CITIZENS' BAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1916, Page 8

CITIZENS' BAND.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Citizens' Band was held in the Town Hall last night, when the Mayor (Air. C. H. Burgess) presided over a good attendance. The annual report, which was adopted, stated: —In presenting the annual report ioi 1915, your committee have much pleasure in informing you that the prospects of the band never looked brighter. This is mainly due to your committee having secured Mr. M'Leod as bandmaster. Mr. M'Leod has only had charge for the last five weeks, and the marked improvement augurs well -for the future of the band. Mr. M'Leod lias been engaged at a salary that is a considerable increase on previous salaries /paid by the band, and your committee will therefore have to rely upon the generosity of the citizens of New Plymouth to help them through. The financial position of the bjind at the present time is very satisfactory, there being a credit balance ol about £141; this will suffice to carry on for a few months. In the meantime your committee intend to make a systematic canvass for honorary members, and trust that they will meet with the support the object deserves. Unfortunately, owing principally to the war, the I earnings of the band have been considerably reduced of late, and as the expenses for the next year are estimated at about £25(1, and the revenue at about .t'ino. there will be a deficiency of £l5O that the citizens will be asked.to make up. Your committee wish to draw your attention to the fact that the band is continually playing': for patriotic and ether purposes free of charge, and also that, out of last year's Christmas carol takings half the proceeds (viz., £8'18s) were donated to the patriotic fund. The bandmaster reports, that he has had numerous applications for the band's services for patriotic purposes of late, and he ha-s very reluctantly had to refuse some owing to his not'having had Hifiicient time to prepare the band for concert plaving. Your committee would kindly ask the indulgence'of the citizens for at least three, month?, when Bandmaster M'Leod trusts that he will be in a position to fulfil all requests. He also reports that he has a promising Juvenile Band of about 1« member-, w'.o are showing great enthusiasm. Your com> mittce report having received from the trustees a new set of Hawke's silverplated instruments and new uniforms complete, which have been served out to tne members of the hand and are now in t se. Y'ortr eommitte" have, during the past year, advertised for players, and have received some excellent applications I from all parts of the Dominion, but, unfortunately, it was found impossible to procure suitable employment at the time, and in consequence your .committee' were unable to improve the band for this reason. Your committee is still in tench with these men, who only await word that employment is guaranteed, . vhen they will hasten to get here. The retiring officers are: President, Mr. 0.. YV. Browne (resigned); hon. auditor, Mr. A.< .f. Tunbridge; secretary, Mr. H. R. Cattley; hon. treasurer, Mr! E. L., Humphries; committee, Messrs. E. Sole (chairman), A. Milne, E. "Whittle and the Rev. Evans (elected by the eitizfs), Messrs., C. Ward and" E. L. Humphries (Borough Council nominees), Messrs. F. Coleman, V,'. C'oulthardt, P. Brooks and A. Wiley (c'cctcd by the band). Tli"; following officers were elected: Patron. His Worship the Mayor; president, 7.tr. li. Cock; 'vice-presidents, Messrs. G. W. Browne, A. Hooker, A. S. Brooker, E. Sole, and Archdeacon E.ans; committee, Messrs. A. Milne, C. Bond, P. Wiiite, and J. McLeod (citizens' representatives), W. Coulthard, P. Brooks, J. Jenkins, and P. Coleman (bandsmen's- representatives). The Porough Council's representatives have to be elected. Mr. H. R. Cattley was elected secretary, and Mr. E. L. Humphries treasurer. It was decided to recommend the committee to bring down rules and to make provision to give voting,.powers to 'he president and vice-presidents. It was further decided to register the band.