The Daily News, MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1903. TARANAKI GARRISON BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 15, 19 January 1903, Page 2

The Daily News, MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1903. TARANAKI GARRISON BAND.

Our attention his been called to the fact that-, in view of the Taranabi Garrison Band attending the forthcoming annual contest at Mastercon, tbo band iB in urgent need c-f fund<. At the last contest many of tlu 1 andwhich visited New Plymou h r.ceived very substantial financial assistance from various sources. We cannot expect our bandsmen to be able to travel without similar help, a*d we truv | the public will recognise this. From information supplied by the secretary, we learn that tke ,£l4O received by the band last year from tho Bind Contest « • pruvMu* fcontestß the Tarauaki Band lost points through having old so'dmd up instiumeots. Tbe band now has a compete *-t of Beeson's Class A instrum'ents, which arj recognised by all leading authorities as the best, and to be nee- s sary to put them on a level fating witt oiher binds for coutest work, bui the> have rat the band £4OO. This has bee. serious draw on the resourc s (f th. a b-ind, besides which the ordiDa-y cx of the band have to t e met. A a Garrison capita'ion is receive from Government; but the amoun re-eiud goes in payment of the silan ot the bandmaster, and the membe-s J Nig baud als® contribute Is per week which about pays interest, gae, am I buying new music. Being a Gar rison Band there are difficulties ii the way of its accepting eng* gema nt at public functions. It has, hewever always given its services very free y ii support of many of our local institu tions, and very often plays outcfsi vening giving the public very et,j > y 'aM« music. During the past yea owing to the amount received from th< contest committee no call has bee! made on honorary members or the pub lie for assistance. Now, however, tha assistance is required and will bi heartily welcomed. With the view o raising funds, and to give the public ai opportunity of hearing the test selec tions it is, we understand, intended t< give a concert in the Theatre Royal This is a wise course, but it appears t< us that the band might go furthe; an la and give a musical evening h fach of the towns where a rifle corps i t stablished. All the corps in Tuunak belong to the Battalien, and the bin< is as much to them as to the head quarter companies", and we feel sun the corps in the various towns wou'( give the band a hearty welcome at( assist in contributing to the travellir , expenses of the band if a concert wai arranged. The visits would be made t< fit m with the company parades of thvarious corps, giving them an opp r tunity of marching out headed by thi -Battalion Band. Under the skilfu leadership of Mr Haigh, the band master, the band has mude great pro aud, as a young band, it has at

excel lent record, having secured a most creditable position at each of the two last band contests. We feel suru it would add to the intenst Tnranaki people would feel in the contest if tha band could s«e its way to visi', the various towns along the railway prior to their d- parturo f or Mesterton. during the next week or two the baud will iDvi-te donations to their contest fund, and will, we hope, receive a liberal response. j