West Coast Tour By Boys’ Band Of Wellington Institute

Grey River Argus, 30 August 1948, Page 4

West Coast Tour By Boys’ Band Of Wellington Institute

Mr Gladstone Hill, formerly Director of Music to the R.N.Z.A.F., and Conductor of the Air Force Band, is visiting Greymouth in connection with the visit to the Coast of . the Wellington Boys’ Institute Band. This Band comprises boys from eight years of age to eighteen. The solo, cornet player is twelve years of age. His brother tied for second place (won ‘ by Leo. Carruthers, formerly of Greymouth, but now playing with Woolston) in the trombone solo at. the national championships at Dunedin last February. He is 18 years of age. s Still another brother plays* in the band. He is eight! Mr Hill explained to an “Argus” reporter that the objects of the tom' were: (1) Education by travel; -(2) as an incentive to work and prepare for such an arduous programme; and (3) to act as a stimulus to bands in general and boys bands’ and youth work in particular. The hour being organised on exactly the same lines as those conducted by the Air Force Band during the war years. The Inangahua County Council is calling for a public meeting in Reefton to-night for Mr Gladstone Hill to address in connection with the band’s visit to that town on January 10. On Tuesday, Mr Hill' is to visit Runanga to finalise matters with Mr Geo. English, president of th'e Miners’ Union. The band is to 1 play in the mining town on Friday. January 7. On Wednesday, Mr Gladstone Hill will be guest speaker at the Greymouth Rotary Club’s weekly luncheon. His subject is “Youth and Self-Expression”. On Thursday, Hokitika will decide on final details of the tour, for the band will go to the Franz Josef Glacier on January 12 to play there during, mid-day. It was not intended to play, as the day is the boys’ compensation for Leary work. However, so many requests have been received for the boys to take their instruments that when the position was placed before theh, they readily agreed. The band will leave Hokitika for Christchurch on Thursday, January 13.