VALEDICTORY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1684, 26 February 1913, Page 9

VALEDICTORY.

MR. MAUGHAN BARNBTT COJIPLI- . MENTBD. ■ Although Mr. J. Maughan Barnett is not leaving immediately for Auckland, the occasion was taken' at i the annual meeting of the Wellington Royal Choral Society held last evening to express t;hoso regrets which all musical Wellington feel at his departure from, the city. When tho item 'general business" was reached, Mr. R-. T.,Caldow, (chairman of the committee) said that it was only-right and proper that, the occasion being the last annual meeting of the society under the conductOrship of Mr. Bnrnett, they should record upoi the minutes their- inlvnpe appreciation of the : services he had rendered the society since itA inception. (Load and long applause, followed by tins chorus: "For He's a Jolly Good 1 Fellow.") No one knew, better than -the speaker the.work Mr. Barnett had done for the society j nothing was too much trouble if it meant helping thp society along, and if anything -'was suggested that was of any real'benefit .to tlio society, he (Mr. Barnett) would act on it or cvfilve something out. of/ it. Mr. Caldow then moved, that a suitable minute be. entered'on tho records,, expressing appreciation '.of- Mr.'" B«n«t{'s" services -td' , tho : society. '' Mr. Barnett said he! had not yet realised that he was. leaving, the socicty and-Wel-lington.- He wa3 not going until- April, and as lie had not yet begun to pack ho could not realise to - tlio fullest extent-the action he was taking. , He might: take the;opportunity Of referring.to the position of music in Wellington at the. present time. As fat as cnoral, music was concerned there wero very few works which he would not be •prepared to do with a chorus, such as the socicty possessed/ but thenfe was . another, class of music which- required tho' strictest attention—that was' orchestral music. It was a problem yet ; to be solved. He had clearly seen that the development of orchestral music was what wan needed in Wellington, for if orchestral music did not progress in a lino With choral music it Would mean a set-back sooner or later. He woiild impress' upon all tho importance of the development of that phaso of music.. There was one rnothod by which' that Was likely to prove effective 'and that was by wealthy'citizens iiuuncine an orchestra, It was:done elsewhere, and only cost a few thousands a year. (Laughter.) Tho only other lino to take was' th 6 one he had adopted a few years ago when the Municipal Orchestra was established, which orchestra was being developed on' stable lines.' Had lie been; remaining in Wellington he would certainly have tried to, get the society to help to make, a success of it by working'in with , the City Council. They could do it by 'personal persuasion—the sale of tickets by. members. So Small a! body as tho orohestra could not do that alone. Had ho remained in Wellington he would 'have approached both the society and City Council on the matter for musical.progress in' Wellington depended on the orchestra. JTe had every praise for members ilf the orchestra. They had very few professionals, and it was really wonderful what amateurs, engaged in business,-could 'The success of the Royal Choral Society was duo (o the conscientiousness and sincerity in - which everybody carried • out their duties; The • loyalty and enthusiasm of everyone Concerned had assisted the society to the position, it had attained—a position it deserved. Quite, apart from tho many friendships lie had made ho would ba proud to the end of his life of his connection with' a society which had made history, and when the.: history of music ill Wellihgton came to be written up, as it one day would, the work of thn society would be very prominent in that record. (Applause.) ,