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Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1927, Page 2

Wu appear to have offended tin* personnol of tin l Hokitika Municipal Band. From tlie text of a letter received we gather that the big bass, big drum and the leading cornets, to say nothing of the trombones and horns, are all likely to lose much of the sweetness of their tone because our neglectful reporter failed to chronicle the obvious fact to all who had ears to hear, that the Band discoursed sweet strains on t:r Square on the occasion of the very .successful gala gathering. It appears the authorities thanked the Band for their excellent services in much appreciated phrases, hut all the harmony diffused on the occasion is lost for the fact that the reporter failed to notify the world at large that there was a Band present to assist to enliven the occasion. We apologise for the omission which was quite unintentional. Perhaps our reporter felt it was not any more necessary to appreciate the presence of the Band than of the many willing workers who over many days, must have devoted much time and thought to the carrying out of the arrangements of the day. In particular, too, praise was not accorded the Ttev. Mr Bates for providing so fine a day—which he must have done at much personal sacrifice, seeing that the heavens leaked so badly the day following. We hope the vanity of the Band will be satisfied now that it is found others besides themselves have been unmentioned and did not receive a bubble reputation in the newspaper column. The sweetest reward in life is duty well done, the conscious feeling that something has been attempted and something done. How many of our heroes go unhonoured and unsung. They play their parts and fill useful !iidles, and then pass on—but the world is the better for their playing and their doing and they have the unconscious reward, as it were, the inward feeling that in this work-a-dav life wherein all must strive, though the laurel crown is only to the winner, that there are fuller and richer things than the adulation of the press, or even of one’s friends—the inward feeling and consciousness of duty well done. How appropriate ore those lines in

“If you can talk "vvitli crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the Common touch. If neither foes nor loving friends can trust you, If all men count with you, but none too much : If vou can fill the unforgiving

mmute With sixtv seconds worth of dis-

tance run— Your’s is the earth and everything that’s in it, And. which is more, you'll be a