WOOLSTON BAND.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17128, 25 April 1921, Page 4

WOOLSTON BAND.

SUCCESSES CELEBRATED. Woolston is pToud of tho Wooletou Band, and on Saturday night tho successes achieved by it at the recent band contests in J'telson, were celebrated at a smoking concert, held in the Druids' Hall, Woolston, and presided over by tho Mayor, Mr Charles Hill. There was a large attendance of the members of tho band and of its supporters. An apology for absence, ow'ng to indisposition, was received from Mr S. A. Staples. Tho toast of "The King" having been honoured, Mr McGregor Vright proposed "The Parliament of New Zealand." Mr J. McCombs, M.P., said that he was pleased to take part in a function organised to do honour to tho inert, who had honoured the district by their very fine performance at tho iNelson contests. (Applause.) New Zealand had its difficulties, arising out of the drop in the pricos of some of its staple products, and arising out of importations, and theso Parliament and tho Government of the day would have to deal with. As far as the finances of tho Dominion wore concerned they were perfectly buoyant, and taking the figures for the eleven months of the financial year as a. guide he ventured to predict that when the Acting-Prime Minister took the country into his confidence he (Sir Francis Bell) would bo able to announce a surplus not less than £5,000,000. (Applause.) That showed that, at the present moment, tho finances of tho Dominion were in a prosperous condition. (Applause.) "Success to tho Woolston Band" waa proposed by Mr W. S. King, who said that he had attended the Nelson contests, and it was a source of satisfaction that not only had the band won, but that its members hnd conducted themselves in an excellent manner. (Applause.) That was a matter of great importance to a district that sent a repre-. sentativo body of men to uphold its honour. As to the band' 6 win, opinion was that it thoroughly deserved to win; ho did not think that "any band had worked harder for success. He and other critics who had been at | Dunodiu last year had been surprised at tho decision then given; but the great thing: was that tho Woolston Band had. pot been disheartened, but had bucked iu and had won at Nelson. (Applause.) That was the true 6porting spirit. Tho band, ainco its inauguration, had been fortunate in having good wen as conductors, and it had been fortunate in having Mr. Kstall as its bandmaster. (Applause.) During his many years experience of bands it was the speaker's opinion that Mr Uatall was one of tho hardest workers with the stick iu tho ring. (Applause.) He hoped that the band would go on and maintain its position. Mr McGregor Wright responded on. behalf of tho band, and said that during his term as Mayor the rotunda for tho hand had been buiit. Tho Council .had voted £ls per annum for band contests—he asked them to think well of that. However, it was a beginning, and Mr Estall knew tho speaker's feelings on the subject. Tho band had given five concerts, and the people of Woolston had been glad to .get them. "My only sorrow is," Mr McGregor Wright added, "that Woolston has not, and does not, support you artists in tho way it ought to. I only wish that instead of £ls wo could have given you £SOOO, so that you could have given your best to the work, and done nothing else. (Applause.) Mr King hae . spoken about what you have done, and a great deal of your success is due to the fact that you havo a conductor who is nothing less than a genius." (Applause.) • In further remarks Mr McGregor Wright emphasised the harmony that must have existed amongst the members of tho baud, without which they could not havo been so successful; and also the debt that Woolston owed to the band in advertising, tho borough, and eaid that if arrangements could bo made for the band to give a concert once a week in Woolston, it would have tho effect of attracting musical people to take up their residence in tho borough.

Tho chairman proposed "Your Conductor, Mr Kstall," and said that a? an old bandshnan, and tho son of a band conductor, ho fully appreciated Mr Entail's ability and genius.

■ Mr p. J. Estall was received with continued and hearty applause on rising to respond, and said that ho thanked tile speakers for their hearty congratulations. It took a lot of people to do a job, and though ho himself hud worked hard, it Reeded tbo hearty co-operation of every man in the hand to bring things to a eatisfactary conclusion. (Applause.) When ho thought of tho wonderful eupport every member had given him, it was the moßt gratifying feature of the whole thing. Other bands had worked hard, and though the Woolston Band had been the viotor it was just as well to take it modestly, because human affairs continually changed, and they [ would havo to fight to maintain their position'. He did not think that any band had suffered moro reverses than tho Woolston Band, but ho did not doubt' that tho reason for their success was that they had stuck together. lu tho • early days of the band the men connected with at were men of purpose, who believed that their band was worth righting for. After its trials and tribulations he did not supposo that there wero many bands »o well off financially and from a property- point of vitw; their band room was freehold, and they owed nothing; on their instruments or uniforms. (Applause.) Their instruments alone, at presentday values, wero worth £IOOO. (Applause.) ' "The South Island Bands Aesociation" was proposed by Mr T. Hopkins, and responded to by Mr W. Newton; and Mr G. S. White proposed "The Ladies," Mr B. Wilton responding.

During the evening vocal and instrumental items were given by Messrs H. Eatley, L. Campbell, Balph Wilson (solo on the li flat bass), H. Beecbner, C. Gallop, and MoGregror Wright; Messrs E, 'Winspoar and L. Campbell contributed a> vocal duet. The accompaniments {or the vocalists were well played by Mr F. Squires, a youthful member of thoj band.