THE BLENHEIM BAND.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 163, 13 March 1869, Page 4

THE BLENHEIM BAND.

¥ To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sin,—ln reading the Express of Saturday last, I was very much surprised to find a letter signed A. J. Hoskins. As Mr. Hoskins knows, 1 have done all in my power to procure the instruments in question for him, or find out where they are. Asthe instruments have never been together since I came to Blenheim, neither can any one inform correct number, or who has got them. I went with Mr. Hoskins and got him three. I went down to the Bush and got one from Mr. F. Rush ; was informed Mr. Newth one, when 1 went to get it, was told that he had given it up over twelve months ago. After telling ' Mr. Hosking that Mr. Newth told me he had not/ one, he requested me twice or three times to give him an order to go down to Newth, which I refused, after going myself. Previous to this, Mr. Hoskins wanted me to authorise him to get any instruments he could find, or search any place he might think there was one. Now, ns Mr Hoskins appeals to those who so liberally subscribed. After investigating the the matter will consider that the man or men who would endeavour to pursuade me to take out a search-warrant to search fellow-townsmen’s houses for that which 1 don’t know they have, or would not accuse of keeping, are not the men by any means to give any authority whatever. I hear also Mr. Hoskins should say he will not give them up again if requested. Perhaps he thinks he can walk off with then ? hut 1 beg to remind him that such conduct is not always to be allowed. If the bandsmen can inform me who has the missing instruments, I shall be but too willing to eudeaf vour to get them. I understand that when the I instruments were first bought, and the band | formed, on the breaking up of that band, instead ; of the instruments being returned into store, each : bandsman was allowed to keep his own, which is now 5 or 6 years ago, therefore no one knows ■anything of them. I am, &c., E. Bythell.

Sir, —I hope I shall not be trespassing on your valuable space if I make a few remarks on a letter in your last issue signed “ Arthur J. Hoskins.” Now it appears to me that someone (and I think most Volunteers know who), has been at work trying to make Hoskins believe that Capt. Bythell and Sergeant Kennedy are striving to hold back the instruments from him, or why should he attack them as he has done. I have been told by Captain Bythell himself that he has done all he possibly could (and I believe him too), to get the instruments together, and even went, at the loss of half-a-day, two or three miles to procure one for him. But this is all the thanks he gets for his trouble—he gets attacked in an insolent and ungentlemauly manner by a mere who has a great amount of assumption to accuse any man of being “morally and legally responsible” for anything whatsoever, especially a man old enough to be his father. More than that, Sir, perhaps you 1 ' would not believe that because Captain Bythell would not authorise a warrant to seach people’s houses where Hoskins believed there was an instrument, the Band passed a vote of censure on him !— a proceeding which, I think, may be set down to their ignorance. And in conclusion I would suggest that the Volunteers should hold a special meeting to resent the slur thrown upon their Captain by the insignificant leader of the Blenheim Brass Band. —I am, &c., A Volunteer. (' [While wishing to be strictly impartial, we cannot but think that the zeal and assiduity displayed by Mr. Hoskins in attempting to get up a band should be taken into consideration. The 1 above writers are too severe upon him.— Ed., M.E.]