BANDS AT LOGGERHEADS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 35, 6 March 1909, Page 6

BANDS AT LOGGERHEADS.

HAWEKA AND MANAIA COMBINATIONS. ALLEGATIONS OE JEALOUSY. The Waimate Wiit'ness printed the following' paragraph on Wednesday:— "Petty jealousy marked the relations between the Hawera and Manaia Bauds at the Hastings contest, the former being the aggressors and descending to schoolboy conduct. If they accomplished nothing else the band was out to give Manaia a licking. They were singularly quiet after the Quickstep results were made known and Ilawera were last on the list. But their buoyancy swelled tremendously when Manaia was left in tlie rear in the lirst contest, and liawera 1 bandsmen strutted about the streets in a vain ell'ort to taunt local players with j the poor showing made. It was again a I diU'erent tale after the second test, I when Manaia made a good recovery and , reached fourth place in the aggregate points. On the return trip the three Taranaki bands stopped at. Palmcrstou, over Sunday, and a sacred concert was arranged by the liawera band to be given by "'visiting" bands. Manaia was not asked to take part, and liawera and Stratford occupied the rotunda during Sunday afternoon. The public showed their appreciation by contributing the liberal sum of fourteen shillings and sixpence On the way down to Hastings Jlawera band played at \Voodville and >,cooped in a whole twenly-four shillings. Apparently well rewarded ; the public are critical." ANOTHER SJDK OE Till-: QUESTION. The foregoing paragraph was brought under the notice of Mr Urwin, conductor of tiie liawera band (says the Ilawera Star.) Mr Urwin said that right from the time Manaia Band reached Hastings lhie:ir members had be,en "talking at top'' —boasting how they were going to beat the bands there, including Stratford and Ilawera. The consequence was, continued Mr Urwin, that there was not a single hand who would have anything at all to do with them, including Stratford and Ilawera. They would not reeog'niteo Manaia in any way just on account of their "talk." While travelling home the same thing occurred. "When we reached Palmer»lon North," said Mr Urwin, u .Manaia was approached as- to whether they would sign a paper asking lor a special train right through to Taranaki to get home on Monday morning, Manaia replied that all their arrangements were made." Referring to the statement in regard to the Sunday afternoon concert at Palmerston North, Mr Urwin said the facts were briefly these : —"Stratford came to huu asking it he would lend them a few players or join in to give a concert. Mr Urwin replied 4 No, I don't think it advisable, but if the boys are willing I don't mind giving you a little assistance.' Only lour of the Ilawera hoys played with the Stratford band." Mr Urwin said that Stratford, and not Ilawera originated the concert As to Manaia not being asked, Mr Urwin said that not under any circumstances would they have asked Manaia for their assistance. "As to their talking about ius," continued the conductor, '* we beat them in the march j {in music), and we heat them in the test | selections in music. Wc held the honors |in music according to the judge. We played our own members, while Manaia 1 played several people who did nofc belong to the band, including one from Ka- | ponga, one from Hamilton, and one from Opunake. Their drum-major was imported, while Mr McLeod, an A grade conductor, coached them in the practiceroom. Of course, as the public know, we played our own boys, the majority of whom I have taught—some very, very recently. 55 Concluding, Mr Urwin said with a glance at the paragraph from the Witness : "This sort of thing was uncalled for ; if any band has been good to another, Ilawera has been good to Manaia. We have given them assistance more than once, even to the extent of lending players and instrument?!."