PALMERSTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9988, 26 January 1915, Page 2

PALMERSTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

AMiBAt, MEETING.

The annual meeting of niPJrtijet'S r»f i)>« Palmerston North Orchestral Society whs held last evening in All Saints School' room. Mr J. Mitchell, the president, presided over a good attendance. Apologies for al)st;nG<- wrf received from Messrs Pyke and Procter. ANNtTAIi REPORT, The committee in presenting their 19th annual report said:—"We feel p'roufl of the result of the year's work. A at the balance sheet will show that the society is in a particularly strong position, haying assets valued at £444 7s Id and no liabilities. This happy state of affairs is due undoubtedly, firstly, to the success of the late carnival, and secondly to an increased honorary membership. opportunity is taken by the committee of thanking the public generally, and the honorary members for the loyal support accorded by them. As a result of the extra funds received, the society was enabled to purchase several very necessary instruments and a fine selection of music, and also to erect a room adjoining the practice room in which to store their property. It will also be noticed that during the last few months the society has made donations for the relief of distress! occasioned by the war now raging. The committee feel that they owe a debt of gratitude to their lion, conductor, Mr A. J. Graham, who lias spared neither tiitie nor pains to procure the best results possible. and in this direction lie is indeed to be congratulated. In addition to this, however, Mr Graham did yeoman service throughout the late carnival, and his work materially in obtaining the splendid success The carnival proved. During the year the attendance at practices was considerably better than- hitherto, and with a continued attention to this, the most important aspect of the musician's duty, even better results are hoped for. The new music secured will beyond doubt prove an additional encouragement to the members to attend regularly, and will, we are sure, lie looked forward to with interest by the concert patrons-. In order to still further strengthen the orchestra, the committee invite musicians now resident in the town who are not already active members to communicate with the lion, secretary, if desirous of joining, in order that they may lie proposed for membership. As in the past, the society has lost several honorary members at the close of the year, but it is hoped this year to bring the honorary membership up to 200, and the committee feel sure this result will be soon in sight if the active members address themselves seriously to the matter."

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet the chairman said it was a matter for congratulation. A pleasing feature, apart from the result of last year's carnival, was that the expenses and receipts practically balanced each other. Though concert receipts had slightly decreased, subscriptions had shown an increase.

Mr Tonkin seconded the motion for adoption, which was carried.

Mr Dent, a member of the executive of the Christchurch Orchestral Society, added a »word of congratulation to the members on the society's position, remarking that it was unique for an Orchestral Society to show a surplus of over £4OO by way of assets. The fact that this had been largely brought about by a carnival gave a lead to other societies. As a visitor he complimented the members on the position shown.

On the motion of Mr Graham the society placed on record its appreciation of the service; rendered by Mr P. Larcomb during the carnival held last year. Mr Graham also made reference to the work done by Messrs Tonkin, Litchfield, Jones and the secretary (Mr H. K. Swallow), paying a special tribute to the services of Mr Larcomb. who had been a tower of strength to them.

In reply Mr Larcomb thanked the members for their appreciation, and spoke in eulogistic terms of the work done by MiGraham.

Mr W. Oliver's services were also place* on record in the same connection, and h briefly acknowledged the compliment.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The new season's officers are: —President. Mr B. J. Jacobs: vice-presidents, Messrs J. Mitchell, W. Cullen, A. Skerman, W. Oliver, 0. H. Porritt, M. Cohen, 0. Monrad, H. F. Gibbons. H. N. Cooke. Mrs W. Coombs: honorary conductor, Mr A. J. Graham (re-elected): honorary leader, Mr P. Larcomb (re-elected): honorary pianiste. Miss Gaustad (re-elected): honorary accompaniste, Miss V. Graham (reelected); property manager, Mr F. Hill; librarian, Mr Proctor: honorary auditor, Mr F. Litchfield: committee, Messrs I. Nicholls, J. Jones, A. Tonkin, C. Pyke, G. Kendall: honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr 11. K. Swallow (re-elected). A bonus of £lO was voted the secretary in recognition of his services during the past season.

Special mention was made of the services of Messrs Graham (conductor), Larcomb (leader) and Swallow (secretary), when being proposed for re-election. Mr Graham, thanking the members for his re-election as conductor, remarked that the society was one of the few really amateur orchestras in New Zealand. He urged members to be regular and punctual at the practices. Judging by outside comment the society's work was very satisfactory. A conductor must have ability under him for a successful fruition of his labours, and much of the success the Orchestral Society had achieved was due to the talent among their members. He was looking forward to another successful year with the support accorded him as in the past. Mr Graham also said that ho would like to see the social side of the society develop. Soon they would attain their majority, and he thought they could colebrate it with a social gathering. (Applause.)

GENERAL BUSINESS. Mr Dent suggested that the Society draw up a list of works in its library tnd forward a copy to L'hristchurch, with a view to exchanging pieces temporarily. Whde having no authority to suggest on behalf of the Christ-church Society, he thought some reciprocal arrangement coidd be made. This was left in the hands of th? committee to deal with. Votes of thanks were accorded Messrs Larcomb, Mitchell, Graham, Skermun, Richardson, Swallow, ana Miss Gaustad for donations to the piano fund. Votes of thanks were accorded outgoing honorary officers and the press, mention being made of honorary pianiste, accornpaniste, auditor and th ■ outgoing president. The new president. Mr B. J. Jacobs, announced that he hoped to promulgate a scheme during the year to make the Society thoroughly popular and give it the place it should have in the town. He. also intended having- a social function during the year.