North Island Brass Band Association.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 67, 12 March 1902, Page 2

North Island Brass Band Association.

FIFTH ANNUAL CONTEST. |« ' i RECEPriON AND GARDEN PARTY. 11 | A UECOBD GATHERING. ' ] Although the weather in the early ■ part of Tuesday was somewhat dull, the looming clouds were high, and people took heart, for they felt sure that a fine day would favour the opening of the Band Contest. From an early hour in the day many from a distance must have made a start and a constant succession of traps loaded with visitors was io be met with on nil the roads leading to towu. The nwrning train from south arrivtd late owing to nn unfortunate fatal accident to a drive:. It brought in a vtry large number of visitors from Hawera and upwards, and the scene at the station wns one of unusual animation at that time of day. As the luncheon hour arrivad the various places of refreshment were thronged with a hungry crowd, but in time all were satisfied and were then prepared to give themselves ' up to the enjoyment of the musical and spectacular treat that awaited them in the aflertoon, , THE PAEA.DE. At 1.30, the 'ime fixed for the bands: to parade at a dense crowd had collected, but ample room was left wherein Captain Taunton, could marshal the tends into their j respective place*, an operation which I he carried out with considerable skill j and Hpp:<io<:fc oasf. Shortly after the appointed time a start was made tor ih« Rec • :ti us Grounds, bands marchit g in iiiplu' etical order. The De:>ciston men led off playing " Wicsford " j the Dunedin Navals were placed next, | but '-vere not- present; then came j Granit' Omk, playing a protty march;! Hat) ;du (Kit Popbnu), Kaiko-ai (Tha Hevc lor), Masterton (Don Quix-1 ote), North E s>. Valley (Activity), Ruahiue ( Torpedo), Waihi (Lifebore), Wanganui (Heart's Delight), Wellington (The Durhams), and last of all the Taranaki Garrison (Waggon Hill). Crowds of people liDod the route, theie being a particularly large concourse at the corner of Liardet-street and a constant moving throrg from there to the rendezvous. It wbs a pretty sigh 1 ', and what wi' h the stirring strains of the music, the rhythmi tread of tha men *nd the cons'aut change of colours in the moving masses, this living picture was one of tho memorable features of th i day, IN THE GBOUNDS. On arriving at the Recreation Grounds, the bands were marched to tho space around the Rotunda, It was heie. that one of the chief features of the programme was carried out, namdy, % -the official welcome by the Mayor to the visiting bands. Grouped around the rotunda were the different bands ; behind th«s9 :md in all t)-.e space contiguous to tho central p ujt was a <i<n?e mass of humanity. Iu Tripoli wiiH the lake, around which many of the visitors were strolling, while at the back the high mound wa« a grand picture of colour, .being throngod with a gaily dressed crowd from base to summit. In the distance wa3 the bridge, across which an e?erchangiug v sion of colour was manifest, and all arnuud were the beautiful palms, shrut;:, and trees shutting in the .->oone, ar.d accentuating the efieet caused by the vast concourse of people preset, t. It was a scene that to many of the visitors from a distance was a revelation. Never have the grounds bean seen to better advantage than, on Tuesday, and this was admitted on all sidei. THE WELCOME. It devolved on his Worship the Mayor, Mr E Djckrill, when all tho bands bad taken up their positions, to give an official welcome to those engaged in the contest. To address several hundred mon circled around the speaker is not an easy task for auyone, but his Worship was quite equal 10 the occasion, and acnutately voiced the feelings of his Fellow-townsmen. Addressing the memhe'S r.-f tb» Council of the North Island Brass Band Associsttion and the bandmasters and members of competing bands, the Mayor said that on behalf of tho people of this district he offered them all a hearty welcome. He was quite sure that every <affort would be made to ensure that the visitors would earry away with them pleasant recollections of their stay here. He trusted that the presence of so many emineot bands would hare a beneficial effect in advancing musical culture and would material increase the musical knowledge of the community. This, he c msiderer), was one of the aims of tho Assaciatioi: which was conducting th.'.S9 contests. Without wishieg to single out <>ny particular band for mention, hti felt bound to refer to Use pluck shown by the. Hauraki men who came to gain experience, .md no doubt at some future date they m'>ke their mark at one of those contests. It was a source of great gratification to the people of New Plyrnosith that the first contest held here was the' lirgtst that had taken place, and ha j congratulated tho Association on. tha fact that this large gathering showed that the efforts of tho executive were beiog widely upprcciated. He expressed a hop<3 that the Association would ' continue its gcod work until it ati ninwd \ the summit of its ambition. In co 1clusion, he wished the present contest hearty suwes-i. I» response to his Worship's call, threa hearty cheers ! were then given for' the bar>dr\ As soon as the cheeis hod subsided, the rotunda was cleared and the bands in turn played a livdy selection, hearty r nnnlinsp bein<* accorded at T.he con-!.'

