THAMES BAND CONTEST

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14771, 10 October 1921, Page 5

THAMES BAND CONTEST

♦ QUICKSTEP WON BY THAMES. HAMILTON THIRD. By Telegraph.—Special lo Times. THAMES, Saturday. The Quickstep Competition to-day resulted as follows:—Thames i Dauuevirkc 2 Hamilton 3 The points scored were as follows: Hauraki Battalion Band. 171} military points and 95 music, total 266}; Danncvirke, 171 military and 93 music, total 264}; Hamilton, 1671 military and 96 music, total 2631. THE AGGREGATE SHIELD. WON BY HAMILTON. WITH MARGIN OF 9 POINTS. The Aggregate Shield was won by Hamilton with a total of 4911 in the three contests. Hauraki Battalion were second, 482}; New Plymouth third, 480. THE BAND’S RETURN. A CIVIC WELCOME. The Hamilton Municipal Band, which was the premier band at the Thames contest, returned by the express this afternoon. They were met at the railway station by His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow) and members of the Borough Council and a large turnout of citizens, and given a hearty welcome back to Hamilton.

Mr Fow said that he wished lo congratulate the conductor and his band on behalf of the people of Hamilton on the great success they had attained at the contest. It was not so much the result but the splendid performance the band had put up that gave the gratification. After their success in the test His Worship had received a wire from the Mayor of Thames conveying the heartiest congratulation upon the band’s success and remarking upon the splendid performance the band bad registered. That showed that the people of Thames had recognised that there was nothing dubious in the verdict. The band’s success was one of the biggest advertisements Hamilton bad had fo: a very long time. At the Danncvirke contest, which the band had attended, the judge had there commented Dial the material was in the band, but it was handicapped from displaying its best by old instruments. That such a opinion was correct was shown by ihc band, which with the new instruments, had brought such credit upon itself and upon the town as it had achieved by its fine showing at Thames. The public should value to the full all such local institutions and give them loy d support and assistance so that they may pul up bigger performances. The band’s successful achievements were a great advertisement to the town, and the public should show their appreciation of the band’s efforts by boosting the bazaar this week and supporting it to the limit- In closing, Mr Fow thanked the band for Die honour it had brought to the town, and wished it every luck in its future campaign’ng. I'hrec cheers were then given lor the conductor and the band, which the latter reciprocated with cheers for the Mayor and the public. The band then marched through Ward and Victoria Streets, playing en route and receiving further outbursts of appreciation from the public at their splendid contest success. The band won £llO in cash, the Aggregate Shield, five gold and five silver medals. The Conductor Elated.

The conductor (Mr S. Croxford) was naturally very pleased with the performance credited to the band. (I had been a most enjoyable time. The Quickstep Day (Saturday) was very wet, and this militated against the best from any band. The band was only three points behind the winners (iHh Hauraki) and close up to Dannevirke. His band had actually top-scored for music in the Quickstep. The hand marched splendidly, but were handicapped, like' all others, by the weather in marching. In the lest selection, “Valkyrie” (Wagner), Ihe band secured within 10 points of the maximum. and generaly pul up a great performance. In the solos, 100, the members had also secured several successes. Mr Croxford remarked that their splendid all round performance exceeded his highest, expectations, and lie naturally felt elated. Mr Croxford, in closing, referred to the splendid manner in which the band had been treated by the Contest executive and the people of Thames. The Shield. The Aggregate Shield, won I y the Hamilton Hand, is a line piece >f work. It consists of a silver lyre aid gold fern leaves on a base of polish Jd weed.