PUBLIC OPINION.

Waikato Times, Issue 12446, 2 December 1912, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION.

As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. HAMILTON BAND CARNIVAL TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l have just read the report of your Band Carnival Committee in your issue of 20th inst., 'which contains, to put it mildly, sOme very forcible references to Professor Owen Cardston. I have no wish to interfere between the Carnival Committee and Professor Cardston, but feel, .is a complete outsider, that some defence on Professor Cardston's behalf is called for, believing strongly as I do, that if Mr Cork and the other speakers were acquainted with the whole facts they would not have spoken as strongly as they did. I have been closely in touch with the Profes or ;.nd am personally acquainted witft thi fact that he was quite unfit to proceed with his engagement with the Hamilton committee. Professor Cardston is a man who throws his whole heart and soul info his work, and how he trains up his pupils and puts on such a splendid performance as he does, in such a short time, is a mystery to everybody here. Unfortunately on this occasion he overdid things as far as his own physical capacity was concerned, anT! just worked himself to a standstill. Added to the above, just a day or two prior to our bazaar commencing, the Professor received word from Auckland that his mother was dangerously ill f . which everyone will admit must have been exceedingly trying to him. No doubt Professor Cardston's inability to reach Hamilton must have been very disconcerting to the, Carnival Committee; all the same I would willingly stake all I have on my belief that Professor Cardston would not "humbug" anybody under any ■ circumstances. Personally I consider that the Hamilton committee has done a good stroke of business in obtaining the Professor's services. Locally our experience has been a particularly happy one. The Wanganui City Band was in great need of a new set of instruments, and decided to hold a bazaar to try and raise funds so as to purchase a complete set. After considerable thought, we decided to engage Professor Cardston, though some of us had grave doubts as to what the result would be. But we need not have worried. Professor Cardston's spectacular display, dances, songs, etc., caught on from the first night, the last night being the best of all, crowds having to be turned away. After the bazaar was over we presented the Professor with the following letter of appreciation : "The executive of the Wanganui City Band Bazaar wishes,, to place on record its keen appreciation of the excellent results you have achieved in connection with the display you have organised for the bazaar. The members consider the manner in which the dances, songs and marches were staged would be a credit to any professional company in any part of the world. They ask you to accept the accompanying cheque as a small token of the gratitude they feel. Wishing you every success, we are, etc." Here fot lows the signatures of a dozen of Wanganui's leading business men. I might also mention that on the last night, during the interval, a very pleasant little function took place. The whole of the performers assembled on the stage and Miss Peyman, on their behalf, presented Professor Cardston with a handsome portmanteau amid the cheers of a crowded audience. The recipient in reply thanked the performers for the hearty manner in which they had entered into their work, the committee for the support they had given him, and the public of Wanganui for the hospitality they had extended to him since his arrival. The Wanganui City Band ought to be pleased with the result seeing that the receipts were over £IOOO, about £650 of which is clear, assuring them of a splendid set of instruments. • In conclusion, I have to apologise for the length of this letter, but in extenuation feel entitled to say that your report gives a very inexact statement of the position. lam quite confident of this, that had the Hamilton Committee known as much as we know down here, a far less forceful and much more indulgent attitude would have been taken up. Wishing the Hamilton Band the utmost success in its efforts, and congratulating it on securing Professor Cardston's services, "

WALTER GREY, Director Art Union Committee, Wanganui City Band Bazaar. 51 Guyton Street, Wanganui, 28/11/12. NB. A perusal of the Wanganui newspapers containing the reports of our Wan ganui Bazaar will that I have, ii anything, understate*! the value of Professor Cardston's displays.