THE GARRISON BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 26 February 1907, Page 2

THE GARRISON BAND.

Ni!W Plymouth people have rea.>jn I" l)C pleased, il lid tlu-y too, Willi vim performance put up In the Taranaki Garrison Band at tlij Inhibition Uaml Contest. Tliesi- was probably 110 other band there with tlic same percentage of young plnye:*, ami tin; positions gained" in tile lest selections and military contest were high.y creditable, more especially when it i.leinembcred tliat all tile cjmju'tir.e band* had taken extra pains in preparing for this exceptionally line contest, The playing of the local band was far beyond anyone's expectations. Tile music was far and away ahead o; anything heard at practice, the members evidently putting forth their best eliorts in order to avoid mistakes an I attain that full baud tone that must be reached. Apart fTom the performance of our representatives, the contest was a remarkable one. diluting to a ".News" reporter, Bandmaster JlcCoiinell said that the playing was superb. The music submitted by thai marvellous combination, the Wangarui Garrison Band Bandmaster Ciiriehton, was perfect., and far beyond lexpectations. The public wens' elc vatcdi, pleased, enthusiastic, and tin" bandsmen in many instances entranced. "II was an education to our boy*, am! to all of them," said Mr McComiell, who ventured the opinion that New Zealand would not see such a contesi again for very many years.

Returning to the performance of th.' Taranaki Gurrislon Bafod Mij McDonnell quoted the remark of Mr King, one of the judges, who said Ihe imiftic given was it totally different thing to that which he had had to give them points for in Ilawera. The band, in liia opinion, had improved beyond all reason. Addressing the bandsmen at ('hristchureh, -one of the judges stated that he was surprised at the great efficiency of the New Zealand bands whica he placed far ahead of those of oui sister colony, New South Wales. All but two were really first-class hand*. He had been told before coming to the colony that the band* were beftter than those on the other side, bnl be was somewhat sceptical about this until he had listened to the bands. He stated that during the contest he had listened to some, of the finest Irnus band music he had heard in his l!S year's experience, and that the brass bands of this colony would compare more than favourably with those of any other colony in this part of the world.

The points scored by Taranaki in tli? military contest were:— Dressing 7, steadiness (10) li, general appearance 7, steadiness (1(1- (i, general appearance (]()) 10, forming marching order (10) !). cleanliness of instruments (20) 10. inarching and halt (45) 33 1 /., counter marching (20) lS'/i, turning (20) 17'/; wheeling (5) 4, time (20) 20, paces (2(i) lit, music (liO) 52, possible 2UO; marks obtained 218%. It is it will he noticed that points were lost in "steadi' ni'ss," accounted lor by the curiositj of one member, ivho3q eye followed the judge as lie passed along, and in "cleanliness of instruments," due. to one faulty piece of brass. It is intorcst'ng to that Taranaki beat Wauganui, 'the. winning band in time and counter-marching, and scored equal points for general appearances and paces, whilst Wanganui only beat them by three points for music. Drum iinjor lister and Bandmaster JlcOoniteli ure justly proud of their "ineivri..

Tlic hand was not very comfortably domiciled in the Government retreat. Them were six or seven bands ill 'the building, and some of tlie members of these turned night into clay, rubbing 1 lie others of their sleep.