It has been decided to hold a celebration at Sale on Saturday by having a huge bonfire at the Market Square.

Prior to this there will be a torchlight procession, starting at 8 o'clock sharp from the fire station, down Raymond street, and along Foster and York streets, to the Market Square, in which the Sale Fire Brigade, headed by the Sale Brass Band, will participate. In addition, an attractive display of fireworks will also be shown, and short orations, suitable to such an auspicious occasion, will be delivered by well-known gentlemen. The Hon. W. Pearson,. M.L.C., has kindly donated £I towards the object, and a number of our citizens have very generously subscribed to the fund. As, however, there are not yet sufficient funds in hand to meet the expenses, the hon. treasurer, Mr A. G. Holt, or the hon Secretary, Mr J. L. Reece, will be pleased to receive small contributions, so as to make the demonstration worthy of Sale. The business people are respectfully requested by the committee to make as attractive a display of bunting as possible on Saturday next, October 21st.

The Brass Band Contests in connection with the Sale Mechanics Competitions, were held in the Caledonian grounds on Thursday afternoon and evening.

To the Editor of The Gippsland Times.

Sir, -Seeing that our council contemplate procuring a typewriter: could not that £20 odd he better spent? Speaking in my own case, we have a good band in Sale, who are on the verge of financial difficulties.

We get no subsidy from our council, yet we turn out (last 2 months) 14 open air concerts for the people, 21 times in the cause of charity, and only 8 engagements. The above shows it is impossible for a band here to be self-supporting, and must get assistance. Other councils can give the Band from £5 5s to £300 a year to assist them. Why not ours? Or supposing our council has ear for other things. Why not put the money into beautifying the town or renovating their buildings. There are many who want employment (we have lost prominent players through lack of employment) and I may state that it is not through the Bandmaster's salary that the financial position of the Band is so bad, as he only receives less than half of a neighboring Bandmaster's salary. Hoping that in future our council will think of the people and not the office, as band music is far superior to the click of an unnecessary typewriter.

Yours etc. J. H. APPS, Bandmaster, Sale.

Last Thursday afternoon the private members of the Sale Borough Band arranged a boat excursion and picnic to Seacombe for themselves, their wives, children and friends, and in spite of the heavy rain quite a number attended.

The principal motive for the trip was that of a re-union amongst band folk. On arrival at Seacombe a programme of sports was carried out, and in the meanwhile a fishing competition for a fine reel, the gift of Mr Bal Cherry, was proceeding along the banks of the Straits. The various events resulted as follows:

• Handicap Bandsmen's Race, 100 yards; prize, silver-mounted pipe (the gift of Mr Alderson)-W. Herron 1, G. Wain 2, J. Richardson 3.
• Ladies' Race, 75 yards; prize, glove and handkerchief box (gift of Mr E. C. Gallagher)-Miss Brewer 1, Miss M. Richardson 2.
• Married Ladies' Race, 60 yards; prize, pair of vases (gift of Mr J. Shankly)-Mrs Alderson 1, Mrs Herron 2.
• Mr Legge and Mr W. Mallett having caught an equal number of fish, it was decided to play a game of cards to decide, whereupon the prize fell to Mr Mallett.

During the stay at Seacombe the weather fortunately was favorable, and numerous games were indulged in by young and old, and quite a happy time was spent by members of the party who returned by the boat, which reached home about 10 p.m. The band provided a liberal supply of music of a very fine character, as the outing was availed of to a great extent for rehearsal, and so well satisfied are the members with the outing that on all hands it was decided to make the picnic an annual fixture. Seacombe is so pleasantly situated, both as regards distance and suitability for picnic, that it is a matter for surprise that it is not more often availed of for these outings, as apart from the boat trip, and the facilities for fishing and shooting, there is abundance of shade and clear, grassy spaces, so necessary to the variety of picnic pastimes.