North Island Brass Band Association.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1902, Page 2

North Island Brass Band Association.

FIFTH ANNUAL CONTEST. GENERAL MEETING. ; Following are particulars of business done at the fifth atmual general meeting on Tuesday evening last. The following bands were represented : Wanganui, New Plymouth, Ruahin*-, Palmerston North, Denniston, Masterton, Napier, Nelson, Kaikorai, North Eist Yalley, Newtown, Wellington, and others. Mr Maurice Oohen (president) was in the obair. Tha minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed.

The balance-sliest, presented by Mr A. J. Bennett, the treasurer, showed a credit balance of .£33 12s 65, and was adopted.

The ekction of officers resulted in tha re-election of—Patrons, His Excellency the Earl of Rmfurly ; Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P. 0.. L.L.D;; R. D. D. McLean, Esq. President, Mr Maurice Oohen. Executive Council, Messrs 0. H, Aldredge (Masterton), D. Chftrker (Palmerston North), W. Thompson, H. Cummins (Newtown, Wellington), W. Hill, J. Sherwin (Petone), Lieutenant Herd, A. Baker (Wellington), A. E. Laurence (Woodville), and J. Lawn (Stratford). Auditors, Messrs A. J. McDonald and S. J. Davis (Wellington). Treasurer, Mr A. J. Bennett (re-elected). Secretary, Mr Frank .T. Oakes (re-elected). The locality for the next contest was not settled upon, but the secretary was instructed to write to Auckland and ascertain what support would be given by citizen* and bands in the event of th» contrst being hi Id there.

The contest selec ion« for next contest are to be supplied by Messrs K. Smith "and Confpiny, London, and Boosey and Compuiy, London, and tbe march from Mr C. Truss dl, Nelson. The president, Mr Miurico Cohen, congratulated the Association on the success of its efforts, and hoped thit the present contest would be the success it deserve 1 to be.

The meeting then adjourned til next contest.

EUPHONIUM 80LOS. Following are the results of the competitioDs on Friday afternoon : - W. Stains, Denniston .. .. 80 A. Martin, Wanganui .. 80 S. Groaning, Petone .. .. 79 J. Flint, North East Yalley .. 78 J. A. O'Brien, Dunedin Navals .. 77 P. Toombs, Palm era ton North ~ 74 W. Bevan, Granity Orerk .. 72 R. Dighton, Waipawa .. .. 66 T. Gray, Wanganui .. .. 65 A. Don, Gisborne .. .. 65 A. V W. Russell, Masterton .. 64 John Cosgrove, Waipawa .. 60 T. B. Booth, Hauraki .. .. 59

