Amateur Opera Club.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7838, 2 June 1905, Page 3

Amateur Opera Club.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Amateur Opera Club was held at the Dresden Piano Company's rooms on Thursday evening. There was a good attendance, Mr C. T. Mills Inking the chair. The report of the committer stated that of the two operas staged during the past year, "ha Mascot!'.'" had realised the emu of £BO 2s Gd on behalf of the Club. "Princess Ida" being put on by arrangement with the New Plymouth Carnival Committee for the sum of £7.">. The committee drew attention to the cost 01 production, which appeared lo be 100 large in proportion to the receipts. The greatest weakness* seemed to be in the necessity of going beyond our own town for principals, which should not be the case with such o, club. Heuvy items of expenditure were coach expenses, stage assistance and royally, and these should receive attention in the future. The total meiuuco'ship of the club' was fortyi The club was in a sound linancial slate, havjng. a balance of assets over liabilities amounting to £:S2 15s Bd. At the same time it was not satisfactory to be working on an overdraft; and it would be well for the members to consider the advisablencss of adopting a small membership subscription. Tho commiittee, in conclusion, expressed thanks to Messrs C. Kennell and T. S. Weston for their liberal donations to the club ; to the press, to the individual members for assistance and support dur ng 'the year ; to Miss F. Perry (pianist), and the members of the orchestra under M; A. L. Cooko ; and to Mr V. Stephens for services rendered. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts totalled £lB4 (is 2d, while the expenditure amounted to £2OB 18s 7'd". The principal items of expenditure were : Properties and wardrobe, £Bl Is ; cost of performances, £llß (is 7d ; general expenses, £8 Bs. The overdraft at present was £42 0s lid. On the motion of Mr E. Clarke the balance-sheet was adopted. It was unanimously agreed on the motion of Mr Jones, seconded by Mr Clarke, to lix the membership at 2s 6d for ladies and 5s for gentlemen. The meeting was also in favour of the admission of honorary members, and the matter of fixing the subscription wusi relegated lo tins committee. The election of officers resulted : Patron, Mr It. Cock ; President, Mr Jas. Paul (re-elected) ; Viee-Presi-dunts. Messrs C. Hennell ami Weston (re-elected) ;• secretary, Mr J. Jones (re-elected)- treasurer, Mr C. T./ Mills (re-elected) ; Committee : Misses Kennell and Murphy (re-elected), Misses Carle and Treehy, Messrs W. Perry (re-elected), E. Clarke, J. Gray and J. O'ilagan ; auditor, Mr C. Kennell. The valuable serv ces of. the secre tary were appreciatively referred to and n suggestion to ,vote him an honorarium was made. Mr Jones thanked the members for their expression of appreciation, but de- ■ dined any form of honorarium whatever. A vote of thanks to the conductor (Mr W. Perry) for his excellent work was als-o recorded. Some discussion took place regarding the selection of the next opera to be staged. As \oi'y satisfactory arrangements were submitted with regard to securing splendid properties and wardrobe, it was decided, on a vote being taken, to stage "Dorothy." Members expressed the opinion that this beautiful piioducliorl would lie very popular in New Plymouth, as "Dorothy" has not been presented here for nine years, and never by a professinngl company. The details were left to the committee!