WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5401, 19 July 1878, Page 5

WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the.society was held at the Provincial Hall at' 8 o'clock - last evening. There was a numerous attendance of members of both sexes. » The chair was occupied by - Mr. George"Hunter,' M.H.R., president of the society. ' . . The Chaikmak said the object of the meeting was to receive the report of the transactions of the past year, and the balance-sheet of:the society. He would therefore coll on the hon. secretary to read the annual report and.balance-sheet. -

Mr. Gabbabd accordingly read the following The committee has the pleasure of placing before the members and subscribers its report and balance-sheet for the 15th season, just concluded.

Immediately after the Messiah conceit, Mr. J. A. Edwards was compelled, owing to his many professional engagements, to resign his post; and at the special request of the committee, Mr. Rona-Marten kindly undertook temporarily the honorary conduqtorship, and continned to act in that capacity during the remainder of the season, thus relieving the committee from a serious difficulty. The committee desires to record its thanks to him for the very valuable assistance he'has rendered to the society. Mr. Rous-Marten has however intimated' that his private engagements will not permit of his occupying the position in future, and it will be a mitter for the successors of the present committee to take at once intotheir consideration. A letter has been received from a professional gentleman in England who is desirous of settling in New Zealand, and the committee recommends that the appointment should be kept open until such time as will enable him to reply to their letter.

During the season the usual four subscription concerts have been given, when thefollowing works were performed : —Spohr’s oratorio “ The Last Judgment,” Barnett’s cantata “Paradise and the Peri,’’ and Auber’s opera “Masaniello,” - the various programmes being completed by selections of sacred and secular music. The usual public concert was given at Christmas in the Wesleyan Church, Mannersstreet (through the kindness of the trustees), when Handel’s, oratorio “ The Messiah ” was performed, but upon this occasion (the sixth in succession) the attendance on the part of the public was limited, and ihe proceeds were only sufficient to cover the expenses, instead of, as in the previous year, leaving a satisfactory balance in favor of the society. The committee is of opinion that it would be desirable to have a change in the work to be performed next Christmas, and in anticipation of this have ordered from London sufficient copies of Mendelssohn’s oratorio “ Elijah,” a workwhich has never been given here. The committee has again to record the obligation the society is under to its president (Mr. George Hunter, M.H.E.), for his continued interest and liberality. Owing to the disposal of bis business premises he was compelled at Christmas to intimate to the committee his inability to provide the society with a practising room for the future, but after waiting upon the members of the Government he" succeeded in obtaining permission for the society to use the Provincial Hall when not otherwise required, and the committee desire to express its thanks to the Govemment-for its assistance to the society in thus relieving it from a great pecuniary difficulty. At the last annual meeting the question of a choral hall was brought under notice, and the committee during the season has given the matteritssenou3consicrlratioa,but the difficulty of obtainingasnitable siteupon terras that would be within the means of the society, has prevented them taking any definite action in the matter. The committee is, however, of opinion that no difficulty would .be , experienced in. raising, sufficient funds, by debentures or otherwise, amongst subscribers and the public, with which to erect a suitable building, provided an eligible site could first bo obtained.

To afford more convenience and comfort to subscribers, the committee secured the Theatre Eoyal for three of the subscription concerts; and now that the Imperial Opera House is completed it does not anticipate any difficulty will be experienced in securing One or other for the future. The question of reserving seats has proved one upon which a great difference of opinion, exists, but the committee has continued the system, after finding that a majority of the subscribers were in favor of it. During the season additions have been made to several of the works previously in the library, and full vocal and instrumental parts of Smart’s cantata “Bride of Duukerron,”. and Beethoven’s oratorio “ Mount of Olives,” have been purchased. Neither of these has yet been produced by the society, and it is intended to use them during the coming season. • The attendance on the part of performing members'during the, season has been exceedingly satisfactory, the average number attending each concert being 72. The roll of members now consists of soprano, 30; alto, 10; tenor, 15; bass, IS; band, 16; total, 80. -* The committee has had under consideration the necessity for a revision of the rules and constitution of the society,, and a draft of the same will be placed _ before the meeting for its approval. The committee further recommends that the society should be brought nnder the provisions of the Provincial; Act entitled; the Voluntary, Associations Incorporation Apt 1872, and a resolution will be proposed os a necessary step to enable the Society to bo properly constituted under that Act.

