TOWN BAND CONCERT AND ART UNION.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 72, 22 December 1911, Page 2

TOWN BAND CONCERT AND ART UNION.

It is many months since so much interest has been displayed

in a local entertainment as was

taken in the art union and band concert held in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening l . Considerable interest centred in the

drawing of the art union, but it is safe to assume that for the greater part the enthusiasm was but an expression of appreciation of the bandsmen's endeavours to provide uniforms, and so raise the band to that position which only comes with proper equipment. For some months past the bandsmen have been practising assiduously, and it was only to be expected that they would give a satisfactory account of themselves when they appeared in public. Not only had they worked for the entertainment of Wednesday evening, but, during the last few months, they have, on two or three occasions, given open-air concerts in Victoria Park, and from donations then received they.have been able to place to the credit of the uniform fund a somewhat small but very acceptable amount. It would be impossible to too highly praise the bandsmen for the manner in -■ which they have united in the proposal to procure uniforms, and the manner in which they have worked shows that they have the band's interests at heart. It was equally pleasing to note that the public were not slow to appreciate the endeavours of the bandsmen, and showed their appreciation in a practical and praise- - worthy manner. The Town Hall Was packed by the time the curtain rose, a few late-comers being turned away. The programme arranged was a varied and most enjoyable one. Several members of the Hamilton Band were present, and gave very valuable assistance. Under the baton of Conductor E. Moeller, the local band acquitted itself most creditably in its several selections.

The programme was opened with a selection by the Te Awamutu Town Band, after which the programme as follows was rendered: —Song (brass accompaniment) Mr Williamson (Hamilton), cornet solo, Mr H. Salmon (Hamilton); quartettes and selections by members of Te Awamutu Band; comic songs, Mr J* Rule ; bagpipe selections,, DrumMajor Clothier (Hamilton); quartettes, Messrs Salmon, Hogg, Taylor, and McMillan (Hamilton) song, Mr O. Price-Owen ; cornet solo, Mr W. Large; violin solo, conductor E. Moeller. Throughout, the programme was a most enjoyable one, each item being rendered in a very creditable manner. The audience was ah appreciative one, and warmly*' applauded each performer, and in many cases demanded a repetition of the items A short but equally enjoyable dance followed, to which a large number remained, and in the early hours of morning the programme was brought to a close, thus terminating what will long be remembered as a most enjoy- ; able and successful evening.

' THE ART UNION. Immediately at the conclusion of the musical programme, Mr C. Bowden (chairman of the Town Board) was asked to superintend s the drawing of the Art Union. This he most willingly consented to do, and on mounting the stage called upon Miss Dorothy and Master Ingleby Miller to draw the numbers in order to allot the • prizes. The drawing was conducted in the usual stereo-type manner,, the tickets being concealed in a barrel churn, whilst the 24 tickets were concealed in a separate bag. Great excitement prevailed throughout the drawing. The lucky winner of the first prize —a gold nugget — valued at £2O, was Mr Allan Bond of Te Awamutu. The other prizes, besides Te Awamutu, will go to Ohaupo, Martinborough, Kaitangata, Greymouth, Ashburton, Hairini, Temuka, St. Kilda (Dunedin), and Napier, the winning numbers being :

The Te Awamutu bandsmen expressed their appreciation of the action of the Hamilton bandsmen in arranging to be present and giving such valuable assistance at the concertj To the outside public it was indeed pleasing to note the friendly feeling existing. On behalf of the visitors Bandmaster Salter, in an appropriate speech, thanked the local bandsmen for their hospitality, and hoped that at some •'future date his band would again visit Te Awamutu. Bandmaster Moeller suitably responded, and thanked the visitors for their assistance. He hoped the time was not far distant when there would be a reunion. The committee are also much indebted to all those ladies who so kindly assisted in making the evening a success. It has been a financial success, thanks primarily to |the pains-

taking efforts of the band's energetic secretary, Mr A. J. Blythe, but would doubtless have been more so had more time been taken before the drawing, and the Art Union more widely known.

1st—6551 2nd--6837 3rd—7Q62 4th--1639 5th—5282 6th--5338 7th—4901 8th--2012 9th-653 10th--3836 Ilth—6382 12th--6195 13th—3677 14th--5421 15th—2874 16thI7th—5559 18th--8524 19th—6645 20th--8130 2ist—1627 22nd--8856 23rd—5245 24th--9225