WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5120, 21 August 1877, Page 3

WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Wellington Choral Society was held last evening at; Mr. Hunter’s rooms. There was a numerous attendance, and amongst those present were several ladies. Mr. J. Woodward occupied the chair, and having read the advertisment convening the meeting, called upon the secretary to read the report and balance sheet, which were as follow: — The committee of the Wellington Choral Society have now to place before the members and subscribers their report and balance-sheet for the fourteenth season, just concluded. To render it fully intelligible in all its bearings a brief retrospect is necessary of the circumstances under which the present committee, which practically has been the same for the last three seasons, took office, and of their proceedings while in °*Atthe opening of the twelfth season the committee found themselves with a debt, which, originally estimated at about £IOO, proved, when all outstanding liabilties were taken into account, nearly £200; with a small and diminishing income from subscriptions, which had decreased to only £9O per annum; with a poor and badly selected library, the greater portion being practically useless; and with absolutely no property to show (one'double-bass excepted) for an expenditure on the part of former committees amounting to several hundreds of pounds. By dint of strenuous exertions and strict economy the new committee succeeded during the twelfth and thirteenth seasons in effecting a steady reduction of the society’s . heavy debt, and at the close of the latter season it was found to have been reduced to£S9 10s. Sd., which was the debit balance at the commencement of the season just expired. At the last annual meeting, the conductor and pianist were not elected, it being deemed advisable for special reasons to leave the appointment of these officers in the hands of the committee. Several meetings were held before a course of action was finally resolved on, as It was felt that a crisis in the history of the society had arrived, and that its dissolution could be averted only by taking a fresh departure, and making a bold effort to introduce a more satisfactory system of working. When it is recollected that the season opened with outstanding liabilities equal to the whole of its regular income from subscriptions during the previous year, the difficulty with which the committee had to contend will be obvious. After mature consideration, it was resolved to prosecute an active personal ca vas of the city - for new subscribers: and, should the result prove favorable, to tako advantage of the presence in Wellington of a professional gentleman, bringing high musical credentials from Melbourne, to secure for the society a conductor in whom both the members and the subscribers would repose that confidence which Is rarely accorded wholly to an amateur however exceptional his skill.

