DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 3818, 20 May 1875, Page 2

DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY.

To the Editor. Sib,—Some comments of “Music” in your issue of yesterday, relative to the alleged exclusiveness of the Choral Society calls for a reply* He states what is not correct when he says that the reporter who was requested to leave the room at the annual meeting forced his presence, into the meeting unasked. The reporter, ac in innumerable other ouee, limply

wished to know whether the proceedings were of a public character, as the representatives of the Press were present at the previous annual meeting. In the absence of the vice-president, an inferior officer was elected chairman, ana instead of putting the desired question to the meeting, he proceeded to say something to this effect—“ This being a private society, I think the public have nothing to do with it.” The abruptness of the chairman’s remarks so took the members by surprise that they were silent ; and the reporter, having arranged to receive a report consequently took his departure. “ Music ” asks the highly absurd question—“lf reporters are to be admitted uninvited, why not the public ?” Such narrow-mindedness is contemptible. Because the ‘ Times ’ critic did not indulge in the same excessive and unwarranted flattery of the society’s i ecent concert as the ‘ Guardian,’ and the Star was neutral, “ Music ” suggests that one individual should write critiques for all the papers. I wonder “Music ’ did not also advocate that the reports of this exclusive society’s concerts should be submitted to the Managing Committee for approval before being published.—l am, &c, Semiquaver. Dunedin, May 19.