MUNICIPAL MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 958, 27 October 1910, Page 6

MUNICIPAL MUSIC.

THE MAYOR IS CONVINCED. During the progress of the first concert of the newly-formed Municipal Orchestra the Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford) mado a speech in which he expressed his satisfaction at the performance, and his hope that the orchestra would become a permanent influence in- musical art. It was difficult, he said, to say the right' thing on the occasion of what was the beginning of municipal orchestral music in the whole of Australasia, but for the splendid start that had been made the chief credit was due to the enthusiastic conductor, Mr. Maughan Barnett. (Applause.) When the. proposal of a municipal orchestra had been made to him as Mayor, Mr. Barnett had convinced him that it was a safe proposition. But the council decided to submit the proposal to a public meeting, to give those opposed to the scheme an opportunity of publicly stating. their objections, i The opposition died,'and finally the council passed a. resolution (without a dissentient voice) establishing the orchestra.- As to the performance, he believed the audience were astonished at the quality of the music produced after oiJy two or three rehearsals. .He was> sure that in Mr. Bloy they had a mdsician of great value. (Applause.) He hoped-that tho orchestra .would not only benefit Wellington, but that later on it might be sent through the Dominion to assure others . that municipal - music was the right thing in New, Zealand. Here tliey liad a hall which belonged to the ratepayers, and now they hod an orchestra which was worth supporting. It was ah age of municipalisation, and perhaps i\, desire for State control of municipal ventures (laughter), but they had no fear to go forward on the lines they were pursuing. Mr. Barnett deserved well of , the people of tho city. , Mr. Barnett said he regarded it as a great honour to be the conductor of tlio first Municipal- Orchestra in Australasia (applause), • and would ■ like to Tefer to the great encouragement he had received ,in working out the details of the scheme. All whom he had consulted had helped him. It should be understood that the first yoar was simply, an .experiment, and it depended on the citizens whether the experiment was a success, artd the orchestra would become a permanent institution. He had great confidence in the orchestra, and if they could do so well in four rehearsals, what could they not do after forty? (A'pplauso.) He thanked the public and. the audience, and hoped that by the end of the year they would have justified the council in making or orchestra permanent. (Applause.)