elusion of all of the items, which wen as fo'lows: Denniston, " King Carnival." Dunedin Navals, " Rebecca Commanding." Granity Cre»k, " Drum and Trumpet." Hnuraki, "Under the Double Eagle.' Kaibovw, " Revenge." Masterton, " North Star." North East Valley, " Activity." Palrnf.rston North, " Reveller." Ruahin?, "Step Forwud." Waihi, " Distant Greeting." Wellington," 8.8. andC.F." (a very popular umrch at Horns). IVanaki, " Independent ia." During the afternoon the bandsmen and their friends were entertained in two tents, which were under thu charge of a very cipable and energetic ladies' committee, all the members of which certainly spared no trouble or p::ins to ensure that their guests should have a pleasant recollection of their reception here, and judging from the remarks made by several of the bandsmen they were greatly pleased with the attention they received. THE MASSED BANDS. As soon as possible after the last

if em hud been given in the Rotunda | the bands warn marched to the sports ground and there massed ill three sides of a squatfj Captain Tauntoii again successfully carrying oat the duties of marshal. Each band as it ' took up its allotted position was warmly 1 cheered as also was Lieutenant Herd on ' mounting a chair to conduct. It was •' a memorable seine, the thousands ' present, being ranged ir, masses on three sides of the ground, the terraces 1 being crowded and the rising ground on both sides well filled with an expectant throng waiting to hear a par- j formance which alone had attracted I many of those present from, long distances. And it was well worth the time and trouble spent in coming from one end of the colony to the other. As if to emphasise the sp'endour of the occasion the sun now burst forth and sh<d its radiance on tha scene. From the first bo*t of ihe conductor's ba'on in was evident he had the large nrmy of musici'ius well in hand and although the drums wire a little erratic at the start all the players settled down to thrir work with a zest that ensured a successful performance. As the grand ▼olume of sound rosa and fell on the air it was manifest that the audience enjoyed the treat which was all too 1 short for most of them, and when the sounds of the final chord died away there arose such an outburst of cheering as must have been gratifying to ! the performers. In spite of loud ! demands for an encore time would not permit and so with the memories of one of the most unique musical performances that has taken place in the | [colony fresh in their minds the vrst! j throng slowly melted away, carrying! j with them a conviction that i 'they were highly privileged in' having the opportunity to be pwseut i on such a memorable occasiou, and j thoroughly SAtiefied that no greater! treat has been off.red to this district; I than ihat which tiro op.niug day of the Bund Contest meeting had secured for them, and the most enjoyable feature of the proceedings had, like the good wine at the feast, been reserved till tho last. It is estimated that between five and six thousand poopld were present, and | it is satisfactory to kuow that the gate money amounted to the splendid total of £167, a record which it is hoped will be broken on Thursday next. THK CONTEST commenced at 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning, wheu the following competitions were decided. Babitone Solos. These wore played in the following order:— P. Dixon, Welington (Siigvogelchia) .. .. 77 W. Yeoman, Dunedin N avals (Gipsy Warning) .. .. 75 J. Doig, ICaikpiai(Vlid) .. .. 73 0. Forest, Wangmui (Nordische) 70 H. Flutt, Tarnnaki (Th .> Thorn) .. 69 J. McLean, Kdikorai .. .. 