WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1063, 28 February 1911, Page 2

WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING/- i ;-- ; '>' The annual general 'meeting "'of "jthe .Wellington Choral Society was held at St. John's Schoolroom,' DixoriO Street, last evening, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, president of the society, inthechair:'" There; wore about-100 members present. The annual- reoort and statement of finances (already published in The Dominion) were read an,d adopted. • .■ ~ . 'Speaking to the report, the chairman remarked that, for a ','sis-year-old-child;" the society was remarkably healthy. (Laughter.) He recognised ■ -that' they owed a very great deal to tho work of their conductor (Mr. J. "Jlaughan Barnott), and those who were associated with him in ' tho management of' the society's .affairs. He congratulated the society, on tho; satisfactory : state of the finances; a credit balance of £17 was something to.be regarded with great gratification. , Tho' remarks o! the chairman -were fully endorsed' by Mr. "W. E. Bethune (ono -of the vice-presidents) in seconding the motion. Mr. Bethune- referred- with pleasure to the excellent standing the; society had attained in tho community, and: paid a ihigh- tribute, to. the services which had been rendered by Mr. Maughan Barnett in creating its high prestige in tho musical world. He added that' it was a.matter of pride and congratulation that their conductor had at "least seen the conSummation'of his idea for a municipal orchestra now an active' organisation: '. . The Eov. Dr. Gibb added his congratulations in.' a brief characteristic speech, and'wittily reminded them of- the Scriptural-saying, '.TVoe.uuto him .whom all men speak well of." He referred I'with enthusiasm to the manner in which Handel's "Messiah" had- been interpreted last year. ..The performance had, he said, made a profound impression; upon those who had been present. ■ In expressing his acknowledgments for his re-election r as. conductor of the > society, Mr. Bavnett, who was heartily applauded, said that the work of the society Inst. year had quite exceeded his expectations. That this had been so was due to the gratifying enthusiasm with which ■his personal efforts as conductor had been seconded by. the society. It was a.matter for deep .satisfaction that the Executive Committee of the society had placed art before "£'s. &." Someone had once remarked to him that his society did things on an expensive scale. He nad replied that if the society desired to accomplish, its work well, the question of money should not bo allowed to overshadow that of art.'. Good "work would be rewarded; The condition of the society's - balancesheet offered-material evidence of the

soundness of his contention. Continuing, Mr. Barnett, quoting Lyttelton, to the effect that "music was.one of the powers .of the near future, went on to review the dereJotimenfi'which had taken place in the taste for music.- Municipal music. : in ' England was undergoing a period'of. rapid extension, while in New York tremendous developments had taken place in! the same: direction. Nearer: home,'the., importance of music .in the .life of the community had been the subject of,a: direct reference at the recent Science Congress;in Sydney; a national conservatoriunv ol music was about 'to :be established in the Commonwealth; onr own city fathers hail approved of the Municipal Orchestra. All things pointed to tho steady consensus of public opinion that it was to the good of the com-, miinity that other than the purely utilitarian matters of citizenship should receive : attention. (Applause.) •- • „ The following- were elected honorary officers for'the ensuing term:—Patrons, His Excellency Lord Islington, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Robert Stout; president, : Mr. J. G. W. Aitken; vice-presidents: Archbishop Redwood, Rev.. Dr. Gibb, Messrs. W. Eraser, M.P., A: L. Hordman; M.P., W. E. Bethune, A. S. Biss, A. H. Miles, and D. J. Nathan; conductor, Mr. J. Maughnn Barnett; hon. accompanist, Mr. Horaco Hunt, Mus. Bac.; hon. «olicitor ilr. R. Herbert Webb: hon. auditor, Mi-. C. M. Morpcth; hon. librarian, Mr. J. E. I'orry; hon. treasurer, Mr. "J; C. Younjr; hon. secretaries. Messrs. W. E. Caldow and N. D. Ml>od; committee, Messrs ]!. T. Cftldov, A. E. Carver, F. S. I>opo W. J. . Hucston. F. B. Young; bankers, the .Union Bank of Australia, Ltd.