There was an attendance of nearly 200 at a public meeting at the Victoria Hall on Monday evening convened for the purpose of taking into consideration the affairs of the band generally, and for the purpose of electing office bearers for the ensuing twelve months. Prior to the meeting a torchlight procession by the Sale Fire Brigade headed by the Band paraded the streets to the hall. Mr C. R. Geoghegan, town-clerk, was voted to the chair.

 The Chairman stated the object of the meeting, and said the Band had at the present time a balance in hand of £3 19s 5d.

Mr Rainer asked for some particulars as to the constitution of the Band, and as to its past management, and suggested that Mr Coverdale might supply them with the information.

Mr Coverdale, who has been for, 24 years secretary to the band during the later years of which he has practically had full control then tendered the history of the band since its inception. He pointed out the difficulties the band had to contend against in the past and strongly favored the maintenance of the present band in preference to the establishment of a new institution. - The present position of affairs had been brought about by the fact that the band had been overdrawn to the extent of £75 for which the committee were responsible. An effort had been made to reduce the debt and thanks to the subscriptions of a number of' liberal townsmen it was attended with success, with the result that they had now a small credit balance. It was his wish that the matter be placed solely in the hands of the public to decide whether the band should be maintained or not. He advocated the engagement of a bandmaster, without which the band could not thrive, and eulogised the abilities of Mr Paul, the present bandmaster. The town wanted a band and would have one, and it was easier and better to maintain the present one than establish a new one. He felt certain that, with unanimity of purpose the question of supporting the band could be easily disposed of. The matter was now in the hands of the public to deal with. Mr Coverdale was heartily cheered for his lucid address.

After some desultory discussion, Mr Gibson asked if the Borough Council gave any monetary support to the band.

The Chairman: No.

Mr Coverdale said that with the chairman’s consent he would like to say a few words in reference to that question. The Borough Council, he said, for some years were in the habit of contributing annually to the funds of the band until some years ago a certain councillor asked at the council table if it was legal for the council to thus contribute and insisting, upon an answer to his question he was informed that it was not legal. That ended the council's support. It had been the practice however, for the Mayor to contribute £5 5s out of his allowance annually towards the maintenance of the band.

Mr Coverdale moved, ''That this meeting considers it necessary that the Sale Borough band be maintained.''

Mr Bowen seconded the motion, which was carried.

M r Barry Taylor, said he had not the slightest doubt that support would readily be accorded the band as in a recent canvas by him for funds in only one part of the town he had met with liberal support and only two refusals.

The Chairman asked for a motion for the election of a committee. In the past the committee was composed of three trustees (Messrs J. Coverdale, G. H. Wise and C. Mackintosh), with nine members elected by the public and three by the members of the band.

Mr Barry Taylor moved that the following members constitute the committee:- Messrs J. Brain, E. C. Gallagher, J. O'Connor, E. Bowen, J. H. Cartledge, G. A. Barry, W. Lyon, W. Puttick and J. C. Gibson together with three representatives of the band (Messrs R. Wynd, T. Wain and R. Biggs).

Mr Staveley seconded the motion which was carried.

Mr Brain moved, and Mr J. O’Connor seconded, "That Mr Barry Taylor be appointed honorary secretary. The motion was carried.

Mr S. F. Treloar was appointed hon. treasurer on the motion of Mr Hutchinson, seconded by Mr Legge.

Mr O'Connor. moved, and Mr Bowen seconded, " That the secretary and treasurer be exofficio members of committee”. Carried.

The Chairman announced that Mr H. A. Luke had generously placed the hall at the disposal of the meeting that night free of cost. (Applause).

A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.

Geo. H. Wise wrote as follows :- “The secretary and. committee of the Borough Band having retired from office and an entirely new committee and officers having been appointed I beg to resign my appointment as a trustee in order that a new trustee may be appointed in my place."

