ADDRESS TO MR. JUSTICE JOHNSTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4435, 7 June 1875, Page 2

ADDRESS TO MR. JUSTICE JOHNSTON.

On the 29th May the committee and several members of the Choral Society waited upon His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston at the Supreme Court, for the purpose of presenting him with a farewell address from the society as a body, his Honor having been President of the Society from its foundation. The Hon. B. Haht, as vice-president of the society, introduced the members of the committee, and said : Mr. Justice Johnston—-The officers and committee of the Wellington Choral Society have requested me to present to you an address from them and the members of the society, upon the occasion of your caving this part of the colony. I feel that it would be out of place on an occasion like this to dwell at any length upon your Honor’s many efforts to do good, but I cannot refrain from saying that but for your exertions at a critical period in the history of music in this province the present society would not have been called into existence, and would never have reached its present prosperous position. Under these circumstances, it would hardly have been an act of justice on the part of those interested in carrying on its affairs to have allowed you to leave the province without testifying the feeling they entertain towards you. I beg now to hand you an address signed by the vice-president, officers, and performing members of the society. The address having already been published, it is unnecessary to reprint it. Mr. Justice Johnston, in reply, said : Mr. Hart and gentlemen, —I can assure you this tribute of good feeling toward myself is one which I very highly appreciate. I have taken a very lively interest in everything connected with this society from its earliest stages ; in fact, I may say, without presumption, that I was its creator. (Hear, hear.) It was in my own house that we first brought together the elements—the first beginnings—of that body which has since developed into an institution of great social importance. For a considerable portion of the period during which I have resided here—during the first six years of the existence of the society—my wife and I studiously attended its meetings, and to the best of our ability assisted its progress as active members (I being an office bearer) ; and I can only say that I derive as much gratification from this expression of sympathy and good feeling as from any other tribute that could be paid to me, because I know it is sincere and true. If I have in any degree assisted in the development of a taste for good music—and I would fain hope I have—l shall at least have done some little good. I know the difficulties these societies have to contend with in a state of society such as we live in—difficulties which are not known in older countries and in more fixed communities ; but although there may from time to time be oscillations and vacillations in the community which will affect the society in such a manner that it may not at one time be in so firm a position as at another, yet 1 see so much real appreciation of art among the members of this society—l see on every side such indications of an interest in the cultivation of good music—that I am perfectly certain you have only to proceed boldly iiand carefully, not being baulked by occasional incoveniences, and you will succeed in becoming a very distinguished body both in respect of vocal and instrumental music. It is not for me to enlarge at a time like this upon the many social and substantial benefits derivable from the existence ■of a society like this. It affords a kind of neutral ground to meet upon, where concord and harmony prevail. One of the greatest practical difficulties to be met with in all such societies is this : that young members, persons wishing to perfect themselves, are sometimes allowed to join at a time when they are not sufficiently prepared to go into the work of such a society in a way that would make the whole effective. We must no longer, in a community so progressive as ours, look upon a society such as this as a mere means of educating young persons in the rudiments of music. It should rather be looked upon in the future as a society where those who have studied the musical art may indulge in its practice, promote their own tastes and culture, and display their powers to the satisfaction of the community generally. As a greater number of musical professors come amongst us they will be able to supply us with a constant supply of members competent to take part in the real work of the society. To persons who have had so much experience as some whom I see around me, it must at times be rather galling to lose time at practices where they are kept down to a standard of the least efficiency; so that in the future I would venture to recommend that some means should be adopted, before the election of members, to see that they do possess some knowledge of music. Thus it would soon become a privilege to be a member of the society. A fresh stimulus would be given to the already experienced members, who would be enabled to come up point by point to the development of the highest standard, and thus confer a benefit upon the community at large. I am Sony the society has had so many ups and downs, but I am sure from what I saw at the last concert that there is available an amount of material which will make the Choral Society at no distant date a great honor to the place, and not unworthy of that great country which we all hope and believe Hew Zealand will one day become. Gentlemen, I sincerely thank you for the manner in which you have expressed your feelings towards me. It is also a pleasurable circumstance that the address is presented by my old friend Mr. Hart, a thorough supporter of the society, in presence of another old friend, Mr. Hunter, who may be said to have given new life to it, and also Mr. Mowbray, w T ho has given steady assistance to the society from the earliest days of its formation.—His Honor and ill’s. Johnston then hands with the members and withdrew.