J FINAL TEST SELECTION. ' J Notwithstanding the early hour of 5.30 at which tan fin»>l tes" selection J competition was announced to start, there was a fairly lirge number present, several of whom during the 8 wait before an actual start was made filled in the time by reading, there ® being ample daylight to allow this. Meanwhile the bands were drawing 9 for the order of playing, the resulS being that Granity Greek started the evening's entertainment, then came Waihi, Taranaki, Ruahine, Wanganui, Denniston, Masterton, Palmerston, 1 Hauraki, Dunedin Navals, North East; 8 Valley, Wellington, and Kaikorai, By the time the first had finished a considerable addition was made to the numbers p-ese-t, a> d by 7.30 the hou-e ' was piauticaliy crammed in every part ® —many having either to stand or go away. Every available seat was brought into requi«iiion, even the part allotted to the orchestra at ordinary entertainments being filled. As the evening wore on the gangways began * to be crowded, and shorty after midnight, when the last bind had oim--3 pleted its work and the bandsmen ' poured into the main building, there was a closely packed miss of hu- " mani'y patiently awaiting the judge's 1 verdict on the test pi®c>. During the long wait that ensu-d aft»r the Mayor and Mr Cjhen had upok n, t he repressed spirits of the noisy put of the audience burst forth in the usual harmless way. r The Mayor, on behalf of the Contest Committer, siid it was very gratifying to be able to announce that the receipts iu connection wi'h the me>ting were over 4700 and close upon 41000. He had to thank those who subscribed at * the start, and also the guarantors; i but thanks to iho arrangements made r with the olerk of, the weather the | financial re<u'>ts wer« highly satisfaos tory, aiid he only hoped that the re- , suits, from a musical point of view, ? were equally satisfactory to the competirors. Hh announced that the . committee had decided that in cases of ( br ickated winners bath should receive l medals; and to encourage young solo-' ; ists the committee bad arrangfd to * presanc the most deserving with , medals, The oommittee most heart ly i thanked the Associa'ioo, and particui lorly the secretary, Mr Oaken, for all . the assistance rendered to them in bringing the contest to a succaesful issue. In fact the committee wished to thank everyone who had helped in that direction. His Worship concluded by introducing Mr Cohen, President of the Association. Mr Cohen, who met with a very cordial reception, said that he had b en : considerably em harassed by seeing a , local jn the evening paper stating that he wag to give an address tothu bandsmen. He dtsircd io think the .New Plymouth committer for a'l th-y had done to promote the success of the contest. He was quite sure the bandsman would carry away with them a pleas int recollection of their visit, and ha hoped the people of lWnalii would rememh r thai this contest was 1 a red lefct-i'd iv in the annald of tbe 1 Association More than that, the 1 standard of in mu-io set up at this oon v 6*t had no 1; previously ex in- 1 ted in the colony, and therefore in mire ' respects than one the meeting was a memorable one, and productive of grati- ' fyingresul s. Tha peop'e tf T.r naki * had been as< sting ii p noble work, which mus- tend 'o tbe ge>er.l good. r It was not likd jn the Old Country c whore traditional ile<S exited} here I we hac( to raalfo our own ideas. The diflf renoe butwadu the playing now and five years bick was unconce vable, 1 He pointed out several of the advantages attached to the cultivation of a '■ musical tasto in the community, and v finished his reoaarks umid gieat upplaus9. * t , At 0.40 a.m. the judge, Mr Ofcti 1 Schwartz, afipr thanking the Miyor h »nd 'he.commi teefor 'h e cour e.y and kindues* ex e ded to luui, uunounced ® tbe result of the test selections m t:

follows Wellington.. .. 128 IIJO 258 Wanganui .. .. 124 130 251 Kaikorai . . .. 123 130 253 Novth East Valley.. 119 ,130 249 Dann'.s'on .. .. 117 124 241 Durtedin Navals .. 126 111 237 Masterfcon .. .. 11l 122 233 Wailri .. ..124 98 222 Hanraki .. .. 115 105 220 Palmerston North.. 103 107 210 Ruahine .. ..105 92 197 Taranaki .. 99 78 177 Granity Cre'k .. 93 76 169 The points prize was won by Wanganui with 329 points. This carries off the OhallengA Shield and championship of the North Island Brass Band Association.

In connection with the final te*t selection, the judge said that everyone must admit that the playing that night was vary fine. Four bands had dope so well that he could not separate them, but had to eive them all an equal number of points.

Three hearty cheers were given for the Wellington Band. Mrs. Dockrill then presented th« prizes, each of the recipients being enthusiastically greeted. On Bandmaster Haigh coming forward with th« Denniston Bandmaster to receive third prize for the marching contest he met with a tremendous ovation.

Although the hour was so lat.e or rather so early in the mornin? the majority of the large audiencA stayed till all the proceedings were over.

Large number of bandsmen haviig to leave for home to-d«y the remaining solo competitions will not be hold. Competitors will have their entrance f«es returned on application to the secretary, Mr Morev.

The Mayor, entertained the members of the Contest Committee, judges, snd bandni'fiters at the Criterion Hotel last night, at a supper.