N.S.W. ORCHESTRA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 12, 9 October 1919, Page 6

N.S.W. ORCHESTRA

EFFORT TO BRING IT TO NEW ZEALAND LOCAL COMMITTEE FORMED At a meeting held yesterday in the City Council Chamber the matter of talcing steps to invite the New South Wales Stato Orchestra to pay a visit' to New Zealand during the summer vacation was considered. Tihe Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) prefaced hk opening remarks with a consolatory reference to tho continued ill-healUi of Mr. Charles Hill, ecu:-., and extended -"• hearty welcome (o Mr. Alfred Hill, who had done so much lor New ;',™lniul from a musical standpoint. .It was through the latter gentleman ir.at they had been called together to expro-s sympathy with the beautiful side of music. It had been , suggested by Mr. lull that the very fine New South . Wiiles State Orchestra should be brought to Mew Zealand. Others supported this step enthusiastically. From the information he had received lie was sure that tho visit oi such an orchestra would Im> mi epochal event in our musical history, and he would hko tho citizens of Wellington to be identified with tho movement. Mr. Alfred Hill appreciated very deeply the reference to his father and himself It was the last tiling ho expected. As they all knew he had long been a resident in Sydney. Ho went there for health, and was fortunate enough to get it. Jiut, it was eaid, "once a New Zealander always a New Zealander " and he always remembered Wellington and the friends lie had here. It was his work m connection with Maori music which Mr. Yerbrugghen had said, was national in character It had been a wonderful held to explore, and it was a pity that owing to his residence in Australia be him not bsen able to develop it further ile was glad to see, however, that the Museum authorities were at last endeavouring to preserve the old Maori melodies, borne forty have been recorded from tho old chiefs, and would be a record for all time of Maori music . 'Wikinff with respect to the 'project m hand. Mr. Hill s ,i d that Mr. Verb ugRhen had come to Sydney three years SSL- e -; vitll , h ™. reMjonsiblo for selecting him as the head L H,e f "v St . Sta . te -«i*>™l Conservator™n I '? '•" tho English-speaking orld. Pooplo m Sydney simply loved tion Orchestra, which plaved for seven months ,n Christchnnh, and ft enbmr3 Aev.Zealand. That orchestra was just at the beginning, the Verbrugghen Orchestra was at the end. Mr. VefbruLhen nto the school curriculum, and in some L ( \r ee V n i ade T °, f the !«»' mb- ) y er,)rl, e*' llm held-that music «>b not a usury, but a necessity, ami jf the minds of everyone in tho word pon ot he beautiful in art, no matter W.ve 0 L U,n i % ? Way ' tlle > tao had all this unrest in the world (Applause.; They must try to mnfce tho pwrip look /, I)n .ard ai?d bevond It would bo an immense benefit toVho schools to have the advice and guida' ot Mr. \erbrnjghen in music and it create anew, Wanlr, m music. There were those here he knew, who were starving for it-men who uere working day ,„ and out trying to create,ideals and standards undei dis" in" r^ ln H comlilioils - Hβ was surprised to see the programmes played by tho City Organist (Mr. Bernard Page), which were wonderfully fine both in mX! and ancient music. Finally, Mr. Hill St! lI V On M th ?- ] \ am coa,b »'a«on of effort that Mr. Verbrufrghen had brought m Sydney It was not the effort of the one man but everyono was doing his bit -tlio isolated man could do very little ilo was very proud to be them, and -ery proud to think that he had not been forgotten. If through tho Mayor and tno citizens the Verbrugghen Orchestra could be brought over ho wouM bo tho happiest man alive. (Applause.) Mr. Bernard Page wished' ( 0 know something of the business basis of the proposed tour.

Mr. , II .Gladstone Hill said he had been in Sydney B onie five months, and Jiad hoard the orchestra a dozen times find could assure them that jioMiing liko their playing lind over been heard in Aew Zealand. As for the tour, it was a case of pounds, shilling.?, and pence. He had the whole thing, and taken out figures, which had lieen approved by Mr. Tosswill, of Christcliurch, i l »o Messrs. E. W, Hunt mid Jamca Mlntosh. of 'Wellington. First of all they would need to provide i-iJOO a wtek for salaries (plus 7s. 6d. a day travelling allowance demanded by the union) and they would have to pay the fares. Hβ Saw that they had been advanced 10 per cent., which would probably mean another .£IOO on the cust His proposal was. that tho orchestra should give five concerts per week of «ven days, and that 23 concerts should be given in tho 32 days they were in New Zealand On that assumption the cost would approximate and that was tho guarantee that would bo required before the New South Wales Government would allow the orchestra to leave Sydney. The'oust ho set out as .follows:— '

Steamer fares'(Sydney to Sydney) 1300 Kail fares 580 Bent of halls 400 Advertising ', 500 Incidental expenses 250 Orchestra guarantee .., 2903 Total .'. On the revenue side his estimate was as follows:—Twenty-three concerts, with average receipts of .€3OO, says .£7OOO. Ho thoughli there was nothing to be leared on tho financial side, and said that it there was any profit the guarantors wild be entitled to it. He proposed that four concerts .should bo given in each of Hie four centres, two in Invorcargill, ami one each in Timnru, Palmcrston North. Hastings, Wanganui, iind New Plymouth. Finally tho Mayor staled that ho thought they should limit themselves at that, sbago to the passing of two resolutions. The, first was. the meeting approved of the idea that the New South Wales State Orchestra should bo invited to visit New Zealand, and the second wan that 11 local committee- should lie set up to forward that object. The first resolution was passed with acclamation, and eventually (iho following were tippointed membei'3 of the committee-.— Messrs, Bernard Page, K J. Hill, li. E. Herron, J. J. Roberts Clarence Twiar, A. H. Miles, E. 1). Bell, G. D. Portus, W. Bethune, Robert Parker, Dr. I'yft'c, Dr. Newman; Sir Francis Bell, Messrs. S. Kirkcaldie, James M'lntosh, Ernest Hunt. L. F. Watkins, Temple White, Sir Robert Stout, Messrs. J. Wilson, and J. T. Martin. Mr. H. G. Hill was appointed organiser ami secretary. The meeting closod with* 11 vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, which was gracefully, moved by Mr, Alfred Hill. A meeting of tho committee is called for 3.30 p.m. to-dny.

Among the long list of Thornycroft buyers may bo found the nnmes of several dairy companies, wool contractors, mid farmers, proof tha,t Thornycroft vehicles are getting into the backbiocks. Tried and tested on the shell-pocked roads of France, they give good service on the worst roads. British made, with tho good old British staying power, Thornycroft will tako your milk to tho factory, carry your wool and produce, movo stones, etc., 365 days of tho year--and remember it eats only when it works. Made in nil sizes from 30 to 40 h.p., 2, 2J, 8, IJ, etc., tons. Get your order in early as ive are booking ahead. For further particulars, write to A. Hatrick and Co., Wangnnui and Wellington.— Advt.

• DEPRESSION ARISING FROM SLUGGISH LIVER CORKECTISD 11Y DR. MORSE'S INDIAN ROOT PILLS. "I have- used Dr. Morse's Indian Eoot Pills for several years from time to time," writes Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, of 47 Devon Street, New Plymouth, "they are a splendid Pill, and sweep away depression, tone tho system, and stir I lie liver when sluggish. I was first induced by a lady friend at Wellington to try this remedy, and can vouch"to the general churns mnde that Dr. Morso's Indian Root Pills are a great corrective. I am a mother of twelve children, and a very old resident of New Zealand, and landed at Dunedin four-four years ago from tho od ship Nelson,"—Advt.