SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1133, 22 May 1911, Page 3

SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

pubLic reception promised. meeting of committee. A well-attended meeting of the Sheffield Choir Festival Committee was held in the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday evening, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken presiding. Mr. Watkins reported, on behalf of the Musical Executive Committee, that the testing of voicas to fonn a local auxiliary choir was almost completed. Sectional practising had begun, and tho work was being pushed ahead at speed. The attendance of vocalists was good, and would so continue, as those who did not attend with regularity would be cut out. The chorus which, luul been got together was a very strong one, and Wellington would have no cause to be ashamed of it when it performed with the Sheffield Choir. Miss Coatcs (president) and Mrs. T.A. Williams wero present, as representing the Victoria League, which has undertaken to act as a committee in obtaining accommodation for tho visiting vocalists. Mrs. Williams reported, on behalf of the league, that 45 persons had already sigmhed their vrillin-'ness to entertain members ot tho Choir during their stay in Wellington, and that there were many similar notifications yet to come in. All the married couples had been asked for, Mrs. Williams stated, and there was a demand for men. It was said that they were "so niuch easier to look after." , , Other members of the committee banded in the names of'-fourteen prospective hosts and hostesses, and Mr. W. Arnold (secretary of the Yorkshire Society) stated that over a dozen members of that body had already agreed to assist in accommodating the visitors. • , , Mr, J. P. Luke, M.P., opined that there would be no lack of accommodation if stress were laid on tho real importance of the impending visit. Tho occasion was unique. Quite apart from tho musical treat in store, it was highly desirable that citizens should rally and extend hospitality as freely as it was extended I to overseas people who visited Great UriTeplying to a question put by Mr D. M'Laren M.P., Mr. H. Gorhtz stated that the Choir would arrive on a Thursday ni"ht (June 29) at 6 o'clock, and leave on the following Saturday by the eleven p.m. boat for the south. The members o t tno Choir would spend two nights and-two days in Wellington. The chairman remarked that accommodation had still to be provided for one-half the members of the ChoirMr. G. Rhirtcliffo said he bad reason to believe that if nn immediate reply were requested to a circular that had been sent out by the Victoria League many additional offers of hospitality would be matte. It was agreed that this suggestion should be acted upon.After some discussion as to ways ana mean's, it was agreed, upon the suggestion of Mr. M'Laren, to ask the Mayor and councillors to appeal to citizens to provide accommodation for visiting vocalists. It was resolved that the civic authorities be asked , to work in conjunction, with tho Victoria League, and, on the motion of the chairman, Mr. Gorhtz seconding, the latter body was thanked .for services it had already rendered. The reception, of the Sheffield Choir upon its arrival in Wellington and tho provision of entertainment for its members wero briefly discussed. Mr. Gorlitz, after touching upon tho entertainment to bo provided in some of the Australian cities, remarked that it would be needless to- make any elaborate preparations here, as the visiting vocalists would havo very littlo leisure-at command. The chairman intimated that the Mayor had forwarded an apology for his unavoidable absence on account of a bad cold. Mr. Wilford wished to give the Choir a public reception in the Town Hall. He had proposed that members of the Yorkshire Society attending this function should wear each a white flower, to show, as Mr. Aitken jocularly suggested, how spotless, purr, and clean wore their hearts. The chairman added that the Mayor wished a time to be fixed at which the reception could tiiko place. Mr. Gorlitz stated that in Auckland the Mayor proposed to extend an official welcome to the Choir, upon the platform, just before the first Festival performance. It was agreed. to recommend that a similar course bo followed in Wellington, and that 7.45 p.m. be tho hour of the reception. On tho motion of Mr. Luke, it. was decided to ask the Railway Department to run-late trains over Hie lines from Wellington to Paekakariki and to Upper liutt on tho Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of the Choir's visit to Wellington. It was further agreed that the Ferry Company be asked to run late steamers. Another suggestion adopted was that the executive controlling tho exhibition should be asked to extend an invitation to members of the Choir to pay it a visit.

A Reception Committee was set up, consisting of tho festival Committee, the Mayor and councillors, Hie members for tho city, the Executives of the Victoria Leaguo'and of the Yorkshire Society, and the officials of tho Professional Musicians' Society. Answering a question by Mr. Shirtcliffe as to whether the Government had granted the Choir any railway concession, Mr. Gorlitz stated that ho had been treated with tho utmost courtesy by railway officials. The Government had agreed to run a special train from Auckland to Wellington. Accommodation usually provided for 600 people would bo provided for half that number, and second-class fare would be charged for first-class ac-

commodaticn. "I have never experienced any greater courtesy than from the railway authorities in this country," declared Mr. Gorlitz.

A vote of thanks was passed, by acclamation, lo Miss I'. Parsons, for valuable aid lent to tho Musical Executive Committee, in connection with the testing of voices.

Closing the meeting, the chairman exhorted all present to do their level test to secure tho balance of accommodation required.