A public meeting, convened by the Mayor, to consider the desirability of maintaining the Borough Band, was held in the Council Chambers on Friday evening, the Mayor (Mr Jensen), in the chair, who, in explaining the object of the meeting, said that he considered the Band was a useful and desirable institution, and should-be maintained, and he hoped someone present was prepared with a scheme for attaining the desired object, and that the matter would be enthusiastically taken up.

Mr Coverdale said he had met with such a large amount of sympathy in the matter, when getting the requisition signed, that he expected to see a much larger attendance at the meeting it was, however, the old story, "that the work was left to a few." When the Band was first started some six years ago, there was a tacit understanding that it was to be supported by annual subscriptions, the sum raised then only amounted to about £100, out of which.. material 'had; been, provided for. some 23 members, and had been vested in trustees., He then gave a resume of the career of the Band under a series of masters (which appeared to have been a somewhat chequered one), until, he said, accident brought the present bandmaster (Mr Harper), and he thought they now had the right man in the right place, and he was quite sure no better man could he found in the Colony. He (Mr Harper), however, found that he could not live on the small salary they had been paying him, and unless it was increased he would have to leave them; for the last two years no assistance had been asked from the public. During the last twelve months the band had earned (including some £15 balance from the previous year) £92 is 2d, out of' which they had to pay rent of hall, music, etc., as well as the bandmaster's salary, and they now found themselves with the sum of £1 15s 7d in hand. The Band had now arrived at such a state of efficiency, under Mr Harper's management, that they were qualified to perform sufficiently well to meet all local requirements. They had not perhaps done all that was expected of them by the public, but they had done all they could, and unless the public now came forward to assist them they would lose the services of the bandmaster, and then the band would collapse altogether. It was proposed to pay Mr Harper £2 per week, and in addition to this about £25 more would be required to pay necessary expenses. The amount earned by the Band was not sufficient to cover this, and they now asked the public for assistance. No pecuniary advantage had been gained individually by any of the men. Ho estimated that they could earn about £50 per annum and another £50 or £75 a year subscriptions from the public would keep the band afloat. He would like someone to suggest a scheme for raising the money:

Mr H. C. Staveley said the whole matter laid in a nutshell. Was the band to be supported or not? He thought it would be a very great pity to allow it to lapse, and as the, amount required was small, and so many rate payers took an interests in its welfare, a little concerted energy would meet the requirements of the case. He moved, "That in the opinion of this meeting the continuance of the band is highly desirable, and that subscription lists be now opened for the desired object. Seconded by Mr H. Luke.

Mr Barry suggested that the lists should be worded annual subscriptions, and further said that he considered the committee had displayed too much apathy in, the matter, as the working men, who ,would all give small subscriptions had been entirely tabooed in the matter, and the lists confined to Foster street and leading merchants.

Mr. Wise said as far as the apathy was concerned, he thought it lay on the side of the working men themselves, as none of them had ever attended their meetings.

Mr Topping thought the word " annual" should be omitted ; he knew from experience that the public in the matter of' giving subscriptions would not be bound to anything. At the same time, Mr Barry's remarks were worthy of consideration and a sufficiently large committee should be formed, that the town could be effectually canvassed. The motion was then put to the meeting, and carried.

The following gentlemen were appointed a committee of management for the ensuing year :-Messrs Wise, Jensen, Davies, Barry, Burrowes, Carruthers, Cheffins, Ross. and Dr. Reid; three to form a quorum.

Mr. Wise was re-elected Treasurer, and Mr Coverdale Secretary ; the latter gentleman being highly eulogised by Messrs Topping and Wise for the energy he had displayed in keeping the band alive so long. Mr Coverdale in acknowledging the compliment said that he would like to see a uniform provided for the band, as he believed it would be the means of cementing them together more, and the cost of providing the same would not amount to very much, and might be raised by means of a concert. There were vacancies in the band for a few more members which he would like to see filled up, all that was required of pupils, was that they should come regularly to practice.

A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business of the meeting, when this committee met to make arrangements about canvassing for subscriptions it was also decided that Mr Harper's salary should be £2 per week from the 1st of January last. A discussion then ensued it reference to uniforms. Mr Burrowes suggested that a series of cheep promenade concerts be given in the Victoria Hall, as a means of raising the required amount. It was eventually decided that the committee confer with the band and find out their views as to what kind of uniform they would like.

A very pleasing ceremony took place last evening at the Criterion Hotel, the occasion being the presentation to Mr Coverdale by the Sale Borough Band, of a large picture containing photographs of the members, the work of Mr F. Cornell, Foster Street, the portrait of Mr Harper, the bandmaster, occupying the centre of the group. About 18 gentlemen were present, and Mr Geo. H. Wise, the mayor of Sale, made the presentation on behalf of the band. The whole tone of the proceedings proved that the members of the band heartily recognised the importance of Mr Coverdale's services, and that they held that gentleman, personally, in the highest esteem.

