THE WANGANUI RIFLES BAND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11973, 17 September 1906, Page 5

THE WANGANUI RIFLES BAND.

Interesting Reminiscences.

(By Mr W. F. Gordon.) Mr J. Crichton, the well-known conductor of your excellent Band, 'has asked me to write some notes on the history of the Wanganui Rifles Band from its inception in 1875 till my departure in 1880. I have much pleasure iv complying, but having had' so much to do with the initiation of the Volunteer Band in 1875, it will be difficult for me to dodge the first person singular. On my arrival in Wanganui in April, 1875, it surprised me to find on inquiry that such a musical town did not possess a Band, and having served for five years in the well-known Artillery Babd of Wellington, my inclination was to Jendeavour to form a Band" in Wanganui. Having interviewed the late Mr Ballance, editor of the "Herald," and Mr J. P. .'Watt, who was a Volunteer officer, in ths matter, the following advertisement was inserted in the "Herald":-*—

! BRASS BAND. Any gentlemen willing to form a Town Brjffss Band are requested to meet the undersigned at the Victoria Hotel on Wedneßday evening at 7.30 p.m. WM. GORDON.

June 14, 1875.

Mr Ballance, who agreed with me that a good Band was a necessity in a town like Wanganui, gave me the following local in support of the movement: — "Mr William Gordon is trying to get up a Town Band, in which laudable undertaking we trust he will be successful. He ought to experience no difficulty in a town where nearly every man is musically inclined." On .my application, Mr J. P. Watt was good enough *to give me an order to get the instruments that belonged to the late defunct band from Mr Armstrong, who had charge of them, and I was fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr E. J. King, who had lately arrived as pianist to the St. Vincent Company, and who decided to settle in Wanganui and practice his profession a3 a musician, to put them in good order for our first practice. The outcome of my advertisement was that the Volunteer Rifles held 1 a .meeting at the Railway Hotel to consider the formation of a Band. Lieutenant Ward was voted to the chair, and as there was no else to do so, my services were offered as bandmaster. It was resolved that a Band be formed in connection with the Corps, and the following expressed their willingness to join the new band, viz. :— H. Ross, M. Neill, T. Mahoney, E. J. King, C. Turner, H. Beauchamp, W. Gordon, J. Cathro, W. J. Neill, J. Hood. W. Churton, J. Armstrong, W. Armstrong, and G. H. Armstrong. Some of the above, who became active members, were in the late band, and so, therefore, we were able to start at once. They did me the honour of unanimously appointing me bandmaster, and the first practice was held on the Friday night following. Mr James Purnell was the company's secretary, and I have his letter of appointment before me now. On August 16th and 17th an entertainment was given at the theatre under the patronage of the Masonic body, in aid of the widow and orphans of the late Captain Lake, who was lost in the schooner Success. The piece chosen was the "Lost Ship," in which Messrs Pawson, Robinson, and Sherwood played the leading parts, and your humble servant gave for the first . time in New Zealand a moral phantasmagoria, or "Faces I Have Seen," i.e., drawing before the audience portraits of wellknown persons. Those drawn at this entertainment were Messrs P. A. Chavannes, J. Robinson, J. Walker, and Sir William Fox. The boys began to call out their names before the pictures were half finished. We had two good houses, and it was on this occasion that the new Volunteer Band made its first appearance. Quoting from one of the papers : "The Volunteer Band, under Mr Gordon, was present during the evening, and it need hardly be said contributed greatly towards the success of the entertainment." In carrying on the Band Mr E. J. King was a great help to me. He played leading cornet, and if my memory serves me, Messrs Ross and Churton cornets, M. Neill picolo, T. Mahoney bass, J. Hood baritone, mypplf solo alto, J. Cathro drum, W. J. Neill side drum; the instruments of the others I have for the moment forgotten^ The Wellington Artillery Band having presented me with a set of manuscript books, they were placed at the service of the new band as long as they wished to use them. Having given the band a good start, and found that some needed more tuition and attention than the time at my disposal allowed, and as it was Mr King's profession, I offered the bandmastership to him and to remain in the band and assist him if the company agreed. They did so on consideration of my promising to remain an active member of the band in the meantime. Mr E. J. King was then appointed' bandmaster, and the band had my services as a playing member, and at times acting as secretary, till 1880, when I left for Oamaru. As the band progressed Mr King was voted a salary of .£4O per annum to begin with, and to meet this account ways and means had to be considered. Therefore a fete was held in Parkes's paddock on Boxing Day, 1875, in aid of the band, which proved a great success Being .the only band in Wanganui we played at most functions, and on New Year's Day,' 1876, were engaged to play at sports at Kaiwhaiki. Mr Bennie opened a skating rink at the theatre, which was well patronised, and the newspaper report says: "The band' of the Rifles, under the leadership of Mr King, contributed considerably towards the enlivenment of the scene, discoursing sweet music at intervals during the evening. Mr W. Gordon's wall pictures of four rinkists were admired, the skating puasy playing the fiddle creating much amusement." The latter was no fancy picture, but was a portrait of a well-known tabby that was domiciled with us at the old Steam Packet Hotel, and this reminds me that what With musical and pictorial work my spare time was fully occupied in those days. In June an entertainment was given in aid of the Public Library. The band played, and my services were again in requisition in "Faces I Have Seen," and I trust I may be pardoned for quoting thfc< followingjjjtrom my notes on this entertainment: "s^w Mi; W. H. Watt's portrait/ before tn audience in 4 minutes. ' 'Dr Earle bouht it for .£l, which went to the Library fojttd." Seyeralipew members joined the band — one of thim Mr \yhitting, who played the bombardqgt. This gentleman was one of the passeateers in the unlucky ship Glentora, winch arrived in. Wellington on March 12j», 1873* after a long and eventful voyage. We (the Wellington Artillery Band) pulled round her in a boat and serenaded 'them, playing "Home, Sweet Home," etc., in response to -which, we received three genuine British cheers. On December 23rd, 1876, the Volunteer Picnic Decoration Committee commenced work nea,r the Post Office, and the band played the following programme: Quadrille, "Promenade ; quickstep, "The Lion"; selection, "Indian Drum"; waltz, "Sylvia"; slow march, "Norma"; quickstep, "The Minute Gun," introducing ,1 J£now a Bank"; quadrille, "Good Humour"; schottische, "Duke of Edinburgh"; quickstep, "Will the Angels Come "to Me" ; God Save the Queen. The above [programme is a speciment of the "stuff" , (as bandsmen, call it) the band played at

