STRATFORD MUNICIPAL BAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 79, 31 October 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD MUNICIPAL BAND.

There was a small attendance at the Band room last evening, when a report and balance-sheet for the pasteightcen montlis wa's sixbinittocl | 'by the hon. secretary (Mr G.= Bradley). The chair was occupied by Mr M. C. Aagaard, and among those present wore Crs T. Lawson and .E. S. Rutherfurd and Mr T. Marshall (ex-conduc-tofc> Apologies were received from His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. W. Boon), and Mr H. Burmester. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. Gentlemen.—Your committee have great pleasure in presenting the Annual Report ending October 20th, l c Jlb\ The receipts of the 1 year have been £l± 8s Bd, including the balance brought forward of £1 8s Bd, and the expenses amounted to £'B 7s lOd, leaving a credit balance in the bank of £6 0s "10d. My committee .regret' that they cannot report any progressivoness, but, when the exceptional circumstances are- taken into consideration, you will agree that it was impossible to do better in regard to'"the routine work of the Band. Last summer the 'Band appeared on several' occasions, and endeavoured to carry out tile usual Sunday performances, but-tho continued drain on the members, occasioned by the to arms, proved \too much, and left us no alternative. but to discontinue these. The Band helped, as far "as passible; the calls that were made on its services, but the greatly depleted ranks ultimately forced the Baud to abandon these, reluctantly, we must say, for the members strove hard to fulfill calls until the membership dropped from about twenty to somewhere about eight players. A juvenile class of'fourteen players was commenced, and the

members progressed vet-jf well during the eight months practice they have had, and should be of service to the Band during the coming summer. The conductor, who is leaving the district, has-handed'hi-his resignation, and it is lor this meeting to decide what course to follow w,ith regard to tilling lfe position and continuing with the juvenile class. The committee wish all old members of the Band, who are how serving our King and Country, the best of luck and a safe and speedy return to New Zealand. It is for this meeting to decide if they really think it is advis able to do as other towns have done, viz: disband until after the war, but we feel sure that, with the eoropera* tion of the many instrumentalists in tho town, that we could, no doubt, hold together. The balance-sheet showed the total receipts to be £l4 8s 8d (balance at June 30, 1915, £1 8s 8d and cheque January 16. 1916, £lO. On the expenditure side the items were: Insurance £1 -Is 2d, batik charges os,, interest Is, cheque book 25.—1916.-4-T. G. Grubb £2 Bs, P. Cramer £2 2s 6d, bank charges ss; insurance £1 Is 2d, T. G. Grubb 16s; balance £(> oslOd.—Total £ll 8s Kd. Credit balance at £6 0s lOd, by amount at interest kvith Loan and Deposit Co., £loo.—Grand balance £lO6 0s lOd. The report and balance-sheet were adopted on tho motion of Mr G. Ford, seconded by Mr J. Bowen. CONDUCTOR'S RESIGNATION. A letter was read from Mr Marshall resigning his position as conductor. The 'Chairman said every bandsman was sorry Mr Marshall was going away, and they hoped sinccfely that wherever he settled, he would better himself. The Hand would miss him greatly, as his place would be hard to fill. ' , ' Secretary Bradley said Mr Marshall's departure from the district .

was a severe blow to the Band. Under* Hi's eonductorship, the members Had made sod prbgre&B in their. music, his efforts oil their behalf be« tag unremitting. As an instant" of the high'state of proficiency to which the Band had been brought,Mi' Bradley mentioned" that at the last Contest ai.Hawera they lost the honors only through an unfortunate slip, for which Mr "Marshall was not at all responsible. All through his term, he had done splendid work, and his 'services would he nittcll missed. Or. LaWson, on behalf of tno Bor* otigh Council 1 in the absence of the Mayor, expressed his appreciation of the work Marshall bad done for the Band, and regretted his departure from the town, of which ho had been always a most estimable citizen. Everyone would bone for hi* progress and prosperity in the future wherever he might be. Mr Bowcn moved that the resignation be accepted with regret, Seconded by Mr Ford, and carried. PRESENTATIONS. Speaking in reply to a presentation of a salad bowl from the members of the Band, and a fountain pen from a squad of fourteen boys who have for si'ime months been under his tuition, Mr Marshall thanked all sincerely lot their tokens of 'appreciation of his work. He always had music at heart, and be' could not really have- helped doing what he did for the Band. He had been conductor for four years, and at one time ,had. thoughts of having a good! Band, when he had then twenty in good' fettle, but like all others,' th'e Band "'had gone back. 3'fc,vbad pleasure to do what be "could, and the hardest work for him had been since the Band fell away, and he-had taken up the tuition of the boys, They now had their initial training, and were going on on good lines, and lie hoped they would continue to progress as well under his successor. At times he might have been rough on them, but that was for their own good. They had had the benefit of bis own experience, and be was sorry to leave them. As all knew, there is now no Band, and there would not be much doing until the War was over. He would always be pleased to hear of the Band's progress. The boys should still l>e trained, as they would be available for the ranks when the Band was resuscitated. In conclusion, Mr Marshall-'again.thanked them for their ltiii'd' remarks-!and the spirit which had ;r prompt<vd -the presentations," and then bade them farewell. — (Applause)J*""" - W" < c , THE CONDUOTORSHIP. '

On the motion of the Secretary, seconded by Mr Boweu, Mr Q\ Ford was appointed conductor pro. tern. At the conclusion of the meeting, members adjourned for supper at Cramer's.