A RETIRING ORGANIST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1245, 29 September 1911, Page 4

A RETIRING ORGANIST.

■— $ ME. W. J. HARLAND HONOURED. Mr. W. J. ITarland, organist of Weslej Church, Taranaki Street, who is retiring from his position after 32 years' service, was honoured by tho congregation of tho church last evening. Tho Rev. J. <>• Chapman presided, and, in the courso or his remarks, said thai: ho always found it a pleasure to attend any Function tcr the recognition of a man s vortli ana fidelity to duty. For 32: years Mr., liarland had filled tho position of organist of tho church, and in many other ways had placed the church under a wop debt of gratitude, lie knew that it wou d b" a great wrench to Mr. Harland to vacate tho position he had held so long. The' chairman hoped that Mr. Harland might' ho spared many years to the church which 110 had served so faithfully and so well. Jlr. G. Tiller, 011 behalf of tho congregation, presented Mr. Harland with a gold watch and a handsome caso of cutlery. In rising to reply, Mr. Harland was received with loud applause, lie thanked tho congregation nnd choir for heir valuable gifts, and greatly interested tho audience with reminiscences of his connection with tho church. The chairman slated that the trustees had sent a letter of thanks to Mr. Cooper, the late choir conductor, who had resigned from Uio position. During the evening Mr. Henry Wells, tho newly-appointed organist and choir conductor, was introduced to the congregation, nnd contributed some selections nn tho organ. Vocal ilems were also given by Miss llrittain nnd Mr. Philips.