Auckland Bandmaster Killed By a Tramcar

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 1

Auckland Bandmaster Killed By a Tramcar

HOBSON STREET FATALITY MR. CHRISTOPHER SMITH Knocked down by a City-bound tramcar opposite the electricpower transformer station in Hobson Street, shortly before 8 o'clock last evening, Mr. Christopher Smith. conductor of the Auckland Municipal Band. received head injuries from which he died in a few minutes. rjnHE motorman of the tramcar, Mr. J. Pollard, said lie sounded the gong (o warn Mr. Smith, who was crossing the road. Mr. Smith hesitated, and then stepped on to the line and was struck. The brakes were applied and the car pulled up at once, but Mr. Smith was underneath. The injured man was lying lengthways under the car, the lower portion of his body being on the safety guard. While being conveyed to the hospital

by the St. John Ambulance he died. The principal injury was a fracture of the skull. Mr. Smith had had more than 40 years’ experience with bands and was appointed to organise the Municipal Band in July, 1924, being selected from 28 applicants on account of his varied experience with famous bands and orchestras as player, trainer and conductor. For a time he was conductor of the Adelaide Municipal Tramways Trust Baud. HUNDREDS OF PRIZES Before going to Australia, Mr. Smith was conductor of the famous Besses o’ the Barn Band for about four years. This band toured the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Before that he was associated with brass and military bands in all parts of the United Kingdom, and hundreds of prizes were won under his leadership. He received offers from more than 50 bands before he left Britain.

Mr. Smith was largely engaged in arranging and composing band music for publication at one time, and he arranged several of the pieces in the repertoire of the Municipal Band. Many of his compositions have been played from time to time by the Municipal Band. At the time of his death Mr. Smith was at work on a new symphony which he had hoped to present shortly. Mr. Smith specialised as a player on the cornet and trumpet, although he was a qualified player of the clarinet, oboe, saxophone and violin. He earned great praise for his services as a judge at the band contest held in Dunedin in 1923. Mr. Smith, who lived at 23 Allendale Road, Mount Albert, leaves a widow and two adult children.