TIMARU HARMONIC SOCIETY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2065, 14 June 1878, Page 4

TIMARU HARMONIC SOCIETY.

The first annual meeting of the above Sociely took place m the Oddfellows' Hall, Sophia-street, on Wednesday evening. There wero present some 60 people, more than oneJ'alf of whom were ladies ; and it must be a matter of congratulation to the Society, to know that the lady members take such an active interest m tho proceedings. The Chairman and President (Mr Ormsby) m opening the meeting, remarked that this, as they were aware, was their animal meeting: thefirstannual meeting since the establishment of the Society. The Secretary would read his report, and the Treasurer would make his financial stutement, which would no doubt be interesting and instructive. They would then have other business to transact and many matters to discuss. Before, however, he called on Mr Fraser for his report, nnd Mr Taylor for his statement, he would clnim tho privilege of saying a few wnrds and interposing for a few minutes' on their kind attention. As they hnd a good deal of business to transact, and there wero some motions to discuss, he would bo brief. He must say that it waj^a groat pleasure to him to bo a'ple to congratulate the Society on its success. It was firmly established ov a broad and firm basis, and ho folt he might add highly popular with tho public, who had given proof of their appreciation by attendance at their concerts. That the Society has been so far a success, was certain, and he felt particular pleasure m adding that its success might be attributed to two fortunate circumstances—the choice of their friend Mr Ziesler, as honorary conductor, and the punctual and regular attendance of their performing members. With a continuance of Mr Ziesler's. services, and a continudnco of punctual and regular attendance on the part of the performing members, he felt sure that their Society would continue to prosper and grow iv public estimatition. He did not think he need 6ay more just at present. There would be matters submitted to them for consideration as to alterations of some of the rules, and no doubt other matters would be discussed with advantage. He would vow call on Mr Frasor for his report.

The Secretary (Mr C. S. Fraser) then read the following annual report : — " Ladies and Gentlemen, — The Committee, m presenting their report, beg to congratulate you on the unqualified succesg which has attended the establishing and maintaining a musical society m Timaru. " Notwithstanding the great difficulties attendant on such an undertaking, m a place limited m its musical resources, we have the pleasure of looking back at the result of our labors during the past year with every satisfaction. The cause of this successful issue is not fur to se»k. The regularity of attendance, the promptness and willingness of the various members to perform any task allotted to them, the total absence of ehqueism and reserve, and the harmonious feeling prevalent, have placed the Society m a position to prautiso and execute music which miyht be considered far above their capacity with distinction to themselves and pleasure to others. "The first rehearsil of tho Society took place on the Ist May, 1877, when Handel's " Messiah " was put m practise. It was, however, subsequently decided that Mendelssohn's "Athalie" Bhould form the first part of tho programme of the first concert, which was given on the 6th September. Tho number of active members at that time was — Ladies 47, and gentlemen 39, while the honorary members numbered 81. The next concert, Handel's " Messiah," took place at Christmas time, m the Trinity Presbyterian Church, kindly lent to the Society by the Committee of tho Church. The two performances of the "Ancient Mariner," on the 6th and 10th June, brought the year's pro- ! gramme to an end. 102 ladies and gentlemen have joined the Socioty as active members during the past year, and the number at present on the roll are — Ladies 41, and gentlemen 35. The Society has received a liberal support from the public, the number of honorary members being 99, and we have every reason to expect that there will be a considerable increase during the ourrent year. There have been 55 rehearsals, with an average attendance of no less than 52. The Committee (consisting of 12, including President and Vice-President) , have met on 16 occasions, and the average attendance was 8. " The Committee cannot close the report without acknowledging the valuable services rendered by tho officers of the Society, and regret the loss of Mr A. J. Morton (who has left for Christchurch), who kindly acted ns honorary organist during the year." Tho Treasurer (Mr R. R. Taylor) read his report, showing that £188 3s 6d had been received during the year, while £201 13s , 6d had been expended, leaving a debit balance of £13 10s ; but he also showed that the assets of the Society were £104 10s, while the liabilities were only £36 3s, thus leaving a credit balaaoe of £68 7s. We have to congratulate the Society on the financial result of their first year, and regret that Mr Taylor, owing to the numerous other calls on his time, will be unable to continue his duties. . : Mr W. Rutherfurd proposed, and Mr W. C. Wright soeondod — " That the report und balanco-sheet bo adopted as read." — Carried. Mr Fraser thon proposed, and Mr Priest seconded— -'That tho latter part of rule V, m; relation to the non-voting power of honorary members, be suspended during this evening." — Carried. Some considerable discussion followed re electing officers previous to notices of motion, or otherwise, and it was finally decided that the notices of motion should take priority. Mr Ziesler's motion — " That honorary members only be admitted to the Society's concerts " — was then debated upon. Messrs Ziesler and Walcot spoke m favor of it, while Messrs Cuthbert, Stevens, and Fraser spoke against it. The feeling of the meeting wasvery evidently against the motion, which was declared lost on the voices. This was the liveliest part of the evening, the discussion being brisk, and the speakers warm m their arguments. Mr Fraser's motion — ''That honorary members bo allowed only two tickets to each concert" — was also negatived on the voices, Messrs Fraser and Priest spoke m favor of it r and Messrs Stevens, Walcot and Ziester against it. tThe following officers wero then elected :— .President, Mr A. Orrnsby ; Vice- presidents, Messrs Scaly and McKellar ; Conductor, Mr W. Zieeler ; Deputy Conductor, Mr .R. B. Walcot; Harmonist, Mr J. Bilton ; Treasurer, Mr W. W. Beswickj and Secretary, Mr C. S. Fraser. General Committee— Messrs Stephens, Taylor, CuthbuH, Mcc, and Wright. Mr Ormsby said they had now some very pleasant business to transact; they would anticipate the matter to which he referred. Tbjey were all no doubt unanimous m opinion as jio the success of theirSociety,and he felt they would be equally unanimous. in thinking that ihe large measure of success which the Society had attained might to a great extent be attributed to their friend Mr Ziesler. His selection for the offico of conductor hifd been a most, happy one, and he (Mr Ormsby) felt that he but echoed tho feelings of all present when he said that they had been fortunute indeed ia securing his valuable services. He felt that he could truthfully say that Mr Ziesler possessed that combination of requisites which was most necessary m a con-dui-tor of a voluntary Harmonic Society. He had musical talent, and what m his (Mr Ormsby's) opinion — if he^might by way of parenthesis be allowed to express his indivdual opinion — was of equal if not greater importance— musical taste. They all knew that their friend m all his actions was influenced and guided by tact and courtesy, and He thought he might add that Mr Ziesler was not deficient m firmness and determination, qualifications which they would admit were very necessary, and should be appreciated. Addressing Mr Ziesler, Mr Ormsby eaid that the performing members, both ladies and gentlemen, wished at tho close of the annual season and as a memento of some very pleasant evenings which had been spent m that hall to give some proof of more value than his (Mr Ormsby's) brief and passing words of the esteem and kindly feeling which they entertained for him, but he was particularly charged to request that Mr Ziesler would not measure the regard which was felt for him by tho intrinsic value of the present, of which ho was about to ask his acceptance. He would ask Mr Ziesler to accept the clock which was now on the table before i.hem, and he trusted it would afford him as-much gratification to receive it as it did the performing members to offer it, nnd him (Mr Ormsby) to be allowed the privilege of taking such a prominent part m the proceedings of a most agreeable evening. Mr Ziesler replied m a few brief sentences, his eloquence being, we suppose, dwarfed by the sudden and unexpected mark of appreciation displayed by his fellow- members. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.__ :