CORRESPONDENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4466, 23 September 1909, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

BAND, ETC.-REPLY TO “ RATE-

PAYER.”

[To the Editor.]

S», —I have always made it a rule to ignore anonymous writers, but your correspondent, “ Ratepayer,” requests that I should shed some light on the Band question (i.e., why I failed to make a success of the Band). I think this is such a matter of public interest that I wi’ 1 . crave your indulgence and ask for space to reply. The old adage that out of evil cometh good may be applicable and it may be the means of the formation of a successful musical organisation. Before I proceed with the Band question I must thank “ Ratepayer ” for his compliment, viz., that I have mude a success of my saddlery business. I have achieved this success by minding it and I am son/ I cannot return the compliment (“ Ratepayer ” certainly does not mind his own business). I am afraid his tongue is stronger than his well head. And now about Band, I will be as brief as possible. There was a Band in existence when I located in this town, and if I remember I helped them at a couple of performances, Mr Lawn being Bandmaster. When this gentleman took up his residence at Waikino the position was offered and accepted by me, (remuneration nil). We had four or five decent practises and then the enthusiasm of the members seemed to wane. It may have been inability or want of knowledge on my part or that the pupils knew more than their master; suffice to say the older members were not satisfied to practice the class of music that the Besses of the Barn, the Wanganui Band, and all the best contesting bands of the world practice. I refer to scales and beautiful music ”ke “ Lead Kindly Light,” sonorous and tone producing. They decided to resign, and then I started a school of young boys but the instruments were really not fit to learn on and perhaps I was not quite as enthusiastic as I might have been. Let me say that if we want a Band we will have to have a new set of instruments. Oh yes, about the Band room muddle, suffice to say that the Borough Council were 'supposed, I say supposed to take this matter in hand. Let it rest—it is like the body of Rastus. And now “ Ratepayer,” I have a proposition to make: you are not, I hope, a strawman, I will conduct the Band free of charge (the Waihi band pay their conductor £BO per annum) or if another man is engaged will play and help, and I will do my utmost to reorganise and resusitate the Band; and if you are game enough to guarantee £lO towards or rather to form the neucles of an instrument fund, I will find the same amount. But be a man, and in future do not shoot from behind the hedge; come into the open and I will work with you to push along our little town. Re the Carnival, Ido not pose as manager. I had the honor to be associated with Messrs Rove, Jobnson, and Wallace as collectors, and there as far as I know at present my efforts end. The Carnival will be managed by a committee of our Te Aroha business men, and “ Ratepayer,” why will men like yourself always detract ? Whatever I do for Te Aroha (feeble though my efforts) I do for the benefit of the community, and I want every man, woman and child to participate at Carnival time, to be happy and have a good time, a week of fun, and to onr shopkeepers a week of profit. Before I close j ust a word about street blocking : I would be pleased to see our street lined with vehicles, so j much so that we would have to secure the services of the police to regulate the traffic. Instead of discouraging the farmers coming to town let us (rather even if there be slight inconveniences) encourage them not only to visit but to depend, on to lean on ns, and when the farmer is oonvinted that we want him and that he can deal with us to as much advantage as Auokland, then Sir, will our beautiful town be (as it should) the hub of the Thames Valley, the Mecca of New Zealand. —I am, etc., Tsos. Donovan.

I forgot to mention that I would like to have the names of young men who would be willing to join a Band. T,D,