, .The committee suggests that the. appointment of the paid officers for the ensuing season should be left in the hands of the new committee, . ' '

In conclusion, the committee desires to express its thunks to the members for their regular attendance ; to Messrs. Spreat, Bennington, and Sewell for their kindness in preparing orchestral music for the. last concert; and to the Auckland and Wanganui societies for the loan of instrumental music. The committee cannot close the of the year’s proceedings without placing on record their high appreciation of the indefatigable services .of their honorary secretary, Mr. T. Garrard. They feel that it is not too much to say that to hi? untiring exertions may be, to a very large extent, traced the present satisfactory state of the ■ society’s funds and of its library. - The committee and officers, in accordance with .the rules, now resign their trust into the hands of members and subscribers. Balance-Sheet of the Wellington Choral . ‘ Society, Fifteenth Season.

The Chairman said that according to custom it now became his duty formally to move the adoption of the report. This was a very easy and agreeable task to do, as the proceedings of the 1 society during the past year had been most satisfactory. The report stated at the outset the difficulty which the committee experienced at the commencement of last session through the resignation of Mr. Edwards, and the hearty thanks of the society were due to Mr. Marten for the manner in which he had helped them out of the difficulty by consenting to act as conductor. Mr. Marten now felt it necessary to retire, and the mention made of that gentleman in the report was nothing more than he deserved ; in fact, he was deserving of a great deal more. Ho thought the report might have been even stronger in its expression of thanks to the Government for placing the Provincial Hall at the disposal of the society. It was a'very fine and beautiful room, and he hoped the Government would be able to allow the society the use of it for a long time to come. As the report indicated, no definite steps had been taken with reference to the question of the erection of a hall. XTp to the present time, the difficulty that presented itself was the procuring of a suitable site ; but once that difficulty was got over, he believed the society would be able to erect a hall that would be in every respect suitable for all their purposes. Alter making some further remarks on the report and balance-sheet, the'Chairman said he would now repeat what he had said in committee with reference to two officers of the society. He thought these gentlemen—the conductor and secretary —were entitled to something more than the thanks of the society for the valuable services which both' gentlemen had rendered so agreeably, and so far as he (the chairman) -was concerned, he would recommend the new committee to recognise those services in a befiling manner. (Hear, hear, and ’ applause). He had now much pleasure in moving that the report and balance-sheet be adopted. Mr. Jonas Woodward seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman said the next business was the election of office-bearers for the ensuing year. . Mr. Equs-Marten said he had great pleasure in proposing that Mr. George Hunter be reelected president. It was unnecessary for him to enlarge on Mr. Hunter’s fitness for the position, or to say how indebted the society was to that gentleman. (Hear, hear, and applause). p The motion was seconded, and carried by acclamation.

The Chaimian returned thanks for the honor done, him ‘ by his re-election as president, and said that he would continue to do what he could to benefit the society. He would certainly be most willing to do everything in his power. % The Hon. Mr. Hart and Mr. Jonas Woodward were re-elected vice-presidents. Mr. J. R. George was proposed as treasurer. Mr. Geougb expressed his inability to accept the office, as the new rules would impose more duties upon him than he was prepared to undertake. With regard to the performances given by the society he would take this opportunity of expressing his opinion. Whenever any light music was proposed it was objected to, the plea being that the object of the society was not so much to please the public as to cultivate the works of the great masters. The Athenaeum concerts afforded a proof of what the public liked in the way of musical entertainments, and these were conducted at very little expense ; in fact, the expenses of the Athemenm concerts amounted to shillings, while those of the society amounted to pounds. After some discussion, Mr. George was prevailed upon to withdraw his objection, and he was unanimously re-elected treasurer. . Mr. Garrard was unanimously re-elected hon. secretary. The following committee was elected: — Messrs. Bull, Bennington, Hamelton, Plimpton, Marten, Reeves, Plimmer, Stewart, Widdup, and Hollister. ■ The GMAIBMAN said the next matter for consideration was the passing of the new rules, copies of which had been printed and circulated.

Mr. George moved the adoption of the rules as printed. Mr. Stuart seconded the motion, which was eventually agreed to. Mr. Jonas Woodward brought before the meeting the question of incorporating the society under an Ordinance of the Wellington Provincial Council, entitled the Voluntary Associations Incorporation Act, and proposed, —That it is desirable, if* practicable, that this society should be incorporated under an Act of the Wellington Provincial Council, entitled the Voluntary Associations Incorporation Act, 1872, as a body corporate, by the name of the Wellington Choral Society; and that such body be a body composed of persons contributing to the funds thereof, and that the committee be instructed to take the necessary steps to cause such incorporation. : Mr. George seconded the motion, ■ which was agreed to. . • Mr. Plimpton moved—That it bo an instruction to the new committee to wait on the Government before the next sitting of Parliament, to ask that a site- may be granted or leased to them on the reclaimed land for the purposes of a choral hall, Mr. Beeves seconded the motion.

