The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2538, 5 April 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1871.

It is pleasant to learn that at length a serious and combined effort is being made to form an effective Choral Society. We trust that it will bo sue cessful. Why there have boon so many failures is difficult to say. In Auckland, in Wellington, in Christchurch, matters are managed better, although it is very doubtful whether in any ot

those towns there is so large a proportion of really talented amateurs as there is in Dunedin. It is very evident, from past experience, that a Choral Society, like every other voluntary association, must have the sympathy of the people with it. It must be a popular institution. IV or is it to be looked upon as a society merely lor the promotion of amusement. A Choral Society is an educational institute, and, if well conducted, a refiner of feeling and cultivator of high art. Those whose ideas of music extend merely to a comic or sentimental song, with the simplest possible harmonies as a chorus, may very easily be gratified ; for the slightest musical attainments are equal to such an effort as that. But we must aim at more. Those who will enjoy the best music must be prepared to work, for there are both mechanical and mental difficulties to be overcome. Music is not mere sensation. Thoroughly to understand it, a person must be equal to careful self-training and patient investigation ; and, viewed in this light, a thoroughly efficient Choral Society is an index of a high state of education. If it were possible to know exactly why previous attempts to maintain societies have failed, a guide might be obtained to what is necessary to ensure the permanence of that now projected. We believe the failures have been mainly owing to public indifference. There have been always those who have made many sacrifices to render them permanently successful; but their efforts have not been seconded. Like all the fine arts, music forms a common ground on which all classes can unite. There is no aristocracy in it excepting that of talent. The wives and daughters of dukes and marquises did not consider it derogatory to meet at the dwelling of the Musical Small-coal man at the close of the last century. He used to throw down the bag, wash the coal-dust from his bauds and brow, and clad in clean and sober garments, took a leading part in rendering the grand compositions of Handel. It. was the triumph of talent over circumstance. If some of those present could not perform, they could listen, and they could be honorary members, and support the institution by their contributions. This is what is now proposed ; and we should think there is not one person who can afford it who will withhold his subscription. We observe that it is proposed to adopt the Auckland rules as a sort of deed of settlement; for the Auckland Choral Society is the only one that has succeeded well in New Zealand. We do not know that it matters much what rules are prescribed, so long as they are known and assented to by honorary and performing members on their consenting to join the Society. Settled conditions do away with many sources of wrangling and disagreement. It is possible that better rules might have been adopted ; but in joint stock associations it is the original projectors who devise the terms of the deed of settlement, and shareholders coming in afterwards are admitted on the conditions laid down. Practically, when associations are formed for mutual pleasure and benefit, the rules—whatever they may be—like the laws of the land, are never thought of, excepting they are broken; and therefore it is to be hoped that no one will debar himself the pleasure and advantage of joining the Society because of some theoretical objection to them. Where all are bent on rendering an art association a success, whether there be rules or not is of small moment : it will succeed. We trust not only amateurs but members of the profession will lend their aid in an object, which, accomplished, will tend to raise the standard of musical taste in the town. A united effort is required, and we trust it will be made and succeed.

