RETIRING CONDUCTOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15613, 20 May 1914, Page 10

RETIRING CONDUCTOR.

PRESENTATION TO DR. THOMAS.

"A presentation of a purse of sovereigns : was made last evening to Dr. W. E. Thomas, who has acted as conductor of the : Auckland. Choral Society during the past .13 years, by the, members of : / the society, during .the interval in its performance of ; "The Creation" in the Town 'Hail. -• "'I ,y,v -'y-i- V'v>v : Sr';

-!■' • '■"■'fii'r The - regret of the society at' the;loss of . Dr, Thomas's ; services was expressed :by - the. president. Mr. Henry Brett. Though thei, occasion was tinged with melancholy, :■"•:-;:; ;: ; ithere w:is,; said ; Mr. ; Brett, the \ cheering • ■'■ "reflection]that Dr. : Thomas would not.be y. -.f-t lost' to Auckland, but that trie city would [■■'•: ■■..-■ long, receive the benefit of his labours.on " . behalf el musical culture. Another, cheeri.ing thought was that the society and Dr. " Thomas were parting as good \ friends, ■'■■■\ animated by feelings of mutual affection, vf.;:'Mr. Brett assured Dr. Thomas . of;, the ■■■j-J : ;.■■:'-. warm personal esteem in'which he was .!-. ■'■'■■•; held by the: members. of the society, and :. of the genuine appreciation of his valuable • services to it and to the cause of music :.;• generally. Under his, careful and masterly •■ guidance, the society had achieved marked It ■'<; success in' the various works, new, and

old, presented to its subscribers, and there ;'. was general regret that he was now' resigning the baton which he had bo long "7wielded.". ■.'; ."'''. 'o ■'*>'•■:•>;;^;V.; ' ; '"'-"''lii acknowledging the' gift, Dr. Thomas said it was with deep regret that he had v been impelled to sever his connection with ■; the society. ' He felt, however,. that the • ' society required more his time than he '■■} could possibly give at present. ;In 'his i- opinion thero should be two •; practice ■i';flights each week, one for choral work and' ,: the other for the. orchestra, so that the ' aims? of the society could be fully achieved.. He expressed the hope that.the ' traditions of the society would •be ' sustained in the future as they had been'- in the past, and that there would be no ten- : dency to put into rehearsal works ; of light -musical calibre, such as light opera». : In ■ conclusion; Dr. Thomas paid a tribute to ..the faithful work accomplished .•• by the chorus of the society during, the. past 13 if year?. . -.- . . '■'