GISBORNE CITY BAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2625, 6 October 1909, Page 7

GISBORNE CITY BAND.

ANNUAL MEETING

The thirty-second annual meeting of the Gisborne City Band was held in the Cosmopolitan Club last evening. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. I). Lysnar) presided, and a large number of members and sympathisers were present. The Committee presented the following report:—“Your Committee, in submitting the 32nd annual report and balance-sheet of your band, have much pleasure in congratulating the members on the great strides made musically during the last 12 months. During the year the band attended the annual contest at Hastings, and for the first time in the band’s history secured third place, very few points being between first and third places. Although third in the contest, this position was very satisfactory, considering the circumstances under which your band had to work, having lost the best part of its practices through engagements. Although the financial affairs of the band are still not very satisfactory, they are in a much better position than at this time last year. It was necessary for the band to attend the contest in order to keep un the interest of its members. With this object in view it was also necessary to obtain engagements and sufficient money from the public to enable your band to undertake the trip. Messrs J. Townley and W. Webb kindlv undertook the task of collecting £4O, the band finding the other £4O by engagements and also by members’ subscriptions amounting to £l4. Considering that something like £4O had to come out of your band’s funds, and that a considerable number of old accounts have been wiped off, we think that the financial affairs are much more satisfactory than they have been for some years past, as will be shown by the statement of receipts and expenditure. Conductor: As stated in your previous reports, your band is to be congratulated’ upon still retaining the services of Mr. A. E. Lawrence as conductor. as was proved at the Hastings contest. Considering the material the conductor had to work upon, he is to be doubly congratulated upon the musical stand the band has obtained. The band’s thanks are greatly due to him for the tuition the members individually have recived imder his baton- Instruments: The oresent instruments in use by the members of the band are in a deplorable state, and before the band thinks of attending another contest a new set will have to be obtained, to place your band on the same footing as other bands in regard to instruments. To attain this object your Committee have decided to have a monster Curio and Industrial Exhibition in a few weeks’ time. It is to be' hoped that the members one and all will do their utmost to make this exhibition a financial success. An influential public committee is being formed to assist in the carrying out of our exhibition, and unless the members operate in assisting these gentlemen, the success of such a gigantic undertaking will be doubtful. It is to be hoped, therefore, that there will be no hesitation amongst the members in giving their valuable assistance. Public performances and parades: During the past year your band have appeared before the public on 22 different occasions, which is very satisfactory. Your band have on all occasions tried to give the public interesting programmes, and it is to be regretted. that more public interest is not taken in the band’s work. Thanks: The thanks of your band are due to those gentlemen who during the past year have donated to the funds of the band, viz., Messrs It. S. Chilton, A. H. Wallis, J. T. Evans, J. Casey. J. J. Martin, AV. D. Lysnar, AY. A. Barton, L. McGonigal, Cl P. Davies, J. Townley, Rev. Dawson Thomas, and Captain 0. H. Evans, and all those who generously assisted the Christmas carols and contest funds. The thanks of your band are also due to Mr. R. H. Clark and his company for his great effort on our behalf. Although Mr. Clark’s entertainment was not a financial success, this was not his fault, but was due to the lack of interest shown bv the members in the sale of tickets. Should Mr. Clark and his company decide to put on any further entertainments, it is to be hoped that the members will show greater appreciation of his valuable services. The thanks of your band are also due to the very valuable services rendered by Mr. H. Piper at the Hastings contest, and we are pleased to hear that Mr. Piper is likely to be here again in time for the next contest. Mr. James Cbrisp has also to be thanked for the valuable assistance he has rendered to the band as a player. The annual challenge football match between your members and the members of the r ire Brigade took place on September 9t<n, and resulted, after a most interesting and humorous game, in a draw, both sides winning. During the same evening a most enjoyable smoke concert was held, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Your hand is under a deep debt of gratitude to the members of the Brigade for again generously donating the proceeds of the maten towards the band’s funds. In conclusion. your Committee wish to thank your officers and members for their assistance in carrying out the different duties allotted to them. They would impress upon your members the necessity for assisting the conductor by attending practices as regularly as possible. It is impossible for your band to reach the ton of. the tree unless strict attention is paid to this impo tant part of their duties. The retiring Committee beg to extend their best wishes to their successors for the coming year, and trust members will ao their utmost to assist them m every showed that the Band had an overdraft at the bank or £166 12s Id, but the assets amounted to £593, being £312 Is 6d over liabilities. The Teport and balance-sheet were adopted on the motion of Mr. G. Douglas, seconded by Mr. P. Morris. The Chairman complimented the members of the Band on what they had done during the year. The position they had taken at the Hastings contest showed that the conductor, Mr. Lawrence, was doing good work. Ihe fact that their instruments were not good was to he deplored, and he hoped the curio exhibition would be successful, and enable them to get new instruments. It was necessary thot the public should aid the Band, as the borough could not sufficiently do so. He also hoped they would reduce their debt. Mr. J. Townley said that as far as the public were concerned the Band did not get sufficient support, and -■<> had felt many times that it was & P l *? that men who gave such benefit to the public should receive so little support. Proportionally, the Band had been better supported' 30 years ago. As regards amalgamation, he thought the Band had done wrong, and the best thing they could do would he to drill, out of it. Messrs J. R. Kirk, C. H. Ambridge E. R. Miller, and A. Lawrence also spoke on the position of the Band. Officers were elected for the enduing year as follows:- —Patron, His Worship

I v 'the Mayor (Mr. AY. D. Lysnar); presi- ", dent, Mr. J. Townley; vice-presidents, I Revs. L. Dawson Thomas and Father , Lane, Captains Beere and Cl Hellier Evans, Messrs J. It. Kirk, C. J. Hamilton, M. L. Foster, AV. A. Barton, S.M., J. T. Evans,, A. 11. AYallis, J. J. Martin, AV. L. Clayton, G. Darton, C. H. Ambridge, W. Webb, Jas. Brown, It. S. Chilton, L. McGonigal; auditor, Captain Beere; chairman, Mr. E. R. Miller; inner secretary, Mr. J. McConnell; treasurer, Mr, F. C. Wilkinson ; librarian, Mr. E. Spurdle; bandmaster, Mr. E. Miller; drum-major, Mr. Renwick; band sergeant, Mr. F. Albrecht; corporal, Mr. AV. Faulkner; lance-corporal, Mr. AV. Dayman; committee, Messrs F. Albrecht, A\ r . Harris, P. Morris, Geo. Douglas, E. Spurdle; press correspondents, Messrs F. Wilkinson and B. Sebire.

Votes of thanks were passed to members of the past committee and officebearers, to Mr. E. Spurdle, the oldest meber of the Band, who has been in the band for 22 years, to Mr. F. Quigley, past inner secretary, for the great interest he had taken in the Band, to the committee of the Cosmopolitan Club, and to all who had assisted in any way. Mr. A. Lawrence, conductor of the Band, and Mr. E. R. Miller, bandmaster, thanked the members of the Band for all they had done during the year, and after several suggestions had been made, the meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.