AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 289, 1 December 1908, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

THE "KILTIES'' iij.Vl). Tlic famous Scottish-Canadian liand. Die "Kilties" wili give two concerts i.i Now Plymouth on Thursday, This baud, considered to be the lines t military (brass and revd) band in tlic world, has already aroused unprecedented interest and enthusiasm. The .Sydney Town Hall is a capacious building, holding nearly four thousand people, yet on the "Kilties'" opening night, over a thousand would-be auditors were turned away disappointed, as the Town Hall authorities were forced to stop the sale of seats. Every night during the "Kilties'"' season large numbers were unable to gain admittance, ami the Sydney experience is being repeated nightly" in Xew Zealand. The band originated with the 48th Highlanders of Toronto, and numbers 40. It include* the celebrated Clan Johnstone 'troupe of dancers and pipers, one of whom, Albert Jolra.slone, is tliu champion piper of the world. The entertainment will be novel, because, in addition to stirring band music (brass and reed), well-known airs of Scotland. England, and Ireland, are sung by a choir of 20 voices, and'the national danees of Great Britain are performed by champions. All the members of the liaud wear Highland costume, and lbstreet parades are always headed by two giant drum-majors, each over seven feet in height and magnificently proportioned. During the past eight years the band has vi-ited everv part of the Tailed States, Canada. .Mexico, a,id the 1 nited Kingdom. At the Crystal Palace it had a record attendance on the opening night of 17(1,000. At the Albert llall, Ijondo-,], it played to record business for a fortnight, and was commanded to appear before the King and Queen at Balmoral, his Majesty wearing kilts on the occasion, and prcse iting the band willi the Third Victorian Medal. Six weeks afterward-,, the " Kilties '' were summoned by the King to Sandringliani, on the occasion of the celebration of his birthday, at which many royalties were present. On this occasion the conductor was presented by his .Majesty with a costly inscribed baton. Ih,. nialine'e performance in Xew ['lyniouth should be a particularly brilliant function, in which the kiltie'will In. assisted In- leading Tarailaki brass bands and all the local pipers.