OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24491, 27 December 1940, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR JAMES COOMBS The death occurred on Wednesday night of Mr James Coombs, who was one of the outstanding figures in the musical world of the south. For 41 years he was conductor of the Dunedin Orchestral Society, and was prominently connected with most musical organisations in Dunedin. He was 83 years of age. Mr Coombs was born in 1857 at Auckland, where his father was in business. One of the Maori wars was in progress at the time, and it' was thought by many people that Auckland would be attacked. Consequently, many people, including the Coombs family, left for the more peaceful South Island. They settled in Dunedin, and Mr Coombs, sen., started a tannery at the corner of Cumberland and St. Andrew streets. Mrs

Coombs was musical, and had a good natural voice. It was probably from her that her sons. Charles and James, inherited their love for music. James concentrated on the violin, to which he devoted every spare minute. He studied under Monsieur Fleury and Mr G. R. West, and made rapid progress. The tannery was destroyed by fire/and. while it was being rebuilt. Mr Coombs went to live with his brother, Charles, who had opened a leather business in Christchurch. He stayed in Christchurch for about 10 years, and gained a seat in the theatre orchestra. It was in the. northern city that he had his first experience in pure orchestral work, and was one of the violins in the original Orchestral Society there. He also belonged to a quartet in Christchurch, and was frequently called on for concert appearances. Before leaving Christchurch, Mr Coombs was chosen to go to Wellington to play with Robert Parker's orchestra at the first musical festival held there. Mr Coombs returned to Dunedin in 1885, when he and his brother, Charles, opened a business in the city. As a schoolboy Mr Coombs sang with some hundreds of his mates when in the sixties the Duke of Edinburgh's four-in-hand halted in front of the Caledonian Ground in King street; and he assisted with the musical demonstrations on the visits of King George V as Duke of Cornwall, Prince Edward (now Duke of Windsor), and the present King as Duke of York. It was after finally settling in this city that he gradually moved into the professional ranks. Prior to that his music was a hobby. But business grew slack after the dredging boom, and as he had already taken several pupils by request he saw no reason why he should not give up the leather trade and set up a studio, so he took a room in the Rattray street Oddfellows' Hall. There was considerable demand for his services in teaching, in playing, and in conducting. His connection with the Dunedin Navals Band, of which he became conductor, began with his taking the baton at concerts which it gave when Charles Coombs was the bandmaster. It was as conductor of the Dunedin Orchestral Society, however, that Mr Coombs's name wa s best known to the public. The society was started by Mr G. A. Martin (a skilful clarinet player) under the title of the Dunedin Orchestral Association. When Mr Martin left to reside in Wanganui, Alfred Norman acted as conductor at one concert, and then Charles Coombs was appointed to the position. Charles had to make a business visit to Australia, whereupon James stepped up as acting conductor, and when Charles returned he asked James to carry on. Thus it was that James began the 41 years of service from which he retired at the beginning of December, 1930. It was a service that he gave most faithfully, never missing one concert, and in which he found great joy, for he won and kept the confidence of the performers. The first concert at which he had full charge was in November of 1889. Mr Coombs was thrice made conductor of the Dunedin Choral Society. Under his direction most of the standard oratorios were sung at one time or another, and some accepted artists of rank had solo parts, amongst them the English tenor, Charles Saunders. Mr Coombs was one of the oldest members of the Dunedin Commercial Travellers' Association. He is survived by his only son, Mr Leslie D. Coombs, the city building inspector, and by a brother, Mr John Coombs, of North-East Valley. MRS AMELIA JOSEPH The death occurred on Christmas Day at Musselburgh, in her eightythird year, of Mrs Amelia Joseph, formerly of Taieri Mouth, where she and her husband, Mr J. S. Joseph, had lived for a great many years. Shortly after her husband's death two years ago she disposed of her farm at Taieri Mouth and took up residence in Musselburgh. She was a daughter of a well-known Otago pioneer, Mr Robert Twelftree, of Berwick. She was always actively interested in all matters concerning the welfare of the district, where she was held in much esteem. There was a family of two daughters and one son—the late Mrs A. Whalan (Taieri Mouth), Mrs W. Fairbairn (Maia), and Dr A. Joseph (Hamilton). MR C. H. POOLE (Per United Press association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 26. Cabled advice has been received of the death in California of Mr Charles Henry Poole, aged 66, a former member of Parliament for Auckland West. Born in Queen's County, Ireland, in 1874 Mr Poole went to Australia at the age'of 11. He was educated at Melbourne and followed the calling of the sea until a leg was broken. He then studied for the Wesleyan ministry, but later came to New Zealand and was prominently associated with Y.M.C.A. work He' was elected for Auckland West in 1905 and retained the seat until 1911. He was re-elected in 1914. Going to America as a lecturer, he resided there until the time of his death.