OBITUARY DR. EDGAR BAINTON

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28163, 29 December 1956, Page 2

OBITUARY DR. EDGAR BAINTON

Dr. Edgar L. Bainton, former Director of the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, was drowned near his Sydney home recently. He was well known to New Zealand musicians.

Like the present conservatorium director (Sir Bernard Heinze), Dr Bainton had been twice guest conductor of the National Orchestra of New Zealand.

First visiting New Zealand in 1936 to give lecture-recitals for the Registration Board of the Music Teachers’ Association, Dr. Bainton returned in 1948 and 1950 as guest conductor of the orchestra. Highly regarded as a conductor and composer, Dr. Bainton will be remembered for several valuable scores. They include “Before Sunrise”—for contralto, chorus, and orchestra; a concerto fantasia the choral work “The Tower.” the opera “The Pearl Tree.” and many songs and pianoforte pieces

In Great Britain, Dr. Bainton was conductor of the Newcastle Harmonic Society from 1907 to 1914 and of the Newcastle Philharmonic Orchestra from 1912 to 1934. when he resigned to go to Australia as director of the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music. He frequently conducted the Sydney Symphony an<l Victorian State Symphony Orchestras, and in his two New Zealand conducting tours, directed the National Orchestra for a total period of about six months. Dr. Bainton’s last appearance with the National Orchestra was in April, 1950. Shortly after, he handed the orchestra over to the then new resident conductor (Mr Michael Bowles). Mr Bowles is now the conductor of a city symphony orchestra in the United States. Dr. Bainton was a Fellow of the Royal College of Music and an honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. He is survived by his two daughters. CONSTABLE W. DEVINE Constable William Walter Devine, officer-in-charge of the Islington Police Station since 1951.. died yesterday. Constable Devine joined the Police Force in 1923, and after initial training was posted to the Christchurch Central Police Station. He was stationed in turn at Timaru, Christchurch and St. Albans before being appointed officer-in-charge of the police station at Green Island, near Dunedin, in 1939. His next transfer was to Islington. In athletic sports Mr Devine was well above the average. Besides being a first-grade distance swimmer, he represented Manawatu at Rugby football before his transfer to Wellington, where he played senior grade for the Marist Old Boys’ Club. On being transferred to Christchurch in 1923 he joined the Marist League Club and played for New Zealand against the English League team which toured New Zealand in 1925. and he toured England the following year as a member of the Kiwis.

Mr Devine is survived by his wife and four sons. William, Leo. Colin and Brian.