The resnlt of the canvas was eminently satisfactory, the roll of the subscribers being increased to 200 at £1 Is., thus ensuring a positive and substantial income for the year. The committee therefore felt justified in appointing Mr. J. A. Edwards, the gentleman above referred to, conductor to the society at a - salary of £SO per annum, while Miss Black was appointed to the post of pianiste. Both have performed their arduous duties with admirable efficiency and unwearied zeal, the result being that the concerts of the past season have been of an exceedingly high character as regards the finished style in which the respective programmes have been performed. The usual four subscription concerts were given, the first and third comprising miscellaneous selections of sacred and secular music of the highest class, while the second consisted of Sir M. Costa's oratorio . “Naaman,” and the fourth mainly of C. M. Von Weber’s opera ‘‘Oberon," both these great works being given almost in their entirety, and with full orchestral accompaniments. In addition to these, the usual extra public concert at Christmas took place, when Handel's oratorio “ The Messiah ” was performed for the fifth time in annual succession. Through the kindness of the trustees of the Wesleyan Church, Manners-street, it was given as before in that building, a concession for which the warmest thanks of the society are due. While the musical success of these concerts may be regarded as thoroughly satisfactory, the financial results were no less favorable. The balance-sheet shows the total revenue for the year from all sources to have beenXlOO Os. lid.; while the expenditure, including the - liquidation of the balance of the old debt, was £399 IGs. Bd.; thus leaving a small balance to the society’s credit, showing that but for the liabilities left from former seasons the society would not only have paid its way, but have had a balance of nearly £9O on the right side, and it is with great satisfaction, that the committee are enabled to place before this meeting a statement showing this society to be free from all encumbrance—a position it has not been in for many years past. . For this satisfactory state of affairs the society is indebted largely to the able and zealous management on the part of the hon, sec., Mr. T. Garrard, who undertook gratuitously the onerous duties of secretary and librarian on the resignation of Mr. W. G. Smith at the beginning of the season. To the President (Mr. George Hunter, M.H.K.) the society owes a debt of gratitude impossible to be over-rated. Indeed, but for his continued kindness and liberality in providing, free of all charge to the society, practice and committee rooms, and a grand piano for use both at rehearsals and at concerts, even the increased income of the present season would have been insufficient. A very serious difficulty has been the want of a suitable hall in which to give the subscription concerts. At present there Is no building in this city of adequate size or possessing the necessary acoustic qualities. It is hoped that the approaching completion of the new theatre in Manners-street may tide over this difficulty for a time ; but the question of erecting a Choral Hall must engage the attention of the society at no very distant date. The society’s library has been augmented by the purchase of the cantatas “ Paradise and the Peri” (I, F. Barnett) and “The Dream” (Sir M. Costa), the operas •* Oberon” (Weber) and “Masaniello” (Auber), and several other choral works/ as well as a large and valuable supply of orchestral music, sufficient for several seasons; but the library still requires replenishing both as to new works and additional copies of those already in stock, rendered needful by the increase of performing members, the numbers now on the roll being, sopranos 33, alto 10, tenor 19, bass 15, band 22 ; total, 89. The committee suggest that the appointment of conductor and pianiste for the ensuing season should be left in the hands of the new committee. In conclusion, the committee desire to express their thanks to the members for their regular and assiduous attendance and cordial support; to the band and the-r leader, Mr, Ishenvood, for their powerful and most valuable assistance, to Messrs. J. Graham Anderson, and Schwartze for their gifts of orchestral music; to the Auckland, Dunedin, Nelson, and Wanganui societies and Mr. C. Bonnington fortheloanof musicand instruments, and to the conductor, pianist, treasurer, and hon. secretary for their zealous and efficient performance of their arduous and responsible duties. It now only remains for the committee to resign their trust into the hands of their successors.

By liabilities thirteenth season—Conductor’s salary, £3O; secretary’s salary, £lO 10s; advertising, New Zealand Times, £1 7s fid ; gas, £4 XBs ; Carver, mu.‘ic, £ll3s XOd ; treasurer, cash advanced, £lO 14s 8d; president, do, £ls; rent. Masonic Hall, £ls. Total 80 3 7 Expenses first concert Advertising, tickets, programmes, £7 9s 9d; removal apd tuning piano, £2 10s; rent. Odd Fellows’ Hall, £7 fis ; erecting platform, £5 2s fid : refreshments, £3 16s fid ; cartage and sundries, £l2s 9d. Total 27 7 0 By expenses Messiah Concert—Repairing and tuning organ (half cost), £5 : organist, £7 7s; advertising, tickets, and programmes, £lol7a 9d ; refreshments, £lO Us fid ; gas and chapelkeeper, £3 ; gratuity messenger Provincial Buildings, £2 2s; erecting platform, £ll 8s; cartage, labor, telegrams, etc, £4 4s. Total .. .. 54 C 7 By expenses second concert, £3l fis Id; third concert, £32 19s 2d ; fourth concert, £26 3s; salary conductor, £SO; salary pianist, £39 7s; commission collecting subscriptions, £ll 17s fid; printing, stationery, postages, telegrams, cleaning room, etc., £lO 15s 3d ; music, £2l 11s ; gas, £5; balance, 4s 3d. Total £4OO 0 11 The Chairman moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, which he observed were very minute, and left him really little or nothing to say. It was a matter of congratulation that the society’s affairs were in such a satisfactory condition. The society was now free from debt, and that was chiefly due to the large number of additional subscribers. He regretted that they had not a larger room in which to hold concerts, so that all who desired to attend might have seats. He hoped that an adequate hall would be provided. There was a good hall in Auckland, and there was certainly as much enterprise here as there, and therefore he did net think the idea altogether Utopian that a suitable concert hall would eventually be built in Wellington. He paid a high compliment to the conductor for his very valuable services. The obligation which the society was under to its President, Mr. Hunter, could not be over-rated, for without his assistance the society could not have prospered as it had done; indeed he doubted whether it would have been in existence without him, and this was only one of the many instances in which that gentleman had evinced his public spirit in this community. The society also owed much to the exertions of the secretary, the treasurer, and other office-bearers, Mr, Kennedy seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The following gentlemen were re-elected office-bearers for the ensuing year;—President; Mr, G. Hunter, M.H.E. ; Vice-Presidents: Mr. J. Woodward and the Hon. Mr. Hart, M.L.C.; Treasurer: Mr, J, R. George; Secre-

