PRESENTATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1726, 18 April 1913, Page 4

PRESENTATION.

TO MR, J.'MAUGHAN BARNETT. At tho conclusion of the rehearsal of "Carmen" by tho Royal Wellington Choral Society, in St. John's Schoolroom, last evening, opportunity was taken by Mr. R, T. Caldow (chairman of the executive committee) to express tho regard in which the society held their retiring conductor, Mr. J. Maughan Barnett. Mr. Caldow stated that he had both a pleasant and au unpleasant duty to perform—pleasant because ,ho had lo hand over tho proceeds of the'concert.given, a few weeks ago, and unpleasant because of tho fact that tho society was losing a very popular conductor—(applause)— and a gentleman who, with perfect right, could claim to hdvo dono as much as any man could to further tho cause of good music in Wellington. Tho' Choral Society would not bo in tho position which it was in to-day had it not been for Mr. Burnett's enthusiasm, and the strict attention to, end interest ho had taken in, every performance. They were all Scotch enough to know when they were getting a. good thing for nothing. (Laughter.) On behalf of the society he asked Mr. Barnett to accept two oak-framed photographs, one of the whole .-.f tho active members of the society, and the other of tho members of the committee. Ho also handed to Mr. Barnett a chequo for J192, the result of the recent complimentary concert. The applause was followed by 'tho wholo of the chorus singing "For He\s a Jolly Good Fellow,"- alter which Mr. Caldow added that lm hoped that when Mr. Burnett had been as long in Auckland as he had been in Wellington ho would have, created as good an impression as ho had here. Mr. Barnett, in the course of a fcrling reply, said that ho was rather glad the ceremony had taken place at such a time. It really was a painful occasion. Members had shown him a consideration and regard of u kind—well, no conductor could have expected more. Tho work he had done would ■ havo been quite impossible without their ready assistance and enthusiasm. Ho believed that'the society was ono from which music would radiate to all parts of New Zealand, and he expressed tho hope that the great respect and help accorded him would be accorded to the new conductor. The work in connection with "Carmen" had been hard, but the way in which they had risen to the occasion before inspired the hope that they would rise to the occasion on Tuesday next. Ho could assure them flint he would need no photographs to remind him of the society, but he would be glad to have them in his rooms in Auckland to show them what a fine body Wellington possesses. (Applnuse.)