 Charles Mackintosh wrote that owing to impaired health he had been for a long time unable to attend to any public duties and felt he was not justified in retaining office as trustee of the Sale Borough Band. He, therefore, tendered his resignation.

Crs. Treloar, McDonald and Lyon were appointed trustees.

Cr. Lyon furnished a report on the property of the late band, compiled by himself and Mr S. F. Treloar (band trustees) and thought the council should take steps to a secure it. The instruments were in a dilapidated condition and out of tune, and it a would take £100 to get a new set. 

Crs. Finegan and Cherry suggested that the trustees, on behalf of the council, should use their own discretion in collecting, and a then report to the council. The Mayor thought it a retrograde movement to allow the band to lapse, but he was not prepared to blame anyone for it. When he was on the committee they had done their best to keep it going.

Cr. Wise: And did so, too; not like the new committee

The Mayor: At last they became imbued with the idea it was owing to their mismanagement it was not going properly, so after clearing off their liability they resigned in a body. A new committee was appointed by the people, but now he was very sorry to see the whole affair had collapsed. He was still in hopes that when the people realised they had lost the band some steps would be taken to revive it, as it only needed a little enthusiasm.

The suggestion was agreed to.

The Swimming Matches
Tomorrow the Aquatic Sports, which there is reason to believe are now a permanent institution in Sale, will take place at the Latrobe Bridge, and we doubt not there will be a fine muster of people. Elsewhere, the Mayor invites the burgesses to observe the day as a general holiday.

A special attraction will be the debut of the Borough Band, who will play various selections during the progress of the thirteen events which will bhe contested. On Saturday night entries were received by Mr Carter, when 7 entered for the boys race, under 14; 10 for the boys aged 12; 4 aged under 16; 5 aged under 10; 5 for the all comers' 440 yards; 5 for the Grand Match 880 yards; 5 for swimming on the back; 4 diving all comers; 4 in the event under 16; in all 54 entries for the several events, but several post entries are expected.

Conveyances (carriages) will ply between the Bridge and Sale, and we may remind intending spectators that the programme will open at 1 o'clock. Lists of entries and the colours will be obtainable from the Secretary or members of the committee.

A GREAT PUBLIC LOSS

Mr James Coverdale, whose illness was reported in these columns a few weeks ago, died early on Saturday morning at his residence, Macalister street, at the age of 72. The news of his death will be received with feelings of regret throughout the district, for the deceased was one of our best known and respected public men, and was greatly esteemed for his devotion to his duties on the managing bodies of the Gippsland Hospital, Sale Borough Council, and the Sale Technical School and Mechanics Institute, to say nothing of the services he has rendered to institutions of lesser importance.

Mr James Coverdale was a Canadian by birth and was born in 1831. He arrived in Victoria in the year 1852, and being a schoolmate and personal friend of the then Deputy Postmaster-General, Mr S. H. McGowan, he applied for and received an appointment in the service. Mr Coverdale, having special knowledge and training, was sent off to the Western district in 1869, where at Warrnambool and other places he installed the electric telegraph appliances. After that he went to Wodonga, where he remained until he was appointed to the Sale post office. In the latter position he remained until 1893, when, having reached the retiring age, and the spirit of retrenchment being in the air, he was retired on a pension. Mr Coverdale, however, still retained his appointment as local registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, and although some efforts were made to deprive him of the appointment, his worth as a public officer stood to him, and he held the position at the time of his death.

Though Mr. Coverdale had always taken a warm interest in public matters, it was not until he was free from the service that he entered fully into the more important public duties which, we regret to say, are too often shirked by local residents with much greater interests in the welfare of the town and district. In 1896 Mr Coverdale, on the requisition of a great many of the ratepayers, consented to become a candidate for the South Ward of the Sale Borough Council, and he was honored with a walkover. In 1898 he was made Mayor, and was still a member of the Council at the time of his death.

