CHORAL SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 754, 1 March 1910, Page 9

CHORAL SOCIETY.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. ' 'The annual "meeting "of""th'e Wellington Choral Society was held in St. John's' Schoolroom last evening. There was a good attendance, and the president, Mr. J. G. W..Aitken, occupied the chair. The balance-sheet showed receipts as follow:—Active members, £U Us.; , honorary members, ,£215 Us.; first concert, Gttde'3 "Comala". and Brahms's "Song of Destiny," £ii 35.; necond concert, Elgar's "Black Knight" and Schubert's "Song of Miriam," ,£39 195.; third and fourth concerts, Handel's "Messiah,". .£lO5 Us. 6d.; donations, &i is.; total receipts, ,£504 ss. lOd. -Payments totalled ,£509 10s. 5d., leaving a debit balance of £5 4s. 7d. Tho excess of assets over liabilities was ,£6O 2s. lid. ..' . ' ' .

The president, in moving the adoption of the report (already published) and balance-sheet, congratulated the society on the success of the past season. There was.no doubt that its work was appreciated. At the same timo he regretted that many people -wlio might be expected to take an interest in the society seemed to hold aloof and keep apart from its work. Ke was satisfied' that the society had excelled itself in many of the pieces rendered, and he thought that if anvthing would draw others into the society the quality of its season's work should do so. Probably the new committee would find ways and means to interest new members in the society. Although tho balance-sheet showed a slight. debit balance, it was considerably better than the balance-sheet of the previous year. I*o hoped that next season would be even more prosperous than that which had passed. . ' \' .

In the. course of a>brief general discussion satisfaction was expressed at the position of tho society, together with a confident anticipation that the debit balance would soon be wiped out. Acknowledgment was made.of the services of the conductor (Mr. J. Maughan Barnett) and ofEcers. '

Tho report and balance-sheet-woro unnniinously adopted. Officers were elected as follow:—Patrons, his Excellency Lord Plunket, Sir Joseph Ward, and Sir Robert Stout; president, .Mr. J. G. W. Aitken; vicepresidents, Archbishop Redwood, Hov. Dr. Gibb, Messrs: W. Eraser, M.P., A.-L. Hcrdman, M.1 , .,. W. E. Bethune, A. S. Biss, A. H. Miles, and D, J. : Nathan; conductor, Mr. J. Maughan Barnett; hon. accompanist, Mr.. Horace Hunt, Mus. Bac.; hon. solicitor, Mr. ■ B. Herbert WoW>; lion, auditor, Mr. CD. Morpeth; hon. librarian, Mr. N. D. Macleod; hon. treasurer, Mr.. J. C. Young; hon'. secretaries, Messrs. W. E..Caldoiv, and W. J. Hueston; committee, Messrs. ; K. T. Caldow, A. E. Carver, J. E. Perry, P. S. I'ope, and P. B. Young. Tho suggestion that, another nomination than that of Mr. J. Maughnn Hamett might bo mado for the position of conductor was put forward, and received with laughter. Mr. Barnett, in returning thanks, humorously complained that the election of a conductor was never taken seriously by the society. (More laughter.) Hβ stated that during tho past two years it had been suggested to him several time.- that the society should render the "Dream of Gcrontins." and ho had replied that it was too difficult. Tho performance of the "Black Kniprht," however, had been so meritorious that he felt the society might attempt Sir Edward Elgar's composition, though it would require a tremendous amount of work. Ho thought thht this years programme would bo the most interesting that the society had given. A lew years ago the finances of the. wieiety were in a very unpromising position. Last yenr wis a very difficult one from the hnnncial point of view, and lie (nought that the society had come out remarkably well. . A hearty vote of thank? was passed with acclamation to Mr. E. E-. Mowbrav, retiring hon secretary. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to tho chairman.