WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 10

WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Royal Wellington Choral Society was held in St. John's Schoolroom last evening. 'There Were about eighty members present. Mr. J. G. W. Aitken (president) occupied the chair. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet- (which have already appeared in print), the president heartily congratulated the conductor (Mr. J. Maughan Barnett) and the society upon the very successful year's work. He would .like the members of the chorus to realise that it was to some extent owing to their work that the year's work had beeri so successful. One knew that a great deal depended upon the conductor, but^ the importance of the efforts of the individual members of the chorus was not always realised. They were about to lose the services of the gentleman who started the society, who had been largely responsible for its success, and who had. put heart and courage into the chorus. On behalf of the society he wished Mr. Barnett success in his new sphere of dut.y, and they trusted he would find as much pleasure in his work in Auckland as he had dohe in Wellington. The president said that personally he enjoyed the performance of "The Messiah " ,better than any other of the works rendered during the year. His Excellency Lord Liverpool and Lady Liverpool had expressed their surprise and pleasure at the excellence of the society s rendering of the oratorio, and they. were particularly pleased with the chorus. " Mr. J. R. Eurley seconded the motion. My. J. vvilsou drew attention to the bonus to the lion, secretary, agreed to by the committee, and moved that the payment of a bonus to any member of tho society be passed by a general meeting of members. _ Tho president said ■ that would necessitate an alteration t>l the rules, and the motion was, therefore, out of order. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. , Mr. R. T. Caldow. in moving tho appointment of Mr. C. Uellemann as conductor, alluded to the abundant testimony winch the committee had received as to Mr. Hellemann's ability as a conductor and organist. The committee, after giving the question of the appointment the mo3t earnest consideration, were unanimous with respect to Mr. Hellemann's selection. The motion, was agreed to. His Excellency Lord Liverpool was election a patron of the society, and the other officers were re-appointda. Mr. R. T. Caldow, remarked that "Carmen"' wa3 going to be a very ex« pensive concert. The committee had to engage about ten principals, and he thought that when the cast was known the public would realise that tho committee was endeavouring to get the best talent thoy possibly could both inside and outßide of the Dominion. He trusted, in view of the heavy expenses, ther would be an increase in the honorary membership of the society. They had piactically come to terms with the lady who took the part of "Carmen" in the German Opera Company in Aus-, tralia to sing the part in the society's rendering of ths opera. The committee had opened negotiations with ono of England's greatest sopranos to tako the leading, soprano part in the oratorio ' of "Elijah." On the motion of Mr, R. T. Caldow, seconded by Mr. J. R. Bttrley, a resolution expressing high appreciation- of Mr. Matighan Barnett's services to the society, was carried by acclamation.