Musical.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 31, 27 October 1894, Page 5

Musical.

BANDSMEN’S COLUMN,

BAND CONTEST NOTES

[Bt “ Quaver.”]

Seeing that the contest is now a thing of the past, it will not be out of place to draw comparisons between it ;and the one held in Christchurch last year. Doing this will give readers a fair idea of what strides, not only bands, but most of the soloists, have made since then. Mr G. A. Martin was judge at both contests, so that it 'Cannot be said the music was judged on a different basis each year. It will be seen at a glance what took first honours at Christchurch was completely out of it in Invercargill. Soloists —maximum points, 82.

In the case of bands the advance is •even more marked. The maximum number of, points on each selection was again 82. Last year the Invercargill Grarrison carried off first honours at Christchurch with a total of 128 (Verdi 70, Roberto il Diavolo 58), scoring first place on each selection. This year the Invercargill Grarrison again took first honours (although beaten on both selections), but had to make 154 points to win. The Kaikorai came out top on “ Reminiscences of Weber,” with a total of 77 points against the Garrison’s 74; and the City Gnprds made the remarkable score of 82 on “ Schubert ” against the Garrison’s SO. This year there was only a difference of 21 points between the first and last bands, as against 40 in Christchurch last year between the same bands.

A correspondent to the Dunedin Star signed “ An Enthusiast ” has been taking exception to the decision given by the judges at the late inarching contest, and endeavours to point out that the Kaikorai Band was not fairly dealt with. He states that the two local - bands had an advantage •over the others through being well acDO •quainted with the ground, and that they were constantly with the committee who had charge of the drilling arrangements. As a matter of fact neither the Garrison nor City Guards Bauds had ever been within the enclosure of the Union Grounds till the day of the contest. The committee had nothing whatever to do with the drill arrangements. This was left to Colonel Webb, and his instructions were printed and each band supplied with a copy a month or two prior to the contest On reference to the points I find that the Kaikorai Band were a •close second for drill, but fell back to third place on music. This, I think, speaks for itself* A meeting of the Contest Committee was held in the Council Chambers last Wednesday evening. About 20 gentlemen were present, and the Mayor (Mr Raeside) presided. Mr Hannah read letters from the Protest Committee, one of them advising that the prizes should be paid according to their decision—namely, first prize to the Kaikorai Band, and so on, the jrrolest against Invercargill Garrison having been upheld.—Lieut. Siddall said he had to take the opportunity by the reading of the letters to place the position of the Garrison Band and himself plainly before the public. It had been stated that the band was paying Mr Lithgow £SO, but such was not the case. They were only paying his passage-money and expenses and a sura to recoup the loss sustained by him owing to Jabsence from business in Tasmania. As to Mr Anderson, he had been a member of the baud all along, but could not always attend practice because of night work. He, however*, played

with them when required. He (Lieut. Siddall) had nothing to say against Mr Wolf (Timaru Garrison) because that gentleman had acted throughout in a gentlemanly and straightforward manner. But he thought, and was sorry to say so, that Mr Wolf had simply been firing balls prepared by someone else. He considered that the Invercargill Garrison Band had acted in a straightforward manner. He had protested against the Kaikorai Band because its subscription had not been paid. He did not protest against the City Guards Band on that ground because he considered it would be unpatriotic. Lieut. Siddall concluded by moving a resolution to the effect that the letter from the Protest Committee be not received on the ground that it was not legally constituted, and further alleging that some of the bands represented on the Committee were interested in the disqualifying of the Garrison Band.—Mr Everett seconded the motion.

Mr Mohr (City Guards) distinctly denied that he had any men playing in his baud who were not bona fide members. He had nothing to say against Mr Lithgow, Mr Anderson, or

Mr Siddall, and from the first had said the Garrison Band had been acting within their legal rights. He objected, however, to its being said that the City Guards Band were on the same footing as the Garrison as regards the protest ; and as to Mr Wolf firing balls prepared by some one else, such an insinuation could not be levelled at the City Guards Band, —Mr W. B. Scandrett submitted an amendment retaining the prize-money till the matter had been settled by a legal decision.—This was seconded by Mr D. McFarlane. — After discussion the amendment was lost, and the motion carried by eleven I votes to nine.—Lieut. Siddall said he now desired to have the matter settled by some impartial and competent authority. Mr J. S. Goldie then moved the following resolution : —“ That the letter from W. V. Siddall requesting payment of the first prize to the Invercargill Garrison Band be received, and the following committee appointed to take into consideration the facts in connection with the dispute between the bands in the recent contest, with authority to call evidence and submit the whole facts to legal opinion with the view of having the matter placed before a judge : —Messrs Hannah, McFarlane, Stead, and Scandrett.” —Mr Todd moved as an amendment, seconded by Mr Scandrett, “ That a committee, consisting of the Mayor, and Messrs Siddall, Mohr, and Hannah be appointed to lay the whole facts in connection with the late band contest before the borough solicitor for his opinion as to which bands are entitled to the prize moneys ; and that each band have the privilege of nominating a lepresentative.”—The amendment was lost and the motion carried.

I understand the City Guards band intend running a contest, for local country bands only, in connection with their bazaar, -which takes place shortly. Pull particulars, I understand, will be made public in the course of a few days.

1893 1894 ‘Cornets. —Mr Glennie 80 „ Lithgow 61 Horns. —Mr Davie 57 11 - 11 60 Trombones. —Mr Bird 80 1* 11 60 Euphonium. —Mr Necklen 82 11 m 63 Basses. —Mr Albrecht 54 „ Ablett 42