He soon, also, took a place on the Gippsland Hospital committee, and it may fairly be said that no man has done such good work for that institution. During his first term as President he gave so much time and attention to his duties, and so carefully guarded the interests of this most noble of Gippsland institutions, that at the expiration of his term of office the committee re-elected him for another term. He was surprised, and greatly appreciated the honor, but did not promise to work with greater zeal for the hospital than he had done--that was not possible. Then when that term of office was over he continued as before, and the willing horse was entrusted with a good deal of the work of the committee : not that members wished to avoid their fair share of the work, but because they felt that Mr Coverdale had the ability and loved to do anything that made for the completeness, good management, and harmony of the hospital.

It is not, however, by his work for the hospital or Borough Council that the late Mr Coverdale will be best remembered, but by the Sale Technical School, which will stand as a monument to his zeal, foresight and energy, for it was owing to his enthusiasm and confidence in the ultimate goal of the school that the committee of management of the Sale Mechanics Institute entered into the development of the Art classes that were at one time being managed by a sub-committee which led to the erection of the magnificent building which now adorns the town, and which has been of such inestimable benefit to the young people of Gippsland, many of whom have materially advanced their positions in life as the result of the technical knowledge gained there. The scheme, which was Mr Coverdale's, meant a very serious "joint and several" liability by the members of the committee, but the promoter was sanguine of success, and his fellow committee readily complied. In this matter it is sufficient to say that the building is practically free from debt, and is probably as well equipped as any such school outside the great cities. Thus we feel that the Sale Technical School will always remind us of the great public work done for the district by the late Mr James Coverdale.

Amongst other institutions which had deceased's attention was the Sale Borough Band, and as its secretary he kept it well together, until a few years ago, when, with so many other duties on hand, he thought it best to resign.

Whilst as we have pointed out Mr Coverdale was highly esteemed for his public worth, he was also just as greatly esteemed and admired by those who had an opportunity of knowing, for his devotion to his family. He conceived it to be one of his first duties to so educate them as to fit them for the battle of life, and he succeeded admirably. He leaves a widow and eight children to mourn his loss. Mr J C Coverdale, surveyor, and another son. Mr H. Coverdale, are away in South Africa. Mr W. Coverdale, the other son, who is manager of the Bank of Australasia at Tallangatta, on hearing of his father's illness obtained leave of absence, and was with him when he died.

Although deceased was known to be very seriously ill, and it was felt that he would never be able to take up his public duties again, he was so well on Friday morning that there were hopes that he would be out again in a few days, but towards evening a change came, and he passed away peacefully in his sleep about five o'clock on Saturday morning. Our readers will join with us in our expression of the deepest sympathy for the loved ones left behind. At the Church of England on Sunday morning special reference was made to the death of Mr Coverdale by the Rev. H F. Scott. Mr Scott, during his brief reference to deceased, said :--"His beloved will mourn his loss as only riven hearts can, but we also grieve that he is no longer with us though our eyes retain the moisture. We have lost a useful citizen. His ripe experience, ceaseless energy, and unstinted labors, were freely devoted to the public weal, and all our local institutions owe much to his memory. For many years he was an active and prominent member of his church. Circumstances occurred which caused him to leave it, but though he worshipped elsewhere, his veneration and affection for the church of his birth continued. His beloved ones have our truest sympathy, and our prayers that God may comfort them in their sorrow.”

The funeral took place yesterday. There was an exceedingly large and representative attendance. The councillors and officials of the Sale borough attended as a body, as did also the committee and officials of the Gippsland Hospital, the Sale Technical School and Mechanics Institute, and members of the Sale Borough band. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. H F. Scott and at its conclusion the band played "Vital Spark." Amongst those present were His Lordship the Bishop of Gippsland and the Hon Wm. Pearson, M.L.C At the Presbyterian church last evening the Rev. G. M. Conner referred in kindly terms to deceased's worth as a public citizen, and spoke of the zeal and earnestness he threw into all of his public duties.