MEETING OF DELEGATES.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7358, 10 July 1889, Page 6

MEETING OF DELEGATES.

A meeting of the delegates from the various Musical Societies was held last night at Warner's Hotel to consider matters relative to the Santley festival. There were present—Messrs Bounington, Evans, Appfeby, Barnett, Meares, H. H. Loughnan, M. Gardner, Puschell, L. Cohen, L. A. Cane, J. Rowley, and T. Acland.

Mr Bonnington was voted to the chair, and said the first matter for consideration was whether strangers other than those who had been appointed as delegates should be present. Mr M. Gabd'uer said that if it were intended that the festival should exclude all the musical people who were not members of musical societies, then he would withdraw. He would point out that he did not think that it was intended to exclude church and cathedral choirs. He had been asked to take part in the festival, but if it were intended to keep the meeting solely for members of the Musical Societies he would withdraw.

Mr A. Evans said that he thought they all ought to be pleased to get the assisttance of any gentlemen outside the delegates, and he therefore moved—"That gentlemen other than delegates now present be invited to remain."

Mr Cohen seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Gardner said of course he should not vote, which was the province of the Societies represented. The Chairman said in introducing the business, he wished to point out that the Orchestral Society, who looked upon themselves as a kind of neutral body, had carefully considered this matter, and had come to the conclusion that the only way in which the success of the festival as projected could be ensured was by all musical bodies, including Cathedral and church choirs, getting together and trying for the honor of Christchurch to make the festival the success it should be. There was no doubt that the Motett Society had a sort of prior claim, and their Society had felt that it was only due to Mr Wells, the conductor of that Society, that he should be offered the musical directorship of this great festival. Then if they could approach the conductor of the Musical Society—the finest leader New Zealand had ever seen—and get him to take the leadership, they would see the festival the great success they all desired to make it. He felt sure Mr Wallace would, if he fell in with these views, as he thought he would, earn for himself the gratitude of all musical men in Christchurch. The Orchestral Society took up the position of endeavoring, so far as they could, to give every assistance to the cause of music, and this was why they had taken the step they had. If the amalgamation to which he had referred was not brought about the Orchestral Society wonld decline to take part with any section. If the amalgamation was carried out the Society would to a man give their assistance most heartily and without fee. (Applause.) Mr H. H. Loughnan had listened with great pleasure to the remarks of the Chairman, and agreed with them on general principles. He would like to know the present position of affairs. So far as he could learn from what he saw in the public prints, they had not yet caught their hare, as there still seemed some doubt whether Mr Santley would come. The Chairman said that perhaps Mr Acland could give the information. Mr Acland said there was no reason whatever to doubt that Mr Santley would come after the letters they had received, if plain English meant anything. The Chairman read the letter from Mr Poole on the subject. Mr Cane s&id that there was an error in the letter as published. It said, "He will write you in a few days when the matter is definitely fixed," but should read " when his route is definitely fixed." Mr Cohen moved—"That the delegates consider the question of the Festival without reference to Mr Santley's appearance in Christchurch at all." In order for the delegates to consider the question of Mr Santley's coming here, they have before them all the financial arrangements which had been entered into with Mr Santley with a view to seeing whether they were prepared to take them over or not. Until they had all this information they could not discuss the question as to Mr Sane ley. > Mr Baknett could not see that they had any power as delegates from their respective Societies to take into consideration anything but a Santley Festival. Mr Appleby thought the question of a general festival, at which two or three works might be done, was altogether different to the one now before them. The motion of Mr Cohen was not seconded. The Chairman said he understood that there were no financial arrangements before them. Mr Acland said that the Motett Society would be stronstly in favor of Mr Welle being musical director, and Mr Wallace as leader. If this were arranged, then they would be prepared to discuss the financial position. They were opposed to the Committee as proposed by the Musical society, and hod arranged a list embracing most of the musical men in the oommunity. The Chairman said he was of opinion that all the resolutions passed by the Motett Society prior to the appointment of delegates must be considered null and void. This was the commencement of the consideration of the matter by the musical bodies in Christchurch, ana all that had gone before must be considered null and void. If they did anything else, they would signally fail. He would like to ask Mr Acland, as the President of the Motett Society, whether they had Mr Santley's financial terms ? Mr Acland said they had, but they would not be prepared to discuss them until they were assured that the firat steps were to be taken. They fully agreed with whar the Chairman had said as to Mr Wells and Mr Wallace, but they were not prepared to go outside what bad been done by the Motett Society. He might say that Mr Santley's terms were one hundred guineas per night and hotel expenses for himself and Mr Pooie. The Chairman asked whether Mr Santley asked for a guarantee ? Mr Acland said Mr Santley had not asked for a guarantee. Mr Meares asked whether Mr Acland could say if those terms had been accepted. Mr Acland said that by letters this had been done.

Mr Meares asked whether there was not reference in the letter from Mr Poole to the fact that the President of the Musical Society had written to him, and suggesting an amalgamation. Mr Aclakd said that there was a postscript to the letter to that effect. The Chairman said that showed most conclusively that Mr Santley felt that amalgamation must be carried out. He (the Chairman) also felt that every musical organisation in Christchurch" coming together would be none too strong, and they must all work together.! Mr Bahxett said that they must first decide whether they were a Committee to to^ rr y ou t the Santley Festival, or whether they were simply there to carry oat the resolutions of the Sotett Society ?lSt ™h' WS** «* «»*t no body V&i by P^^ l " l * action, andTtheretore. they must commence d*novo.

