"LISTEN TO THE RAND!"

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 43, 21 June 1915, Page 7

"LISTEN TO THE RAND!"

ROUND THE FESTIVE BOARD. The importance of a brass baud, especially a Municipal Hand to any community cannot bo estimated, and the persona] interest which every resident of Stratford should take in his own Band and its doings will be increased by the following notes upon the proceedings at the social gathering in Cramer's Rooms on Friday evening. I His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. W. Boon) presided.

"MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS."

In proposing the toast, Conductor Marshall eaid the Band had a good friend in their new President, Mr ' Boon, as there was no doubt they hud had in their ex-president, Mr N. 'J. King. Conductor Marshall said he was sure Mr Boon would do all possible in the future for the Band. As to the Council, it was a young one and had to be tried. He did not know what they were going to do, nor did anybody else—(Laughter). A voice: "Too true.") At the same time, he had "o hesitation in saying thai they were going to do good work for the Band. Every band in the Dominion received assistance from their Council. In Wellington, for instance, as much as £250 to £3OO was paid to the Band, but much of the expenditure was repaid ba'ck through the in' creased revenue from tramways, etc. The Band, like othera, had its ups and downs, but they had received good assistance from the Council. He always considered that it was a better country where there was a band than the one without such an institution. It would 'please members if the Council's Committee attended occasionally at the Band room and saw for themselves how things were getting along.

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council 'and tlie people, expressed appreciation of the playing of the Band. They reI cognised that it was a very fine thing to have a Municipal Band to play at different funtions, many of winch (would be very dead without music. All 'should remember, however, that memibeii of the Band had a great deal of jhard work to do. To be a strong [hand, they must practice hard, as they jwere'continually filling up vacancies liii the ranks owing to members leaving. There must be regular attendance at practices, and they must work in harmony. One great point was the 'ability of their Conductor (Mr Marshall), who had a great deal to contend with, but who, with the support of his officers and band, had done good work. 1 In connection with the appearance of tiie Band at the railway station on the occasion of the- troopers' departure, the Mayor said he would be very pleased to see thep turn out on every occasion whether, there was a large or small muster of members. Relatives of the departing men appreciated the Band's services very much, ft was very fine to read in the paper of the fine time and of the noble spirit shown by the troopers, but the relatives, knowing the hardships their boys would have to put up with and that possibly they would not' see them again, in a manner expressed through the music of the Band what words failed to convey. The whole district fully appreciated what the Band had done in this respect.—Applause. Cr Mills, who also responded, staked that the Couhci} could help the Band in a lot of ways. He suggested that Councillors should attend the Band's practices occasionally. The financial position must be considered very satisfactory, there being a ere- ; dit balance of over £l9. * * * * , "THE STRATFORD. BAND." , Cr Lawson, in proposing the toast, J congratulated members on a successful ' year's work. Their efforts towards ' collecting funds for deserving institu- ' tions were most commendable. He ' referred to the services of the Con- ' ductor, who had carried out his duties h admirably. With an energetic Secre- '

tary and a live Committee, there was nothing to prevent the Band making great progress. Cr Lawson said he was sorry to see the Band had lost two members (Privates C. Milner and M. Bowler) and was going to lose two more (Bandsmen P. Hunter and James) but they were giving their services in the nobler cause of freedom and right. All hoped the two comrades at the Front would return safely and again enter the ranks of the Band.—(Applause), also that the two volunteers who were with them that evening would have a good trip, gain much honor at the Front, and return safely, and once more play music with the Band.—(Hear (hear, and applause). # * # * Bandsman Cramer, as the oldest member, replied in happy style, as one who had made the Band a hobby, He referred to the groat drawback to any