MOTUEKA BRASS RAND.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 9, 10 September 1901, Page 4

MOTUEKA BRASS RAND.

To the Editor. Sir; In ysur issue of the 3rd inst, 1 notice a letter signed Wag(o)nea seeking information about the Motueka Brass Band. He says it would be interesting to know. Well, Sir the band is practically dead, and it is the lack of public interest in it that has killed it, as I will endeavour to show. Ten years ago a few who were musically inclined started the hand. Tom had an old bugle, Jack had an old trombone that his grandfather gave him when leaving England thirty years ago but it fell out of the train going up to London, was run over and somewhat squashed,and Jack having good lungs could make a noise with it; one of our local blacksmiths made a triangle and brought it along; the drum we neitherborrowed nor stole but just took possession of it. We got together about fifteen instruments of all sorts and shapes; we imported an instructor especially to teach us, hired a room, and went to work and by dint cf hard playing and hard paying we in twelve months acquir ed sufficient confidence to play out publicly. The next year -we got several engagements at fairly renumerative rates, gained a few members, each member paying two shillings per week into the band fund. Tii s, with our earnings, just enabled us to pay our way and leave a small balance at the year’s end. We were paying our instructor £39 per year and this year we pm-chased seveteen uniforms costing £l7, so we believed the band was quite a live concern and had come to stay. We divided the balance amongst us, 9s per member, the only money the members ever took out of funds. We had so improved in knowledge of music, etc., made our instructors work practically easy that he proffered his services for £26 per year (which sum the band has continued to pay up to the end of last year): we reduced the members contributions to Is per week, and commenced the new year with a blank sheet. Our practice room being a public hall the band was often turned out, which naturally upset things; so we leased a piece of land, borrowed £3O, built a practice room costing £55, and by permission of the Colonial Treasurer held an art union, the proceeds paying off the balance, and leaving a few pounds in hand. About this time Jack notified the band that the doctor advised him the old trombone was killing him by inches; Jim had lost the triangle; T.m said if Jack had a new instrument he must have one too etc., etc.,. The hand concluded that to play respectable music we must have a whole new set of one make. We wrote for catalogues and prices, could get them on the deferred paymeut system, but security was required. This was a big undertaking for the members, so we resolved to endeavour to get two or three prominent citizens to act as trustees and vest the whole of the property in them “ Pro Bono Publico”. Several gentlemen were appealed to, but all refused ; our President (yes, Sir, we boasted one then) resigned owing as he said to his time being fully occupied otherwise. Sir, the band was honored by his presence but once a year at the annual meeting. Not to be outdone, the band purchased altogether 14 new instruments at a cost of £l2O, and as a matV j r of fact no security was ever given, J v/irNvilment was never signed nor f Mr. With our nCw instruments, i 1 practising I venture to say played creditably. We aftenoon performances, collection. The largest on any one of these

occasions was £1 0s 5d ; more frequently from 4s to 7s, a very few of the general public turning up. We tried It without collection and nobody came to heai us; we were always willing, and did give our time and services for charitable purposes, assisted at eoncets, etc. The band was engaged twice a year by One local institution, but latterly only half the time, and consequently at half the former rates ; another local institution fell to pieces which meant another loss to the band ; another, tie band were compelled to serve at half the usual rate, owing to the action of the first. We continued to play out and pay out, and could see no prospects of better engagements, nor public assistance. Our membership fell away ; there was still a substantial balance owing on the instruments, so we sold our hall and paid all our debts and concluded that the public did not want a band, and most of the old members resigned. Sir, all the above statements are facts so far as my memory serves me, and could have been known publicly, or by any person interested attending any of the bands meetings. I do not mean to say the - public never did subscribe tooui-funds; they did when asked on several occasions, one or two ladies and gentlemen handsomely, but I believe I am right when I say the only person who, without solicitation, freely and voluntarily did so is the gentleman now known as His Worship the Mayor. The ladies cf Motueka and Riwaka were good enough to take on with the floral fete and make it a grand success, giving the band the whole of the . proceeds, amounting to over £2O. I believe they were duly thanked for their kind assistance, but this was rather late in the day. I must thank your correspondent Wag(o)ner for opening up this subject as I think it is a pitty the band should go to the wall. There are many occasions when the band will be missed, and considering the members give their t'rne, and also pay more towards its upkeep than the general public, it is worthy of a little help. I trust that an abler pen than mine will be taken up on behalf of the band. I am, etc., Old Bandsman.

TO THE EDITOR Sir: I agree with Ratepayer, that Or Satherly is deserving of thanks for his timely action. It is men like him that safeguard our rates; men of sterling character and robust mind, that we have to look to. He had need to be wary, for assuredly the mushroom roadmakers of High street on the Council will get more than thirty loads on their street next year if the}’ get half a chance. Sr Simpson is also a steady, cautious man by preventing expendiutre to benefit one man at the Post Office corner : he has done yeoman service. The roads and drains could he maintained on a farthing rate if Or Simpson had his way. It is owing to his energy and foresight that the money was so easily got for the river works. I hear the High street lot want to spend more money on footpaths and lamps; also that they want the old Post office for Council Chambers. I hope Crs Satherly and Simpson will prevent more money being spent to (benefit them. \ I am etc., N-——"" Criticus.

To The Editor. Sir : Absence in the country on business prevented me from reading yovr report of the last meeting of the Borough Council. If you will giant me a short space I shall be glad, for I want to refere to the remarks and atti-

tude of some of our sapient councillors with reference to Mr Broughams complaint that flood water was thrown upon him, and asking for the nuisance to be remedied. I should think it was bad enough for a burgess to have to pay his rates, which ard supposed to be spent for the benefit and improvement of the town, without being asked to contribute towards abating a nuisance. I am not Mr Brougham's adviser, hut if I was I should strongly urge him to assert his right and make the Council do the work. If my neighbor throws his surplus water upon my raspberyr patch I should engage a lawyer to take the case into Court and thus check him. I hear one Councillor objected to the work being done by the Council, because a bad precedent would be established. Bosh! would he talk precedent if he was placed in the same position as Mr Brougham? I suppose the Council will fight the question and thus waste money which would he much better applied to road mending in my locality. I live some distance from the Post Office and have not seen a single load of gravel placed in front of my section. It is all put on High street and near some Councillor’s properties. I am, etc., Common Sense.