MASSED BANDS' DISPLAY

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1946, Page 4

MASSED BANDS' DISPLAY

I „• " ■ - W BIG GATHERING IN LEVIN ENTERTAINING PRO&RAMME Saturday last, was a day that all local Scotsmen will remember for a long time. With a warm day and a quiet breeze the, Levin Domain was the scene of one of the biggest gatherings held there since the Victory parade. The massed bands displays, which were in aid of the Horowhenua Highland Band unifonn appeal, captured the interest of young and old alike, The whole perfonnance was exceflent, with perhaps the greatest popularity resting with the Marching Midgets. The kiltie bands present included the Wellington Girls, the Manawatu, the First Battaliori Scottish Regiment and the Horowhenua Band.

At 2 p.m. sharp, the afternoon's programme commenced with the various bands giving exhibitions of marching, inter-mafching and Scottish tunes. Each band -and item was received with applause from the crowd of approximately 1000 persons, and particularly so in the case of -the Wellington Girls' Band, which gave a very fine perfonnance. The Manawatu Band then proyided the step for the Marching Midgets from Wanganui. These small girls, who are all under eight years of age. were first inspected by their instructor, Mr. Chambers, formerly oi : Levin, and they then gave a display jthe like of which has never been jseen before in Levin. The tre- , mendous applause was a fair indication of the crowd's appreciation of the team, and they were requesG.ed to give yet another two exhibitions before the demands of .those present were satisfled.*

A gymnastic display was then given by pupils of Horowhenua College under the 'supervisioxl of Mr, F A. L. Moriarty. The children gave exhibitions of diving, rolls, somersaults and flips, which . left- th( crowd breathless at their reckles;. courage. '' Following this, the greasy pig wai released and the unfortunate animal, pursued by nearly 5C determined youngsters, raced to^the shelter of the hedge and out on tc, Weraroa Road. After a lengthy chase, M. Welby returned with the struggling pig elutched in his arms and from the smell and colour it was hard to distinguish which wa pig and which was boy. During thf day several hardy souls tried theii hand at pillow flghting on the pole These interludes kept the crowd ir a happy mood, and contributed to the success of the day. The bandr then fell in, under the leadership ot Mr. Alacfarlane, a' former 'membei of the Black'Watch, and marched in line .abreast ac'roSs the' grass. -*Thei sight was a stirring 'one, 'dnd hac the crowd spellbourid "at the skiiT of the -massed pipes and tfie wonderfu' precision wit'h which they executec their moveme'nts. '• The result's of the •running and .cycling e^ents were as followsi— . Half-mile cycle r • N. Hoffman 1,.N. Parker 2, B,. Williams 3. One mile cycle: L. Ellery 1, D. Convery 2, N. Hoffman 3. Two mile cycle: N. Hoffman 1, N Parker 2, D. Convery 3. Open 100 yards: A. Lee 1, C. Walker 2, L. Giles 3. - , * Open 220 vards: A. ' Harfis' x; ■ C Walker 2, A. Lee 3. . • • *. Open 440 yards: C .Walker 1, A. Lee 2, M. Welby 3. Cycling points: Hoffman 12; Parker 6; Convery and Ellery 5. Running points: C. Walker 11; Lee 10, Harris 5.