The Chairman suggested that a resolution should be pat to the effect that it was desirable for all the Musical Societies to combine together for the Santley Festival. Mr Gardner would suggest that the appointment of Mr Wells as musical director should be incorporated in the reThe Chairman thought until Mr Wallace had been communicated with, the addition spoken of should not be made to the proposed resolution. Mr Gabd'nbb further suggested that the Committee should comprise members of Church choirs of the Church of England, the Roman Catholic, and other denominations. The Chairman said to accompany an artist like Mr Santley they required more than a mere fiddler, and as they possessed the finest violinist in NewZealand in Mr Wallace, he thought they ought to use every endeavor to get Mr Wallace to take the leadership. He would therefore suggest that a deputation should wait on Mr Wallace and ask his consent. Mr Barnett must put it again, that the first thing to be settled was whether the delegates were to be bound or not by the previous resolutions. Mr Meares agreed with Mr Barnett, and quoted from a letter dated Melbourne June 22nd, in which Mr Price stated that no arrangements had been definitely made for Mr Santley's visit to New Zealand, though tempting offere had been made from several towns. Mr Cane said that Mr Wells, on behalf of the Moteit Society, had accepted Mr Santley's terms as mentioned by Mr Acland. Mr Loughnan pointed out that the letter from Mr Price, to whom Mr Toole stated he had handed over the business arrangements, said no arrangements had been made. The Chairman said that he once more asked whether the delegates from the Motett Society would agree to commencing d& novo. Mr Acland said that they could not do this. They were instructed to represent their Society and not their own views. Mr Loughnan would like to know what the delegates from the Motett Society had come for. Mr Case said they did not know anything more than that they had come to meet the other delegates. Mr Cohen said if the instructions of the Motett Society delegates were not to cooperate with other Societies in receiving Mr Santley then the meeting could not go any further. The logical conclusion of their being there was that they intended to co-operate, aud if this were so, then the asking the delegates to be bound by anything dove before they had met was inconsistent with their being present. If the representatives of the Motett Society were not instructed to discuss the question and be bound by the resolutions of that Committee, then the sooner they departe i the better. Mr Meares moved—" That a sub-Com-mittee be appointed, consisting of Messre Acland, Bonnington, Loughnan, and Appleby, to make the necessary arrangements for the Santley Festival." Mr Acland said what he desired to say was this, that the Motett Society having got Mr Santley, desired Mr Wells to be appointed as musical conductor. The Chairman asked Mr Acland whether, after hearing the expression of opinion, he had any doubt that this would be done. Mr Loughnan said, at home it was the custom to have a different conductor for each work; so that this need nofc stand in the way. Mr Wells was a very capable conductor, but he did not think that this should stand in the way of their combiuation. The Chairman pointed out that unless they had Mr Wells as the conductor of the Festival they would lose the very valuable services of Mr Wallace as conductor. Mr Acland said that one thing Mr Wells had in his mind was to get Mr Wallace to conduct a ballad concert by the Motett Society. Mr Barneit seconded the motion, on the understanding that the proposed subCommittee should commence de novo.

Mr Acland under these circumstances could not allow his name to remain on the Committee. Mr Cane said that the Motett Society felt that anything that this meeting did must be submitted to them.

Mr Barnjstt said that if this was the position taken up by the delegates appointed by the Motett Society, the sooner they closed the meeting the better. After some further discussion,

Mr Acland said fcuat they were prepared to start de novo, and work with the other societies, providing the Motett Society was represented ou the Committee in the proportion of five out of twelve. The Chairman said so far as the Orchestral Society was concerned the Motett Sjciety might have ten to twelve. Mr acland then proposed—" That on the coudition that the proportion of the members of the Motett Society on the .Executive Committee be five to seven, they will consent to proceedings being re-opened de novo." Mr Meares and Mr Barnett protested against the resolution as conveying a slur on the other societies. Mr APPLEBT said the question of bagging Mr Sautley had never come iuto consideration with the AJusical Society. What they wanted to do was to join forces with the Motett Society. They were anxious to see Mr Santley there, and they did not care who had him or who made a protit out of him. The Musical Society was quite prepared to give its help as far as possible. He might say that Mr Wallace had most generously placed himseif in the hands of the President of the Musical Society, uud expressed himself willing to take up mc position which had beeu spoken of that evening. He thought that the Motett Society had not acted judiciously in carryiug the resolutions they had prior to the meeting of the delegates that evening. He had a very high opiuion of Mr Wells. As aeonauctor he was a first-class man, and one of che best they could get. Christchurch could do a great thing if Mr Samlev came if they joined their forces. Some further discussion ensued, in the couree of which the Chairman urged that Mr Aclani should accept an equality of votes, and ultimately Mr Acland announced that JlrPuschell and himself were in favor of withdrawing the condition imposed. Mr Cane said that he disagreed with the withdrawal of the condition, because he felt sure that it would not be accepted by the Motel t Society. Mr Appleby deprecated any jealousy between the two Societies. Mr Barnett said that now the ground was cleared, it would be as well to start the work. He would move—" That those appointed as delegates from the various Societies represented at the present meeting be elected as the Executive Committee of tha Santley Festival, with power to add to their number." Mr Cohen seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Maitland Gardner was then added to the Executive Committee. It was resolved—" That a Sub-Com-mittee, consisting of the Chairman and Mr Meares. be requested to wait on Mr Wallace with a view to requesting him to take the leadership at the festival." Mr Bonnington was unanimously appointed as Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Mr A. Evans as Secretary. It was resolved that the next meeting of the Committee be held on Friday, at 5 p.m. A cordial vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.