THE "OLD" AND THE "NEW" BANDS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 855, 31 October 1870, Page 2

THE "OLD" AND THE "NEW" BANDS.

TO THE EDITOR Of THE HAWKS'S BAY TIMES. SiE,-r-Having seen a letter,. signed " Waif," in your issue of the 22nd inst., speaking very disrespectfully of the proposed Rifle Volunteer Pionic, —and also a letter in the Herald of the 28th u\t .signed " Old Fogio," following in the same strain,—and being myself a subscriber to what was formerly called the " Napier Brass Band," I naturally took some little interest in the affair, and was sorry that some one better versed in the matter than my self had not taken upon themselves to set the public right; as any person who has paid any attention to the subject must know that those letters do not contain faces, but the very reverse. There are very few amongst us, I imagine, who do not remember that under the old system the members of the original band were always squabbling amongst themselves —that is, a section ef them ; that more than once attempts were made by the squabbling section to break up the Band altogether ; and that, as the only alternative left, a public meeting was called to discuss the matter, at which, after mature consideration, it was proposed and carried that Capt. Robinson should take over the Band on trial—he to be President. At the same time the memberß of the Band agreed to play in public on holidays, or at such times as the Band Committee should think fit. Consequent on these arrangements, the process of " weeding out" the malcontents—" Old Fogie" and Company—commenced. Since then, I must say the "old Band" have much improved in their music, &c, and instead of continual rows and squabbles, as of old, it has become a pleasant pastime to its members, and a source of amusement to the public.— I am, &c., A Subscriber to the Old Band. Napier, Oct. 29, 1870. . (The above letter was received on Saturday, too hte for publication or acknowledgment.)