THE N.S.W. ORCHESTRA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18017, 16 February 1922, Page 8

THE N.S.W. ORCHESTRA.

CHRISTCHURCH FAREWELL

CONDUCTOR'S DEPARTURE.

A UNIQUE ORGANISATION.

[bi telegraph—press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, ■Wednesday.

Hi© farewell concert by tjie Voruragghon Orchestra was given at King Edward Barracks last night, tho largo building being packed. During an interval the Mayor, Dr. H. T. J. Thaoker, M.P., on behalf of tho citizens of Christchurch, presented Mr. Verbragghen with a travelling rug. At a social junction held after the concert, Mr. Alfred Hill, deputy conductor, presented the leader with a diamond star shirt stud, a gift from the members of the orchestra.

In replying, Mr. Verbrugghen said ho felt that unless. someone had charge of the orchestra during his absence it would not go on satisfactorily. Mr. Hill was the right man for the position. He was keenly interested in music in both Australia and Now Zealand and he knew the speaker's ways. Mr. Verbrugghen hoped tnat his successor would be regarded as his personal representative for the time being, so it behoved members to do the best of which they wero capable. They should remember that in a manner of Xaking they were public people and uld always act with decorum and dignity on tho platform or off. Ho hoped that on his return he would find the orchestra as willing as evor in spirit and without any sign of deterioration of quality. The orchestra was his own instrument, and it had the advantage that its violins were all of one school, which was one of its greatest assets. It had had its ups and down, but was to-day stronger than ever before. Ho could have gone on for a lone time without a holiday, but ho had had a lot of worry outside the orchestra, and be felt if be was to emfirgs from it alive a holiday was necessary. Tho orchestra was unique in the world. He know of no other that played together all the year round. He was proud of it. It had done things which it was never expected to do. Australia was not like England or America, where there were hundreds of players ready to take up another's place at a minute s notice It was only the co-operation of the members that had enabled so much to be done. Ho was certain no other orchestra had worked so hard.

FINANCES OF TOUR. SMALL LOSS PROBABLE. Austrsli&n a.nd NZ. Ctbl* Association. (Reed. 1.5 a.m.) SYDNEY. Feb. Tho Director of Education states that • hile the New Zealand tour of the State Orchestra has been a great artistic success reports indicate that it will bo a financial failure, though not a very great one. Ihe diroctor adds that if the orchestra had stayed in Sydney during the hot months whon concert attendances are small, the losses would have been much heavier.

GUARANTEE AGAINST LOSS.

CONFIRMATION OF OFFER.

At a meeting of shareholders of the New South Wales State Orchestra Guarantee Fund, Ltd., at the Conservatonum Hall in Sydney last week, it was deoided to continue the offer of a £4500 guarantee during the period of Mr- V erbrugglien 6 absence. Sir Arthur Rickard, who occupied the chair, said that £6000 had been contributed so far towards the fund by New South Wales, £3000 by Victoria, and £1000 by New Zealand. Unfortunately Mr. Verbrugghen had suffered;a breakdown, and would not be back in Sydney until Soptember 1 noxt. In theso ciroumstanoes, the Victorian committee was not prepared to make their guarantee, operative until Mr. Verbrugghen returned. Sir Arthur pointed out that New South Wales was not alone in being unable to make its orchestra pay. The annual deficit of the leading American orchestras was from £10,000 to £60,000, and the meeting of thifl inevitable deficit was the great problem facing tho American orchestras, which always relied on publio-spiritcd citizens to oome forward and make good the loss. Mr. 0. C. Beale said that to call the deficit a loss was wrong. It was simply what they were paying for something of educational value, from which they got a great deal of onjoyment also. Tho deficit in this case would bo lessened by the fact, that Damn Nellie Melba was going to give a series of concerts with the orchestra. He proposed "That the offer of the trustees of tho New South Wales State Orchestra Guarantee Fund to indemnify the Government against losses on tho orchestra, to the extent of £4500, to cover the period from November 1, 1921, until tho return of Mr. Verbrugghen on, or about September 1. 1922, is hereby approved and confirmed, and the trustees be hereby authorised to complete this arrangement with the Kew South Wales Government." The resolution was carried unanimously. I