THE BAND CONTEST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 296, 14 December 1901, Page 2

THE BAND CONTEST.

[TO THK IDITOK.] Sir,—l am sorry that Mr New*!}, hon. secretary of the Garrison Band, should h&vo thought i*. neo-ssary to dispute the sta'emants in my letter of the 11th, If he h«d adopted the more geaerouo course of aooepting my assurance of the goodwill towards the suoom of the contest his action would bavt tended to promote the good failing which should exist between the two lo.'al bind*. I need nt reply at length to Mr Newell's statements, hut would remark that it was not decided to M 4 the contort in New Plymouth until after tha replies to the Augu»tciioilar had. been receive!. As saon as decision was made we determined without hesitati-m to an is . We did not reply to that circular b«cMiM w» could mike no satisfactory, answer.* For nearly a year we had been without a professional bandmaster and had been "going easy," consequently we did not — feel fit for competition even in & quartet. In the early stages of tb* movement to bold the oontwt here, w» felt tnat we oould not do anything Aet would greatly help the matter forward. Having no wealthy members in oar body we thought that the decision should be lefb to. those who will |hin |to " pay the piper." I cannot beliere that Mr Me well hoaestly thinks thut our open sir concert on the evening uf ' the second preliminary meeting pto?»* (our indifference, or that eitba> ksor we thought it would interfere with tt« ' meeting. We are not in the Associ - tioa because we are not a brasj b»oj ( |and are cut off from the prinoipHl I benefit of membership. The few shil- : lings which we might hare paid in subscription and entranoe fees will he muoh missed, and the priooipiu work of the ooate3t remains jot to bj j doiie. In thin we are quite willing to join, and to show in & perfectly practical manner our sympathy with iheproIject ond our ability (or inability) a■ bandsmen. —I am, etc., I H, M. SooTHAK, Bon. Sec. N. P. Town Band.