BRASS BAND CONTEST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 186, 19 August 1901, Page 2

BRASS BAND CONTEST.

If the people of New Plymouth wish to ste their town occupy a leading position amongst the towns' of the colooy there will be a large attendance at the meeting railed by the Mayor for this evening, The subject to be dis cussed is to make arrangements for the annual brass band contest. Las!; year the contest was held in Wanganui and the people of that pretty rivr-eide town made the affair an imraersi success. The band contest is the event of the year in musical circles and is growing in importance. Verygrtat pressore is always brought to bear oa the Executive of the Band Association by towns anxious to have the contest held in their midst and in deciding to come *o New Plymouth they have conferred a distinction on tlr's town which should be highly appreciated. It is expected that 6ome fourteen bands will attend the contest this year, so Ithatvthe public of Taranaki have a treat in store which we venture to Fay'

is unprec?deated in the history of the colony. In addition it is pretty certain that the two champion binds will meet in New Plymouth. The Wellington B id holds, we balieve, an unbeaten rcord, at anyrate in this colony, bub for some reason was nnable to appear in Wanganui last y";tr. The Wanganui Band, which Hd always taken a creditable position, won tha championship Wellington, howevsr, still claim that they have not been beaten, and th»question will be decided at New Plymouth. For this rt son, together with the large number of bands attending, this ontest is being lookei forward to with exceptional interest, Independently of the pleasure a crates; of this kind must aflord, such an influx of visitors must benefit the town, and if a strong and energetic committee is appointed, and an attractive pro gramme arranged, no difficulty should b9 experienced in making the affair a financial success. Taranaki naw contains a population of 37,000 people, a considerable number of whom are within easy access to New Ply mouth by road or rail. Aucklaud :')sj is so near, and as several bauds are coming from there a considerable contingent of visitors may be expected by steamer, as, no doubt,'excursioo fares and extra steamers cau be arranged. There is no doubt the creditable position taken by the New Plymouth Garrison (then the City) Band at the Wanganui contest largely influenced the decision of the executive committee in fixing upon New Ply-1 mouth for the next coyest. With two loml bands to - assist in fixing up tha arrangements there should not be much difficulty. In the past there hss been a great deal of rivalry between the two local bands, and a healthy rivalry is a good thing; but we hope both bands will pull together to make the contest a success, With a population in the town and suburbs of over 6000, there is plenty of room for two or three, or even more, bands, and the contest should be a help ta the locel 'bands in educating the public to the value of maintaining good bands in their midst. In Wanganui, as is the case everywhere, the financial question > was at first the difficulty; bu; being boldly faced by earnest men it not only disappeared, but the contest there resulted in a profit to the committee <>l i management of £175 0s lOd. What was done in Wanganui can be in New Plymouth if the matter is tak'.u up warmly, earnestly and courageously.