WERT COAST BIND CONTEST.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 March 1901, Page 4

WERT COAST BIND CONTEST.

The Proposal Abandoned

At a meeting of the Westport Contoit Committee, hold at Westport on Tuesday evening, the Secretary reported that tho only nominations for the test pieces were the three local bands, Denniston, Granity, and Westport. Under the circumstances it was nnanimously held to bo inadvisable to further proceed with tho Contest. All engagements are to be cancolled and tho matter for the present wound up. We (says the local Times) regret the lack of interest taken in the matter by our Coastal neighbours, who appear to be degenerating as far as brass band music is ooncerned. That this is so is tho more evident when wo notice tho extra inducements to competitors offered at tho intended Contest in tho way of prizes, as a glance at the programme will show. The total value by far exceeds anything yet off-red on the Coast, yet failed to evoko even a response from tho many outside bands. Wo sincerely trust this does not point to a downward trend on tho part of Coastal bandsmen But it certainly raises the suggestion. Be that as it may, it gives its much pleasure to notice our focal bands, Granity, Denniston and

Westport, have still for their motto " Ex- j celsior," and are putting in good work all along. They were each enthusiastic in their preparations for the several competitions and are naturally disappointed at, being deprived of the Contest. We sympathise with them as wo also had pleasant recollections of tho last Contest and were again looking forward to a similar treat. We hope, however, they will not relax in their efforts for improvement-., nor be affected by this waning tendency of their neighbours, even, if in rinding future competition, theyhavoto seek •' fresh fields and pastures new."