HARMONIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 116, 2 February 1918, Page 3

HARMONIC SOCIETY

ANNUAL REPORT. The third annual report of tho Wellington Harmonic Society, to bo presented to tho annual meeting which is 'to be held in tho Y.M.C.A. on February 6, states:— "Thfe* committee has to report _ the continued prosperity of tho society, notwithstanding the .fact that, in common with all musical societies and organisations, we have been handicapped very considerably by tho want of male members, such want beinp directly duo to tho. terrible war which still continues to rage.. We have, however, been albe to maintain fairlv evenly the balance of parts, and it is pleasing to note that our bass section (which was numerically our weakest part) has been somewhat strengthened of late. We have six members away on active service, while one lias made the supreme sacrifice. Our practices continue to bo of educational value to those who aro willing to learn, hut it is to be regretted that some of our members do not appear to realise their worth.

"We have given three concerts during the year in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, and have maintained our reputation as a musical society, receiving unanimous praise from the papers and from musicians who have been present. At our last concert we unfortunately had to pay the amusement tax ourselves, as our tickets were issued before it was known that it would bo held after the tax came into operation. "We aro pleased to be able to report that the statement of receipts and expenditure for the year shows a balance in hand

"In November, 191(3, your committee made an effort to secure subscribing members for the society, and met with fair success. Between 150 and 160 people were written, to, and as a result of tho effort 50 new members were enrolled. Several others have been enrolled during tho year } and we have thus fcoen able to increase this membership to 63. This, however, is not sufficient to put the society on a sound footing, and we strongly urge members to make, an effort to increase this membership privately, as tho time is not opportune for us as a society to make any large effort. "Towards the close of the_ year we were asked to give a concert in aid of the Navy League funds, and willingly arrreed to do so, but unfortunately (through no fault of ours) the arrangements could not be successfully carried out, and although we made efforts to do something for some other patriotic found, it was not deemed advisable to go on, and we were reluctantly cornwiled to leave the matter for the time bcincr. "The thanks of the socictv are due to Mr. Robert Parkpr and Mr. Hamilton Hodges for the loan of music, the R.ev. A. E. Hunt for assistance, and to the Press for their reports, etc. Also to the retiring officers, especially our conductor (Mr. H. Temple White), his able assistant (Mr. M. L. Cameron), Miss Phyllis Hanify, whom we have, been most fortunate in securing for our lion, nianist, mid also Miss Henderson, who capably acted as nianist for some time. We would also like to soeciallr thank on" of our vice-presi-dents, Mr. F. S. Pope, for the interest he has shown in our society, and for the valuable hchi he has siven us bv coining to the aid of the bass section "t, their time of need. "While recognising that the coming year will be one of snecial difficulties n-n confidently anticipate that these difficulties will he overcome by the enthusiastic co-operation of the members, by which the success of the society is assured."