PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 882, 12 February 1879, Page 2

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of members of the j : Philharmonic Society was held last even- ! ing, at the Odd Fellows' Hall. There was : a very good attendance, and Mr. J. ■ i )'.Meagher (President) occupied the chair. I In presenting our first report and ; balance sheet to this Society, your Comi niittct; have much pleasure in ciigratulaI ting the performing members upon the i very satisfactory results that have crowned | their efforts. As you are aware, four peri fonnr.nws have been given by the Society I during the past year, the last though not ! least, viz., Handel's "Messiah," was ! given for the first time in Oamaru ; and \ fn order to make the performance worthy | of the composer, the Society were at con--1 siderable expense in obtaining instru- ! mental assistance. After paying all preliminary and incidental expenses connected with, and which are necessary ' in, the formation of a new Society, also cost of practices and all expenses incurred in giving four peri formanccs, there still remains a credit balance of L2O to be carried forward. The Society have also a considerable quantity of music on hand, and an excellent double bass.. It may therefore be fairly said that the Society is in a ! flourishing state. During the past year j the Societv numbered 03 honorary members and 20 gentlemen performing members ; also 2G lady performing members. The latter are admitted free. The purposes for which the Society was started, "viz., the practice, cultivation, and performance of"music of the best masters, has been so far can-Led out most faithfullv. Your Committee recognise the desirability of adding to its strength an instrumental band, and earnestly urge upon those gentlemen who can play stringed instruments the importance of> assembling for weekly practice, in, order that they may take part in the future performances of the Society. It will devolve upon this meeting to elect office-bearers for the ensuing year, the election of whom takes place annually. The balance-sheet for the past year, showing the Society to be financially in a highly satisfactory state, v/.as also read and adopted. The election of officers-bearers then tooji place, with the following results :—President, Mr. J. Booth ; Vice-President, Mr. G. A. Sutton; Conductor, Mr. J. G. Finch ; Leader, Mr. G. Jones ; Treasurer, Mr. H. A. Medlicott; Secretary, Mr.; John Hardy ; Committee, Messrs. Ander-, son, D. Booth, Brunton, Ferens, Fraser,! Forrester, Frew, Greenfield, and Walls. j A vote of thanks having been accorded ■ to the retiring officers, the meeting termi-'

nated, and the members present held a practice of Farmer's Mass in B flat, which was exceedingly well gone through.