NOTES FROM WANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 765, 14 March 1910, Page 5

NOTES FROM WANGANUI.

THE COMING OP THE BANDSMEN. I : AN EXCITING EIVEB EVENT. . (By; TeleEraph.-Special; OorreisponaentJ ■ ■ ; : Wahganui, March 13. WanganuiUt present bears quite a -military appearance, with the number of visiting bandsmen already here in readiness for the contest, which. begins tomorrow. Of brass band music there is quite; a surfeit,. ■' and from daylight this morning until evening one' could hear bandsmen practising .their:-selections, while the marching, practices, also at- , traoted a deal of attention. It is now expected that there will be ten bands in the B grade competition, but only two m the A grade—viz.,VWangan-ui and Petone..--. The Nelson Band, which ' arrived yesterday, is the popular- choice of the'bands already here for the B grade events, while Wanganni is naturally expected; to retain the championship. The opening of .the contest takes plaoe tomorrow "evening,-in the Opera House, with the E-ilafe cornet solo, and the baritones, will follow. The judge, Mr. Sidney Wolfe, - arrived yesterday. ' -A verdict of suicide while temporarily ■insane was returned at the inquest coni cerning the death of George laurent, the Mexican, who drowned hunself after at' tempting (it is supposed) to blow np the .UpoKongaro,'Hotel.'.- '•':'. ■ ■ ■•..■ '- .' Several blocks,rf Goverkment land in the'"Whakatane district have' recentlybeen (acquired by well-known TVangamd ' farmers,:. and : others are ■ inspecting; this district with-a view to purchasing. Great : interest was" taken in the' swimming'race which took place yesterday afternoon, from the railway bridge to. the town, bridge, a distance of two miles. There .'was:a fairly stron;■ current with the swimmers, of whom nine starbid, the winner turning up in A. Bridgesi, who' started--from soratch, and cpvertd the 'distance in' 37min. C. Swan (lssec. start) was second, and N. BigneM (30sec.) third. It was a ' splendid' struggle, Swan" and Bignell both,being.abreast of BridgM for nearly a mile, 'but the scratch man had most left in him at the end, aoi<l got home by ten yards. Hundreds followedthe race in boats and on the banks, and there must have been over a people at the nnishihg point.' ' . .' ATrangements.have been made to. five the : ITnion crew,' ; which won the Interstate "Championship' at Hobart recenay, a fitting reception when they return home, which they. are.expected to do towards the end t>l the w.eet. The crew, it is .■ believed, ■ arrive in Wellington from . Sydney on Wednesday. ' . .' ■.-'.■