To the Editor of the "Norru-Cuina Dairy News."
Sir,—The report on the Band appearing - in the Municipal Budget for the current year claims that, having an up-to-date "Jazz Band," the music provided for the Friday dances in the Town Hall is very satisfactory, etc.
In this connexion, one has only to visit the Town Hall on a Friday to realize that the stuff put up by the Band is "something awful" in the words of many who are accustomed to hear other "Jazz" bands in town. I would suggest that the Band Committee appoint some suitable person to give us his opinion on the matter.
Further, it must have disappointed many at the inspection of the Volunteers by Marsha! Joffre when the Band began to strike up "La Marscillaise," to say nothing of its attempt at "Tipperary" ete. The performance was a joke and an agony to those that were present, and that same a) that was played again and again during the marching past would probably have caused either Souza or Pryor to collapse with convulsion that would be beyond medical aid, had either of them heard the march that was being pityed that morning. It a pity that such a splendid display by our worthy citizen soldiers should have been so sadly marred by a highly expensive band that could not, even on a special occasion, play a simple march as well as some Chinese brass band, such as is often heard at the Kiangwan Races for instance. Indeed, it is lamentable that Shanghai having given our distinguished visitor a good impression ofts greatness, actually allowed that gang of musicians to give the show away of some of our defects as a modern city.
In conclusion, I would like to ask what is the use of a band costing the Ratepayers something like Tls. 100,000 annually that can only put up a moderate show even in symphony concerts in which only a comparatively few are interested?
Tam, ete., Cricket.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.