The Mayor, who occupied the chair, said the band were desirous of making a presentation to Mr Coverdale, as a slight acknowledgment of the valuable services he rendered in establishing it in Sale. The presentation, he remarked, took the form of photographs of members of the band in this frame. They knew, as every-body who had anything to do with the band did, that the existence of it in Sale was almost, if not wholly, due to what he (Mr Coverdale) had done in connection with it. (Cheers.) What was a noticeable fact to one coming here some years ago was the want of a band. He (the speaker) felt the want directly, and he was sure that every-body who came from Melbourne, where musical societies were so general, felt the same want. They knew how warmly Mr Coverdale had taken the matter up, and notwithstanding all the discouragements and obstacles he met with from time to time, he persevered, and the result was that they had now in existence a band which they need not be ashamed of. (Cheers). The band had certainly to sail through a good deal of rough water, but he thought it was now fairly established, and he was certain it would go on progressing. Anyone who had an interest in it would wish to see it flourish, and the extent to which it had done so and progressed was entirely due to Mr Coverdale. Many a time the funds had been low, and he was sure no one would have gone to the same trouble and spent the same amount of time as Mr Coverdale had done in seeing it through the rough experience through which it had passed. The public would be glad to learn that the presentation had been made, and it had come from those best qualified to know. The mayor then presented Mr Coverdale with the testimonial, which was inscribed:- Presented to James Coverdale, Esq., by the members of the Sale Borough Band, March, 1886. The performing of this duty, he said, gave him much pleasure. He was convinced that while Mr Harper stuck to them, the band would improve, and he hoped they would not think of their little discouragements and mishaps, but would let them all slip by, and the band would then retain its place as one of the most successful institutions of Sale. (Cheers.)

Mr Coverdale, on rising, remarked that he could not say this was the first time he had set eyes upon the picture, for he had been admiring it in Mr Cornell's window, though he had no idea that it was coming to him. He did not know what to say, as he could not find words to thank them. He, how-ever, must confess that if he had had to struggle to keep the band in existence, the bandsmen had always helped, and had it not been for them, it would have fallen through. They had certainly met with discouragements, and had to put up with rebuffs, but he thought the greatest wonder was that when, about twelve months ago, he was about to give it up, they would not allow him to do so, and made some remark which induced him to go into it again with renewed energy, and now he was happy to say they had a band which they need not be ashamed of. He was deeply sensible of the fellow feeling that had existed between the bandsmen and himself, and he was especially pleased at this recognition on their part, in as much as it showed they could appreciate what he had done. It showed that they understood one another, and he hoped they would continue to do so, and be linked one to another. In his opinion the present was only the beginning of what a band would be. (Cheers.)

Mr Harper, the bandmaster, said that since he came to Sale the last time he found the band greatly improved, and he had no doubt that if they all stuck together and had a little more private practice, which they really needed, they would next year take a prize at the forthcoming band contests— (hear, hear)—and he would do all he could to further its interests if the members would go hand in hand with him.

Mr Coverdale's health was then drunk with musical honours, to which that gentle-man suitably replied. Prosperity to the band, coupled with the name of the mayor, was also drunk, and responded to in appropriate terms by Mr Wise, who in the course of his remarks referred to the enjoyable moonlight excursions of the steamers, which, he said, not only afforded a pleasant evening, but were a valuable supplement to the funds of the club. He suggested that they be commenced earlier next season, so that people might have the benefit of them all through the summer.

The proceedings then terminated.

CORRESPONDENCE - A COMPLAINT

(To the Editor of The Gippslad Times)

Sir, Being a visitor to Sale, I was very much surprised and disgusted at the exceedingly bad taste displayed by the Sale Brass Band on the occasion of the visiting pipers from Melbourne marching to the Victoria Hall, the band being silent until the pipers had rounded the corner of Macalister street leading to the hall, playing their national music, when immediately the band struck up, and by so doing showed extreme discourtesy and caused hideous discord. I certainly think that they might have waited until their visitors had entered the hall, and by so doing have shown a little good manners, especially considering the disappointment they (the pipers) had already been subjected to on account of bad weather.

Yours, etc.,

AN ENGLISHMAN. Dec. 9, 1886

As will be seen by advertisement in another column, the Sale band ask their friends and supporters to give them a helping hand by attending the benefit on their behalf, to be given by the recently organised troupe of Sate Amateur Minstrels, on Thursday evening next, in the Victoria Hall.

The secretary of the band has supplied it with the following particulars, showing a pecuniary position to be such as to call for action on the part of all who desire to maintain it as one of the institutions of the town. In point of members and efficiency the band is in a better position than at any previous time, but the loss of two or three engagements, the want of support accorded to the steamboat excursions, and the necessity of providing a number of new instruments have resulted in a deficit of about £50. We would remind our readers that all the band property (instruments, uniforms, etc.) is vested in trustees for the public; that the bandsmen neither pay to the funds any contributions, nor receive any remuneration The object of the management is to make it as far as possible self supporting. The programme to be submitted at the forthcoming concert will be given by performers, nearly all of whom are new to a Sale audience, and who will do full justice to the numerous and varied items, and we therefore hope and expect a crowded house, both on account of the band and the minstrels.