Mr. Bonnington thought it would be placing the committee in a very ridiculous position, and they might as well ask the Government to build a hall at once. He thought the proposition a ridiculous one. " ,

Mr. George would not like to see the duty placed on the committee, hut perhaps two or three members might see about the matter, and he hoped they would be successful. The Chairman said he would not like tq_be one of the committee, . The Government might, however, be seen on the subject, but he would advise that the resolution should not ho so precise as to locality. They might apply for a site, but the locality should not be mentioned. Mr. Beeves did not think the Government would pooh-pooh the idea. The other day they granted a sight on-the reclaimed land to .the Hutt people for a market. Mr, Wood ■; Not on the reclaimed land, but beyond the hatha. The land has yet to be. reclaimed. - . .. The .resolution was amended by the insortion of the words "or Corporation” after " Go-

vernmeut/’ and the omission of the words “on the reclaimed land.” '

. The resolution so amended was agreed to. The Chairman . said a very pleasing duty now devolved ©n him. Hehad been requested by members of the 'society to present Mr. Marten with a baton,’ in recognition of his past services to tho society, and he hoped Mr. Marten would wield it for many years to come. He v the Chairman) thought it wa§ too much the fashion in Wellington not to pay sufficient recognition to gentlemen who rendered valuable services to tho public/ Mr, Marten was one of these, and as conductor of the Choral Society he had discharged very onerous duties with great satisfaction to himself, the society, and tbepublicgenerally. Hehad therefore much pleasure, on behalf of the subscribers, in presenting him with this small recognition of very valuable services rendered to the society. . The baton is of black ebony, mounted with silver, with a silver scroll bearing.the following inscription :—“Presented to C. Rous Marten, Esq., by the members of the Wellington Choral Society, July 18, 1678.” Mr.* Marten, after accepting the baton, made a suitable reply, and again referred to the assistance which the society had received from time to time from their president. The Chairman, in a highly eulogistic speech, then presented Mr. Garrard, the hon. secretary, with a silver salver, suitably inscribed. Mr. Garrard returned a suitable reply. Mr. Woowaud moved a cordial vote of thanks to the President and Messrs. Marten and Garrard. The vote was carried by acclamation ; and each gentleman having replied, vote of thanks were passed to the vice-presidents and committee, and to the Government for the use of tho Provincial Hall. Tho meeting then terminated.

Bit. £ s. d. To balance in hand .. 0 4 3 ; 191 one g inea subscribers. 200 11 0 13 two guinea subscribers 27 C 0 Performing members’ subscriptions .. 14 3 6 Sale of tickets —1st concert 17 7 0 „ „ Messiah.. 51 13 . 0. „ ,, 2nd concert 15 J4 0 „ „ 3rd concert 1 12 0 ,, ,, 4th concert 10 6 0 Sale ofmuslo 5 0 0 £352 10 9 Liabilities, nit. £ s d. £ S. d. By. Expenses first concert Theatre Advertising, printing tickets • and programmes .. ■ . 9 18 0 Removal and tuning piano, Ac. COO Rent of Theatre 24 0 0 Erecting platform and extra seats 9 0 0 Refreshments and attendance 6 14 0 Cartage and sundries .. 2 18 1 68 10 1 By Expenses Messiah Concert— Advertising, printing tickets and programmes 10 17 1 : Hire of harmonium, Ac, 1 15 0 Erecting platform 8.. 11 13 0 Rent of Polytechnic Hall .. 5 0 0 Itefroshmonta and attendance 10 16 0 . Organist!.. 0 6 0 Gas and gratuity to chapelkeeper.. .. 3 0 0 Cartage, labor, and sundries.. 1 17 0 51 4 1 By Expenses second concert Theatre Royal 37 11 6 Expenses third concert ’ Odd ■Fellows Hall.. .. .. .. 23 4 0 Expenses fourth concert Theatre Royal 39,11 0 Salary conductor(firat concert) 12 10 O . . Salary pianist for season .. 29 8 0 Commiitsion collecting subscriptions .. 11 8 0 Donation Wesleyan trustees 10 10 0 Music .. 35 9 5 Cupboard for music 6 0 0 Gas and gratuities preparing practice rooms .. .. .. 12 4 0 General printing, stationery, postages. and sundries .. 22 5 9 Balance .... 3 0 11 £352 16 9