MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 879, 27 July 1910, Page 4

MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA.

GUARANTEES STILL COMING IN.

Mr. J. Jfaughnn Eavnett's scheme for providing the. city with a mmiicipal orchestra seems to bo oa the foir way to realisation. Mr, Burnett,, who lias returned iiom tlie south, states that most of the people he met in Dmiedin and Christchurch knew all about hia municipal orchestra, and were sure that it would be a good thing for music as well as the city. JTo hml occasion lo visit nn officii in Christchurch, where ho was surprised by a clerk asking him how the municipal orchestra was lulling on. Mr. Harnett i'xpri"isntl surprise at anything being known of his scheme so far away irom hom>,. "Oh, we know all about it," said the nli-rt, - "it-ought to turn out o real good thing!" This Christchurch "7'res;.," under the heading "Municipal Music," said in its leading columns:—

"Wo must congratulate Wellington sincerely. It is tne first city in i\uw Zeaianil, if not in Australia, to estab- ' lisli a municipal iirdieoU'ii, untl Inal without tho Slightest risk of loss to the municipality. Tho idea or iounding such au orchestra was conceited by Sir. Maughan Barnett, tho City Organist; and to him belongs the credit of carrying it out to its present stage. ... He has met with such a good response to his applications for guarantees that he was able to announce Unit some .£270 had been promised, the guarantors including the Wellington Choral Society, and Mr. Robert' Parker, conductor* of tho Musical Union, jilr. ■llavnelt has had no trouble in securing support from efficient performers, and the first concert will take place in about six weeks. Wellington has, of course, the great advantage of possessing a fine Town Hall of its own, and it would be. difficult for Christchurch to follow its lead until it has supplied iia deficiency m this respect. But the linglou enterprise will no doiibt stimulate other cities to establish permanent orchestras."

Mr. Barnetl, states that guarantees are still coming iu, and, what is most gratifying and • encouraging, ■ without any great effort being made.

At thu meeting of the City Council to be held to-morrow evening, Councillor Shirtcliffe will'move: "That before the formal sanction of the council is given to the establishment of a municipal orcne'stra, the City Organist be asked to submit full details of the proposal for tho consideration of the council."