WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 128, 22 February 1908, Page 13

WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. 4' tho annual meeting of the Wellington Choral Society, which was held in St. .John's schoolroom last night, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, Presided over an attendance of about fifty ladies and gentlemen. ... Tho Chairman moved the adoption of tho annual report and balaiice-sheot, as already published. Ho said that these documents were a very great credit to tho Society. Great strides had been made during tho year from a financial point of viow. Tho balancesheet was a good deal better than it appeared on. tho surfaoo.. Tho printed statement shpwed a _ debit balanco of £65 'is., but against this there were assets amounting to £34' Is. 6d., leaving a .real debit balance of £31 2s. 6d.' When 'they. recollected that the year was begun with a debit balanco of £77 10s.. 6d., they would admit that tho position of : tho Society had greatly improved. The Chairman'went on to eulogise tho work of tho Socioty in .elevating tho 'musical taste of the community/ This was shoiyii by tho success of tho Society's renderings of " Juda3 Maccabasus;"-' " Tho Eedemption, l ' and " The sia'n," to , largo audiences in tho most capacious hall in the city. The Society had an income of £270 from members' subscriptions, and obtained from its three performances £67 25., £102 2s. 6d., and £93 2s. 3d. respectively,, another evidence of uplifted musical taste.v Tho paying, of £272 in fees by tho Society for the professional assistance of tho conductor and others was another sigi\ of strength in tho Society. .■ Competent judges had besfcowea the' highest upraise .on the orcliestrai music at the performances.- After paying a. tribute to tho conductor (Mr. Maughan Barnett), Mr. Aitken warmly oongratfllated.tjie Seciety on its very successful year's work. /.'■" / .-'. Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted. ■The following officers were elected: —; Patrons, Sir J. G. "Ward, Sir Robert Stout; president,' Mr. 'J; G. W. Aitken, M.P.; vicopresidents, Rev. Dr. Gibb, Hon. T. W. tl'islop, Messrs. A. H. Miles, W. Eraser, M;P., A. L. Hordman/: A. S. Biss, D. J. Nathan, W.- E. Bethuno; conductor; Mr. J. Maughan Barnett; hon. accompanist, Mr, Horace Hunt; hon: solicitor, Mr! R. H. Webb ; lion, auditor, Mr. C. D. Morpeth ; hon. secretary, Mr. S. G; Hamerton; assistant secretary, Mr. % E. Caldow; hon.; treasurer, Mr. J. C- Ypunj*; hon. librarian, Mr. J. W- Barclay; oommittee, Messrs. It. T. Caldow,F. I!. Yqung, A. Q'; Wells, E. R. Mowbray, W._J, .Hueston! ,'- / : Tho.re-election of Mr.-J.' Maughan Barnett as conductor was greeted with applause. In returning, thanks ho said/ that ho considered that, of tho threo ooncerts of.the'geasoiii ■' Tho Rodomption." was tlio best; and was, in. l/ict-, tho best ho had ever conducted in' Wellington.: Mr, Webb suggested that tho debit balknca should bo at onco. Tviped out by,a spccial,sub'.Bcription'/among . tho men; members'.!'! Ho stated that if nineteen members would givo 10s. each wou|d i give the twejitietl- - and -if nine would give £1 each tho same gentleman would- give another £1. ■-, ■ - ■ ■No resolution was passed on this subject. Mr. Caldow moved That before we can uso tho Town Hall organ for our orchestra, it is necessary ;that wood wind instruments be prpoured attuned to tho organ, and that it bo an instruction te ; the .committeo to consider tho matter, and, if doomed practicable, to take the necessary steps to procure the Siimo." The mover' suggested that tho City Council, . having decided the pitch of thq organ, .might well purchaso and liiro out suitab!o: wood wind .instruments./' Failing that; such instruments would: bo a' valuable assot for the Society:

Mr. E. R. Mowbray seconded, the , motion. , Mr. , Maughan , Barnett: supported tho motion.. Ho said' tho pitch' of tho organ was now recqgiiised as tho correbt oiiey and was undoubtedly preferable to a higher pitch, as fuller aiid hotter effects, were obtainablo. "If the suggestion'wero • carried! out, it would bp" a very good thing for, tho Society! , ' ~ Mr. Caldow stated,'. in, reply, to a question, that all, the •, wo'6'd wintl instruments required could ho purchasMl fof £200, but £100 would buy what would-..eiiablo' tho orchestra to use tho Town Hall orean. ' - ,Tho motion Was' carribd. '; •' -