WANGANUI GARRISON BAND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12580, 29 September 1908, Page 6

WANGANUI GARRISON BAND.

Mr Wade Accepts Conductor-snip

Thfi serrctirv of the Wanganui <■ cirri snn Band yesterday received a cable fiom Mr \. Wade, of Ballarat, notifyinor nis acceptance of the couduotorfihip {made vacant by the illness of Mr James CHirhton). It is expected that Mr Wade .will arrive in Wanganui early in November. In addition to conducting many of the leading hands in England, Mr Wade has adjudicated at quite a number of competitions in Australia, and it is evident th.it in securing that gentleman's services the local Band has Ijfien yery^ilfifir. tuiiate.

Speaking of Mr Wade's appointment to the conductorship of the Wyke H-*nd the "Bradford Daily Telegraph" "It falls to the lot of few individuals to acquire the fame Mr A. Wade, formerly of Idle, has received in brass nand circles. He began as an instrumentalist m the year 18yO, playing euphonium in the tften newly-formed Thackley Brass- 1 Band. But Mr Wade's ambition wai to ' become a conductor, and he applied himself very industriously to the work of qualifying for such a position. Eventually be became bandmaster of. the Thadkley ■ organisation, and in 1895 he was ap*j pointed second euphonium player iij .the ] famous Wyke Band. Three years later he was made bandmaster, the committeej in the meantime having passed a rather 1 extraordinary resolution, which was to the effect that the organisation should be made 'the finest band in the world.' It was a fairly 'large order' for Mr. Wade, but it is significant to note that the Wyke Band became the cha mourns for that year, winning eight fivat^ an'd-J four second prizes afc twelve contestafj the cash and special amounting to J343. 4fter the Belle Tue contest ,Mr Wade tp- . ceived a gold-moimtcd eboay' "batou. Th l *H year 1898 was the best year tne ' Band ever had, the total income norn concerts being over £IQOO. In the following year Mr Wade .was again band- , master. Subsequently he was .ina4e Icon- j ductor of the Grave&end Towu Band, j whilst ' at the present moment he holds a similar position iv the 'Broxhurn Public Band."

The Ballarat Star had flw idflomvg wun reference to the success, of the City iof Ballarat Band at the Ballarat contest of 1906-r"Th.e greatest surprise of the " Sooth Street c6m}ietrtions "was the success attained by the City of Ballarat Band. At yesterday s meeting' of the City Council, Couuc.il.lor Whyijee, r#|>i ring to the matter, said tfie Couacit should p»ss a r*esolntion congratulating t>e cenanctor <Mul- Wfl«le)-'W fl «le)-' axut the band on tho success achieved. TPhe band had since Mr Wade took it over, about a year ago, made a vast improvement, and carried off second prize iv both the A and B grade contests. This showed, that the Council had acted wisely ia -Tetainingthe services of Mr Wade, who had refused a generous offer to go to We6t Australia. Councillor Crocked, in seconding tho motion, said the progress made. by the band was really marvellous, and it was most gratifying to know that such an imprvement had taken place. It fully justified the action taken b*y l the Council in appointing Mr Wade to the charge of the band. The motion was unanimously agreed to."