SILVER BAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 252, 5 August 1937, Page 7

SILVER BAND

NEW INSTRUMENTS PRESENTED. FUNCTION HELD LAST EVENING. I An interesting occasion in the history of the Ashburton Silver Band occurred last evening, when its new instruments bought at a cost of £930. were officially handed over to the players by the Mayor (Mr W. H. Woods) and the County Chairman (Mr F. Frampton). In conjunction witli this presentation, a concert was given by the band and local artists in the Majestic Theatre. The chairman of the Citizens’ Committee of the hand (Mr G. D. H. Hefford) presided. The attendance was small. Mr Hefford thanked those present for their attendance, although he said it could have been better. The Citizens’ Committee bad set out to raise £6OO of the amount required, he said. He was delighted to announce that £SOO of the amount had been raised up to the present, and the balance would have to be raised within three weeks to secure a discount of £7O on the instruments. He thanked the ladies and ail helpers in the street appeal, and also •all donors of produce, and the public for its very warm support. Introducing the Mayor and the County Chairman, he mentioned that by virtue of their office they were trustees of the new instruments. Mr Woods said he was delighted to join with the Citizens’ Committee on the occasion of making the presentation, and to be assisting in the presentation. On behalf of the citizens of the Borough he complimented the Citizens’ Committee for the stand it had taken in support of the band. Tho public support had really been wonderful. It was doubtful whether any other town the size of Ashburton would have given such support in such a short time for a smaller purpose. Band Merits Support. At the same time the band had fully merited the support, both because of giving its activities in the past and its contesting work, which had helped to place Ashburton on the map. Over a period of years the conduct of bandsmen at concerts had been exemplary and a credit to the town. He hoped that this honour and success would be maintained in future with the new instruments. Tho Mayor referred to the ‘efforts of the secretary of the Citizens’ Committee (Mr T. A. Bryant), and said he wished to offer the hearty congratulations of the people to the Citizens’ Committee and the Band Committee. Mr Frampton said that as County Chairman he was thankful for the invitation and delighted to be present. Personally he was always very keen on assisting the band and was sure the -people wished it success. Hie spoke of the enthusiasm shown both by the Citizens’ and Band Committee. Tho instruments were then presented by the Mayor and the County Chairman. The first instrument, a cornet, was handed to the conductor (Lieutenant W. H. Osborne), and the -other pieces handed over individually to the bandsmen, to whom separate remarks of praise or encouragement were addressed. Wonderful Spirit Shown, Lieutenant Osborne, in reply, spoke of the wonderful spirit shown in the work of raising money to provide for the instruments. The town had shown a most wonderful interest in the ban(l, but this was not surprising to him in yiew of the remarkable reception previously accorded to the Redfern Band (Sydney) on its visit to Ashburton. After paying a tribute to tho work of members of the Citizens’ Committee, he said he felt sure that when the time came to pay the money on August 31 it would be available. “I feel that I should mention the wonderful interest shown by the Borough and County Councils,” Lieutenant Osborne continued. “The band feels that in coming out on this venture it has had real support from these quarters. The president of the Citizens’ Committee had done quite a lot of the work. “The band had, under the circumstances, been justified in keeping out of tho Nelson contest this year and in putting the money toward its new instruments. Whenever the public is asked for money I sincerely think it will have the faith and confidence to know: that it is put to the best purposes available,” he continued. Contesting was the life of a band. It hoped to go to the contest at Palmerston North next year with new instruments and well equipped. With the players now available there was every opportunity of building up a new band. “If we cannot in a few years succeed in building up a really fine band that you are proud of we shall think we have failed in this respect,” he said. On behalf of the hand Lieutenant Osborne thanked the public very much for the great interest it had shown. He said he was sorry there were not more at the presentation. The one idea of presenting the concert was to show appreciation of the public efforts on the band’s behalf. The Concert Programme. The , programme was as follows: — Selections played on old instruments, “The Bullfighter” and “Rio de Janiero” ; marches played on new instruments, “BB and OF,” and “Eyes Right”; and hymn, “Plain and Gwarry”; cornet duet, “The Harlequins,” Bandsmen C. and Hutchison; euphonium solo, “The Cavalier,” Lance-Corporal T. A. Miller; vocal quartette (Choral Society), Messrs H. Norrish, W. Corbett, C. Hopwood and G. Hosken; songs and dances, Yvonne Wriglrfc; vocal solos, Messrs C. Hopwood'and A. T. Ziegler and Miss P. O’Grady; instrumental trio, Dr. N. E. H. Fulton, Lieutenant Osborne and Mr D. Smith; •humorous items, Mr A. H. Todd. The accompaniments were played by Mrs H. J. Chapman, Miss Betty Brown and Mr Smith.