Waikato Rifle Volunteers Band
The band of the Waikato Rifle Volunteers was perhaps the first band to perform in Hamilton. 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 Volunteers Hall. "Dancing commences 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 seance in October.