03 H. Baker, Wellington, ( VP ilderkehr) 62 Flugel Horns. J. Eades, Wellington (Edelwiss von Semmerung) .. ~ 75 N. Cooper, Denniston (Pilgrim of Love) 74 S. Greaves, Wanganui (Wedekehr) .. .. 66 B. W. Bird, Wellington (Une pale de L'Ocean) .. .. .. 63 D. Silkey, Petone (Will ye no come back again ?) .. .. 48 The evening was devoted to testing the merits of competitors in trio 3 and quartette*, as under:— Tkombone Tbios. Kiikorai, " A Summer Dry " .. 74 Master con, " The Lifeboat" 73 D»nniston, do. ... 71 Wellington, "Ye Mariners of England ".. .. .. 70 Wanganui, " The llad Cross Knight" .. .. ..69 N.E, Valley, "Suit I. (Haudel).. 68 Taranaki, " An Evening Song "64 Quaktettfs. Wellington No. 2, " Ri>nzi " 78 Kaikorai No. 1, " Rigeletto .. 78 Dunedin No. 1 " L u s Hugeaots " 77 Wuihi No. 2, do .. 77 Kaikorai No. 2, "Town and Ooun- I try" 77 j Wanganui No. 1, "Fidelio" .. 76! Wellington No. 1, do. .. 76 j Palmerston, " Turkish Drinking Song" .. .. .. 75' Denniston, " Town and Country " 741 Taranaki No. 2, "Parting Kiss" 741 Waipawa, " Oberon" .. ~ 731 Ruahine, "Don Pa«quale" .. 72 Masterton No. 2, " Clouds and Sunshine" .. .. 72 N.E. Valley, " Defiancs " .. 72 Waihi, No. 1 "II Trovatore," .. 70 Masterton, No. 1 "Santay Morgan," .. .. .. 70 Wanganui, No. 2 " Rienzi," .. 70 Masterton, No. 3 " Summer," .. 68 Wanganui, No. 3 " Town and Country," .. .. 68 Granity Creek, " Town and Country," .. .. 66 The smart appearance of the whole of the competing bands was so strikingly evident that it elicited loud praise, tho Hauraki men with their white uniforms and brilliantly uniformed drum major attracting marked attention. There were very good audiences at both the morning and evening performances, TO-DAY. At 9 ft.m. the solo competitions commence at tho Theatre Rcyal, and are continued at 2 o'clock. At 7.15 tbe first test pieces are to be playe), from Sullivan's Operas." A I record attendance at the Theatre is anticipated in the evening, when somi J exceptionally fine music is sure to be heard. AFTER THE BOYAL VISK. Aft MR exciting times the hearth of children requires very special looking after. That 1

5 ~..<= Kmm »= uiiina im me man, pnysicatl 6 as well a-? mentally, is one of those truth that can never be too often insisted upor and the thoughtful parent will be carefu above all to see that her child has the prope nourishment to establit-h its constitution A good constituiion is a rock on which alon. - success and strength can be built. Amon{ the various foods that science commend „ in these days for this purpose, oona holds s higher place than Nbavbs Food iron In D'antb and Invalids. Recording to tm les-; mertjoal testimony, and, what is per hnps better still, thu grateful testimony o thousands of happy mothers, this food con tains all the essential elements of strength and while it is pleasswit to tlw taste anc eagerly taken by children, it may also hi j used by persons of alt ages with decidec oenefit. ft is a bone-building, hoalth-sus , taining product that caniioc be too warmii recommended and we gladly add our word* t of praise to that of the numerous medica: i journals and experts that have recomraendci ( it Nbavb's Kood sh.-uld have a prominenl , place in the dietary of every house where there are children or invalids.—Advt ' AT THB BAH. i The greatest compliment ever paid to » . msjicino was that paid to Impioy's " May | Applb," when, during the recent Tariff 1: 0 - M's.H.R. testified openly in the House ' the ellicacy of this grsat remedy as guaruuteed cure for all Iver diosrders. At , oottle was subsequently presented to every member of the House, and Member* now peak in high terms of its coo effects, Al hemists nx>& stores *tcui u per bottle.— Advt,