tary and Librarian; Mr. Garrard; Committee: Messrs. Hammerton, R. Marten, Whitaker, Widdop, Plimmer, Reeves, Bull, Bonnington, Hollister, and Spreat. A cordial vete of thanks to the President for his unwearied exertions on behalf of the society was proposed from the chair, seconded by Mr. Isherwood, and carried unanimously. The President briefly thanked the meeting for this mark of their confidence, saying it afforded him great gratification to have been of use to the society. Mr. Plympton said before the meeting separated he wished to read a memorandum of a scheme for providing a new hall, and having obtained permission so to do, read as follows: The promoters of the hall feel that the time has arrived when the society should make a strong effort to obtain for itself a local habitation and a home, and it is believed that a deputation to the members of the Government (composed of the city representatives and others interested) would be able to lay the case before them in such a manner that a piece of land might be obtained on the new reclamation, on which to erect a building for the purposes required. The promoters of the above scheme are anxious to lay before the society the present state of affairs, aid particularly to point out that however desirous the committee may be that the society should progress both in numbers and In the estimation of the public, they are met by one great obstacle—want of accommodation— there being no building sufficiently large to meet their requirements, unless at a rental entirely beyond their means. It is felt, therefore, that the society has arrived at a very critical point of its existence, when it is absolutely necessary that It should keep pace with the spirit of the times, or retrograde, perr haps to give place to another with more energy and enterprise. Should this or any scheme be favorably received, it is first proposed to make a strong canvas of the city for donations in aid, and in fact to use every means to get together as much capital as possible before commencing the building, when it is believed that little difficulty will be experienced in raising the rest, either by way of mortgages or on short-dated debentures. The building intended to be erected should consist of a central hail, with a moveable proscenium, and an auditorium to seat not less than 1500 persons comfortably ; there should be siderooms for practices, besides a library, ladies' and gentlemen’s dressing-rooms, etc., with lavatories and every convenience. In advocating the erection of such a building the promoters feel that a groat saving to the funds of the society would he made if it had some permanent place of abode ; as, for instance, the erection of platforms, carriage of timber for such, removals of piano, etc., all which would bo avoided if some such plan as sketched were carried .out; and it is thought that a considerable income might be derived from the leasing of such a hall for concerts, lectures, etc. The President pointed out that this matter had engaged the attention of the committee, as would be seen by reference to the report. He then moved that a vote of thanks should be passed to Mr. Edwards, the conductor, for his valuable services. This was seconded, and carried by acclamation. Mr. Edwards briefly returned thanks for the compliment paid to him. Mr. Reeves suggested that Mr. Plympton should be elected an extra member of the committee. The Chairman said he thought it would he enough if thp committee invited Mr. Plympton to attend their meetings, when they could discuss with him the question of the erection of a suitable concert hall. Mr. George moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, and expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing so many ladies present on this occation and interesting themselves, in the proceedings. The Chairman returned thanks, and the meeting then separated.

Balance-sheet, Htu Season, 1870 77. Dk. £ s. d. To 199 guineas subscribers .. .. 208 19 0 16 two guineas ,, .. 33 12 0 Performing members subscriptions .. 19 17 c Sale tickets, first concert .. 6 G 0 ,, 'third concert .. 16 12 0 Gross proceeds Messiah Concert .. .. 109 2 0 Sale of music and book of words 5 11 11 Total 0 11 Cu. £ 8. d.