A CITY ORGAN.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10777, 3 October 1900, Page 5

A CITY ORGAN.

SCHEME FOR ITS PURCHASE. The proposal to obtain for Christchurch a city organ similar to those in Sydney and Melbourne is rapidly taking definite form, and several gentlemen who are enthusiastic in the matter, are working hard to secure for the city a really first-class instrument. The Special Committee appointed by the City Council to report on the proposal were personally in favour of the suggestion, bus as it was proposed to place the instrument in the Agricultural and. Industrial Hall difficulties arose with the Municipal Corporations Act, and it was found not practicable for the City to purchase an organ, and to put it into a building of which tlxe ratepayers were not the proprietors. A scheme haa now been propounded, whereby the citizens can become possessed of an organ t second to none in the colonies in quality, although not a-s large as the Sydney organ. Specifications have been received from England, , wiiich have been approved by a Committee of I experts here, and the organ haa been recommended by the best organists in the Old Country. iiriefly, the proposal is that the citizens shall subscribe a sum sufficient to purchase the instrument, by means of a small limited liability company, Messrs W. Recce, A. Kaye. G. Bonnington, J. A. Frostick, and another gentleman, who prefers to remain anonymous, have headed the list with. £100 each, and the conditions governing the company will be that the shareholders will receive interest, not exceeding 7 per cent., and , that the earnings of the organ, by means of organ recitals, popular concerts, and so forth, having paid the interest, the balance ■ shall be placed to the credit of the organ fund, or shareholders be repaid by ballot, and a special clause is to be inserted in the memorandum of association, that when the shareholders have been paid their interest and original capital, the organ must become absolutely, without further charge, the property of the city. Most favourable terms have been made with the Agricultural and Industrial Hall Company, namely, the company agrees to pay a small rental for the organ, keep the instrument in time., insure it in the name of the owners for the full value, and carry out the following further conditions for a period of eleven years: —The free use anmiaily of the hall for six afternoons and six j evenings, including light, free of any charge; ' a further six nights with a charge only suf- i ficient to cover cost of lighting and cleaning. The whole of the proceeds of the twelve evenings and six afternoons to be I de,vo\ed to the organ tvmd. The company further agrees to give ad additional twelve > niKois at the cost of lighting and cleaning I only, no rent to be charged. For these ' twelve nights they are to receive one third of the profile. It ia estimc.te-d that, the city could, without difficulty, aeqnire the instrument, tho total cost of*-which will be about £3000, within a period of ten years. It is to bs hoped the citizens will seize ■ this golden opportunity of securing for CTirissachurch an instrument of the very finest quality, that should prove a source of enjoyment to all.