brigade oriler, to turn out in plain clothes to welcome them, and the volunteer authorities ask merchant , bankers, &c., to hoist their bunting—a request which, wo are sure, will at once be complied with. Thu Ballot.—The ballot system is well illustrated by an anecdote which is related as having occurred at yesterday’s election. A voter of retiring habits thus stated his experience :—“ hit, man! I. was fear’d till vote by this new-fangled ballot system till I found oofc that a’ a body had to dae was to scat t oat the hindmost name on the bit o’ pap r.” The Choral Society. - Wo are glad to learn that there is every probability of tinproposed Choral ■ oei-. ty suci> edin - beyond expectation. Already a groat, number of persons have sent in tbsir names, and as soon an arrangements can be male practice will comm lice. It is anticipated that a fair number of instrnmenta'ists will be organ!-ed fm the orchestra at the commencement of the Society’s lirst season. Oddfellowsiup. —The election of officebearers u the New Zealand (Laud Lodge of A.T.O.F. (American eonstiiul.on), for the year IS7I-2, took place a f w days ago, and resulted as follows If.W.P GAL. Bro. B. C. Haggitt; D. 8.G.M,, Bio. S London; G.W., Bro, (f. Minilie; G. Sec"otary, Bro. J, Micbie ; 6. Treasurer, Bro. J Len'on ; Marshall, Bro, J. Neill; fondue tor, Bro. J. Soares ; T.G., Bro. U. Shepherd; Chaplain, Bro. M‘Gaw, The installation takes place on the 14th hist. Election Laches. Rumors have been current that the Duns tan and K awarau elections were invalid, in consequence of the returning officer, Mr Pyke, having p’accd the Nevis as a polling place within th* Kawarnn (Cromwell) district, instead of that of the Dnnstan, as gazetted We have heard another w rnon of the affair—and that is, that Mr Fyke has not been guided by the Gazette notice hut has appointed pdling places with'n the limits of each district as described by the Representation Act, 1870 The question therefore is—Have the Government made a mistake, or has Mr Pyke ? Marking at the Butts.—The Y. Z. Herald speaks of a new method of marking, which has been used for the first time at the Colonial Prize Firing at Aiiei-latui the ether day In the old style it was nsu 1 to hoist out Hags after every shot to denote win re u struck ; but there were ohjee'ions to this system, as the flips would often not blow out, and so led to confusion. The new system is a very beautiful and simple one. A circular piece of tin, about a foot in diameter, is fastened to the end of a long rod and after every shot it is held up from the butt, and tin n is pointed to that part of the target where the shot has stnuk. It is white for an outer, blue hj r a centre, and red and white for a bull’s eye. There is not the slightest difficulty therefore in making the effect of every shot perfectly clear to the shooters. Thanks a e due to Colonel Harrington for bringing the system in vogue. Tree Planting.—lt is intimated in the Gazette that the Provincial Government is prepared to receive applications from parties desirous of taking up land for the purpose of planting forest trees. Each applicant will be allowed to take up an area of land not exceeding 200 acres, to be selected in any part of the Province: provided i hat, if within goldfields, the warden of the district will be required to report, and should tho application be granted, it. will be subject to the provisions of the Agricultural Lease Regulations, as to entry t. mine, or prospect for gold. Any person whose applica'ion is accepted will be required, dining the first year, to fence in the whole of the area granted to him, and to p’ant with approved forest trees onc-lifth of the area during each of the second, third, and fifth years. The remaining fifth may be used for cultivation, at the option of the occupant. As soon as those conditions arc fulfilled, the occupier will be entitled to receive a Crown grant , free of cost. The Lakes.—Wo cull tlio following items from the Wahatip Mail :—The recent rains have pi oval vo y hj; indicia! to f .mums generally, who lure housed or stack- d then* , eeit-al produce. The < niy exceptions are ate crops on tlip heavier land* ; but these are no' injured as yet.—Sickness of a peculiar character has been very prevalent throughput the district of late. It took the form of a sudden attack of severe vomitting and purging—a species of cholera, in fact, from which bo .hold and young have Buffered—in some 1 cases causing insensibility, ami in one instance, we hear, the death of a child. We have not heard the origin of the disease—probably it has been the sudden change of the season ; but not that alone, we think.— On Sunday, and the two succeeding days, we were suddenly plunged from summer into quite wintry weather, and the season was completely broken up —titful showers of rain and sleet being the predominating feature, while bitter March-like winds seemed to pierce every nook and cranny of oiir dwellings. The days, however, have since been Hue, and the nights cool. But winter is evidently coming on apace ; and, so we predict, are hard times for many unfortunates in our midst. We regret to pen these words ; but truth demands that we should do so. The fact is, the place is overdone with a town population, and, as the season advances and several works in course of construction shortly become completed, it will be fare ill with the poorer classes through the winter, unless aid is rendered by the charitable, or our merchants are -willing to add to thenlist of already too many and long outstanding accounts. Glowing accounts of our prosperity have attracted hither many—and some of them with largo families—from the less prosperous districts of Southland and elsewhere. I r. Moran met a very enthusiastic reception in the Wakatip district. At Queenstown he was presented with an address of welcome by Mr 0. E. Haughton, on behalf of the congregation ; and on his visit to the Arrow he was met at Hayes I. ake by seventy horsemen, who accompanied him into the township. In replung to an address presented by Mr J. F. Tully, his Lordship is reported to have said :—My first duty is plainly marked out to me, and that is to thank yon from the depth of my heart for the very kind reception given. If I teil yon I cannot give expression to my feelings to thank you far the hearty and enthusiastic welcome with which 1 have been received by you, I do not say too much. And yet I feel, after all, this demonstration is not for my unworthy person, but for our Holy See, and for our head, Pius IX. No one can doubt, with what I have witnessed, that this clay shows your faith in the Holy See is as fervent as if you never left your native sod. My first duty will be to lot our holy 1 Father know how devoted are his children

here. The assurance this day given will Avc strength to build up our holy Church. On coining amongst you I felt a-disappoint-ment. at first; I saw there were difficulties in the way. Bat there are ways of getting out of these difficulties ; and when 1 come to this pi mo, so far from the centres of civilisation, if I may so speak, and witn ss your attachment to the faith, I do feel confidence that I shall be able to do something bore in the cause of morality, religion, and of our holy Church. A dinner will be given to the Volunteer Represent dives to-morrow (Thursday) evening, at 7. CO. The annual meeting of the members of tho Cavcreham Mutual Improvement Association will bo held in the Schomroom, this evening, at 8 o'clock. A public meeting of the Dunedin Abstainers’ Union will be hell in the Congregational Hall, Moi-.vy place, this (Wed-u-s :ay) evening, at 8 o’clock, when songs, ] recitations, and readings by ladies and gen- ; lumen will be given.