MR SIDNEY H. KNIGHT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 197, 6 September 1937, Page 8

MR SIDNEY H. KNIGHT

' Mr Sidixey Herbert Knight, a wellknown. Hastings resident, passed away 1 in Hastings yesterday at the age of 75 years. Mr Knight was in business in Hastings for many years, and gained distinction as conductor of tlie Hastings Baiid and of the Hastings Operatie Society. Mr Knight had been living in retirement in Hastings for some years. Mr Knight was for many years bandmaster of the Hastings Town Band, and had been associated with musical matters all his life. He came to New Zealand in 1879, and took up rcsidence iirst at Oamaru, coming to Hastings iu 1875. For about nine years he conducted a fellmongery and wool-scouring business in Hastings and in 1904 he opened a boot and shoo-importing business. Mr Knight was born in Yorkshire, JLlngland, on July 24, 1862. , He was the youngest son of a Bradford wool stapler. He was educated at the Bradford Grammar School, and was b'rought up in his father's business. As a lad he was a cliorister of St. Jude 's Church, Bradford, and he took part in many musical festivals in connection with the Auglican Church. In 1879 he came to New Zealand, living iirst for a short time at Oamaru. Ten years later Mr Knight opened a canning factory at Dunback, and 18 montks later soid this out and removed to the North lsland. He afterwards bougiit.a butcher 's business in Petone, vvhccii he disposed of in 1895, when he took up residence in Hastings. Shortly after coming to New Zealand Mr Knight joined the Oamaru Garrison Band, and later established the Kakanui (near Oamaru) band, of which he was also conductor for some time. He was choirmaster of the Anglican Church at Maheno (Oamaru). Later he conducted with cpnspicuous success the Petone band and the Hastings Town Band and proved himself a capable and efficieut bandmaster. Mr Knight wns a member of the Masonic Lodge and of the Independent Order of Odufellows. He took a keen interest in bowling and football and was a life member of the Hastings Bowling Club. Up tili the time of his death Mr Knight seldom rnissed a boxing, Avrestiing or football match. He was conductor of the Hastings Operatie Society, which had a very successfui career some years ago but has since gone out of existence. Under his direction the society in pre-War years staged "The Country Girl/' "Chu Chin Chow," and "Sau Toy," with considerable suc^oss. In "1902 the Hastings Band, under Mr Knight ;s baton, won a second-elass band contest at Hawera and, on the same occasion, carried off first prizes for the quartette and the B flat cornet and solo horn. At the contest held at Palmerston North the following .year ihe band took third place among the first-class corapetitore, although playing five men short. Mr Knight married Miss Mary Watson, of Kakanui, who predoceased hirii some years ago. He leaves a family of four sons, Messrs H. B. Knight (Hastings), V. S. Knight (Hatuma), Arthur (Sydney). and Frank (America). The funeral will leave his son's residence, 708 Tomoana road, Hastings,, for the Hastings Cemetery to-morrow at 2 p.m.