Waikato Rifle Volunteers Band
The band of the Waikato Rifle Volunteers is a contender for the first band to perform in Hamilton, forming only eight years after the first militia settlers landed in Hamilton in 1864. Their first appearance on parade, under Bandmaster Shannaghan, was on 3 August 1872, where they played 'Yankee Doodle' and 'Finnegan's Wake'. The band played in "good time and key, for which they were heartily applauded by a number of residents who came to hear them". The bands instruments only arrived in Hamilton in June, and it had only been seven weeks since the bandmaster started giving instruction to the members, "who had never seen a fife or drum before".
A ball was held in aid of the Waikato Rifle Volunteers Band fund on 13 September at Volunteer Hall. "Dancing commenced at 9pm, and was kept up with unflagging spirit till 6 o'clock on the following morning", although financially it was not the success the organisers hoped. Other fundraisers included a "mesmerism and phrenology" show in October. The band played on Boxing Day at a "good programme of foot sports", although this was apparently not advertised. The band was said to have "played very nicely a number of pieces suitable for the occasion, and to the evident satisfaction of the small number of people present in consequence of the committee having failed to give public notification that there would be sports at all. Those who took upon themselves the office of committee-men should have learned the lesson that unless public entertainments are advertised the attendance is certain to be small".
The New Year was brought in by the band playing in town between 10pm until almost 1am. Later, the band played at the race-ground athletics and later ball at Alexandra (now known as Pirongia). During this time the band was under threat due to a lack of funds coming from the public. At the end of January it was announced that the band would be discontinued. However, nothing initially came of this threat. They played again at a ball in Ngaruawahia, and at the parade of the Waikato Rifle Volunteers on February 22 1873. In April 1873, during the monthly inspection of the volunteers, it was noted the band was improving very much. In May, the band acquired a cornopean, payed for by public subscription. God Save The Queen was played in late May to celebrate the 30 year reign of Queen Victoria. In the June inspection, it was noted the band played difficult pieces in good style.
In July 1873, it was noted that the band was still a financial burden on the corps. Despite numerous mentions previously, the band was not mentioned again after October 1873.
