THE BAND CONTEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20124, 18 April 1928, Page 6

THE BAND CONTEST

LOCAL PREPARATIONS WORK WELL IN HAND The committees fur the band contest to.'be held in Wanganui next year have been working hard to ensure the success of the function, and it has been recommended by the musical committee that 25 copies of t.he A and B grade test selections and quicksteps be ’procured.

Mr McFarlane, chairman of toe grounds an.l halls committee, has reported that solos, quartettes, etc., should be held in halls, and that the test selections and quicksteps be played in Cook’s Gardens. The accommodation committee have compiled a list of hotel and boarding bouse tariffs, and. state that about 600 bandsmen can be comfortably accommodated in the city. Practically all lhe local hotelkeepers are co-operating the committee to give visitors a good impression of Wanganui. A special committee consisting of Messrs H. Hassall and G. P. Wiliamson has been set up to arrange the extension of the special street-lighting system from the Christinas and Now Year season until after the contest has been held.

It is the usual custom at the conclusion of the Quickstep contest of A and B grade bands, for the bands to mass in front of the grandstand and play under the baton of the adjudicator Some years ago, however, a departure was made, and Mr J- Crichton, conductor of

the Garrison Band, who had then recovered from an illness, was asked to officiate, it was the general opinion that never before nor since wa.s such a great performaice given. The executive controlling the 1929 contest at Wanganui, has decided to pay the same compliment to Mr Crichton, who has since retired from active band, conductorship, provided, of course, the North Island Band Association offers no objection. At a recent meeting a resolution was carried unanimously that the Association be approached on the matter, with a view to giving effect to the wishes of the executive. It was pointed out. however. that a rule of the Association provided for t’ is position being filled by the adjudicator.