that of the preceding night. The band was deeply indebted to the Wellington Tramways who gratuitously supplied special cars to convey the members to and from the bay. On Sunday evening the third concert was given in “ His Majesty’s Theatre.” So popular had the band become in its short stay that some two hours before the concert was timed to commence a huge crowd had assembled outside the theatre and it was found necessary to open the doors long before the usual time. This concert was even a greater success than the preceding entertainments and concluded only in time po enable the audience to catch their last cars home. The weather throughout was ideal and helped materially to make the trip a huge success. So popular did the band become and so generous was the reception, that the entire band is looking forward to the time when they will be able to again visit the Capital city. On the homeward trip the members took the opportunity of thanking the committee and all who helped to make the venture a success and also presented the manager. Mr S. M. Richardson, with a case of pipes, and a gold-mount-ed tobacco Pouch in recognition of a most enjoyable and successful trip.