that time, not being far enough advanced to tackle heavy selections in public. We were fortunate in having another successful picnic in aid of our funds on. Boxing Day. On August 18th, 1877, an exhibition was opened in. aid of the Library Fund, which ran about a fortnight, at which the band assisted and which was a great success in every way. On Boxing ' Day of this year 6ports were again carried out in aid of the band, successfully, and the company presented a clock to Captain Parkes in recognition of Ms services. On Easter Monday, 1878, the band went to the Marton sports and assisted the Marton band, which was under the baton of Mr Harbott. On Boxing Day the sports in aid of the band were held for the first time on the Racecourse, and were the means of adding a substantial sum to the credit 'of the band fund.

About this time -iir iving, some others of the band, and myself joined the orcnestra of the Wanganui Choral Society, which was conducted by your esteemed townsman, Mr J. G. Woon, and the concerts given were very enjoyable, one in particular, in which "Wbeer's Mass" was the chief item on the programme was very creditably done, -and the concert well attended. When at work on my pen and ink picture, "Stray Leaves," I introduced the programme of this particular concert as a memento of that enjoyable event. Messrs Evans, Meuli, O'Hara, Talbot, Holden, Armstrong, and Middleton joined the band. Mr J. Crichton and other wellknown bandsmen joined after I left. The former was a friend of Mr King's, and being an old bandsman, had the benefit of .that experience which can only be got by loug service and what some people call 'graft." Besides being a good instrumentalist, Mr Evans was a very tasty arranger. In April several of the band went to Marton and assisted Mr Harbott's band. On June 7th, 1879, Messrs King, Evans, a few others, and myself made up a small but good band and proceeded to Aramoho to play the "Dead March in Saul" at the funeral of the late chief Wirihana Puna. He was a lieutenant in the Native Contingent that served in the Maori War. Mr James Booth, assisted by a native catechist, officiated at the burial service. We also played at the funeral of your respected townsman, Mr P. A. Chavannes On October 7th the Drill Hall was opened and the Marton Band came in to assist at the function. They played a march called "The Honest Working Man,' in the trio of which Mr Harbott's slide trombone was heard to advantage. On December 7th Chiarini's Circus arrived, and performed to good houses (or tents) all the week. The band played for this show, which was an excellent one. The proprietor did not bring a band to Wanganui, as the agent was informed' in Wellington that, as there were so many old military bandsmen in Wanganui, he would have no difficulty in getting a good band there. That might have been the case years before, but did not apply at the time of the visit of the circus, as nearly all the old military bandsmen had 1 passed away or left the district. The agent was in a dilemma, as it was too late to wire Chiarini to bring a band from Wellington. He consulted Mr King on the matter, and there was no get out of it, our band had to play or the circus perform without music ! On consideration of a certain sum for the season being paid into the band funds we agreed to play, and Captain Watt allowed us to appear in uniform. Mr King pointed out to the agent not to expect too much, as the band was composed mostly of young men that had no experience of playing at circuses. A conductor who knew all the cues, etc., came up with the circus, and 1 after the first night the music went splendidly, and Signor Chiarini expressed himself as more than satisfied. The Boxing. Day sports in aid of the funds this year had to be postponed on account of rain, but were held on New Year's Day on Victoria Park, St. John's Hill. This was the last picnic at which I played' with the band, taking my departure for Oamaru on March 9th, 1880.

On my arrival there I found Mr J. Mitchell, sub-editor of the Mail, and who was a fellow bandsman in the Wellington Artillery in 1870. I joined the Rifles Band, of which he was an active member, and as great an enthusiast as ever. Tlie writing of these notes has brought back recollections of many very pleasant events during my ten years' service in the Wellington Artillery and 1 Wanganui Rifles' Bands. In 1882 I paid a visit to the Wanganui races. Mr King had a fine, well-balanced band, the personnel of which was — E. J. King, senr. (bandmaster), E. J. King, junr., L. King. F. King, W. Kitchen, — Evans, A. Laird, D. Kitchen, — Middleton, N. Meuli, W. H. G. Foster, Albert A. Gower, W. Moore, °G. Spriggens, H. Hooker, J. Trussell, W. Pawson, F. Sarten, J. Armstrong, and Jas. Forbes. They played "Rienzi" for me, which was very well rendered indeed, and he presented me with a photo of the band, which I keep as a reverential memento of five very pleasant years spent in the Wanganui Bines' Band. Mr King lives in my memory as a genial man. As well as a cornet he played the violin and piano, and many were the gratuitous musical services he rendered to all creeds. — Yours, in the bonds of harmony,

W. F. GORDON.

New Plymouth.