ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 109, 9 May 1895, Page 4

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

The fifth annual meeting of the Orchestral Society was held last night at the Dresden rooms. Mr. J. H. 0. Schwartz, Chairman of the Committee, presided. An apology waß received from Mr. A. F. Hill, the Sooiety's conductor, for unavoidable absence. Air. T. W. Kloher, Hon Secretary, read the annual report and balance-sheet, which we h*ve already published. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said they had reason to be satisfied with the success of the late season. In the colonies musical societies laboured under many disadvantages which kindred societies in the Old World knew nothing of. Here the daily strngglo occupied their full time. They were all very mnch indebted to their conductor (Mr. A. J?. Hill) for the very able manner in which he had conducted the concerts given by the Society last year, and for having brought to bear his undoubted talents, and the experience he had gainer from many well-known masters in Europe, it the interests of the Society. The Society had also to convey its thanks to many members of the committee wbo had endeavoured to inorease the roll of membership With regard to the proposition that the Society should amalgamate with the Festival Choral Society, whilst the Orchestral Societj sympathised with the objects the Festival Sooiety had in view, and was prepared t^ assist that Society in any way, yet it was considered by the Orchestral Society that the objects of tho two bodies were different, and it would be unwise to amalgamate. Mr. C. Hill, sen., seconded tho motion, and promised to do his best during tho coming year to secure an increased membership. It was highly desirable that the Dram Fund should be iuoreased, and ho would be happy to give £1 Is towards it. If the members worked together, the Sooiety would, in a very short while, prove second to none in the Australasian Colonies. The motion was carried unanimously. The election of offioors resulted as follows :— Patron, His Excellency the Earl o' Glasgow j President, Mr. E. Pearce ; VicePresidents, Messrs. W. Gill, F. Grady, and A. F. Castendyk ; Conductor, Mr. A. F. Hill (re-eleoted, to whom tho meeting passed a hearty vote of thinks for his past valuable services); Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. T. W. Pilcher (who was re-eleoted, and received a special vote of thanks for past services) The Chairman, speaking to the motion, said sir. Piloher hvl worked indefatigably in the interests of the Society. From experience he was in a position to say that he would almost as foou run a joint stock company as officiate as the Seoretary of an Orchestral Sooiety. Mr. F. Grady, jun., was reappointed Hon. Librarian, and Mr. S. R Kennedy was chosen as Auditor. The following Committee was appointed:— Messrs. J. H. O. Schwartz, G. A. Kennedy, A. Hotop, T. H. Sewell, W. F. Parsons, D. T. Stuart, and C. Hill, sen. Mr. F. Grady, in returning thanka for his election as Vice-President, promised .£1 Is towards the Dtnm Fund. This concluded the business.