MR SANTLEY'S VISIT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6593, 10 July 1889, Page 4

MR SANTLEY'S VISIT.

MEETING OF DELEGATES. A meeting of delegates from the Musical Societies of Chrißtchuroh was held last night at Warner's Hotel. The following delegates were present*- — Mr Bonnington in the chair, and Messrs Meares, Barnett, Appleby,Loughnan,PuschellyAcland,Cane, Rowley, Cohen and Evans. Mr Maitland Gardner also attended. The Chairman asked the meeting if they wished the proceedings to be confined to the delegates from Societies. He had been asked if others could be present. Of course they could not vote. Mr Maitland Gardner, as a member of a choir but not a delegate, was quite willing to withdraw. In answer to Mr Cohen, the Chairman said that the same invitation had been sent to the Liedertafel, the Musical Society, and the Motett Society. Mr Evans moved, and Mr Cohen seconded, a motion in favour of all musical people being allowed to be present, and this was agreed to with the understanding that only delegates could vote. The Chairman then introduced the business of the meeting, which was to endeavour to bring about an amalgamation of the Musical Societies and choirs to make the Santley Festival a credit to Christchurch and all the musical people taking part in it. The Cathedral and other choirs would be weloome. He felt that the Motett Society had a prior claim, and all would agree that the conductor of that Society Bhould be asked to take the directorship of the Festival, and that the conductor of the Musical Society Bhould be approached with a view to the leadership of the Festival being taken by the " finest leader I that ever New Zealand saw." If Mr j Wallace accepted the position, aB he (the Chairman) believed he would, he would raise himself in the estimation of every musical man in Canterbury. He (the Chairman) believed that the Motett Society wanted no more than that Mr Wells should conduct, and would fall in with any arrangement for securing the leadership of Mr Wallace. The Orchestral Society had but one desire, which was to. assist in overy way, and deprecated any interference with the status ot professional men. Without some amalgamation of the kind he had sketched he was pretty certain that the Orchestral Society would decline in a body to assist. To a man, they would assist, without fee, if the amalgamation was made. He wonld now leave the meeting to discuss the matter. (Applause.) Mr H. H. Loughnan agreed with the general scope of the Chairman's remarks. He would like to know in what position the whole matter was. As yet there seemed to be some doubt as to whether the hare was caught. Mr Acland did not see that there was the slightest reason to doubt Mr Santley's coming. The Chairman read the letter received by Mr Wells from Mr Poole ; this has been published. Mr Cane said there was a slight error in the published letter. , The words, " when the whole matter is positively fixed" should be • " when his route is positively fixed." Mr Cohen moved — "That the whole question of holding a Musical Festival in Christchurch be considered, irrespective of Mr Santley's appearance." This -irould simplify the discussion. The motion was not seconded, and the meeting determined to consider the reception of Mr Santley. Mr Acland assured the meeting that the Motett Society were willing to accept the proposal for Mr Wells to conduct and Mr Wallace to lead. When that was determined the Society would meet a thoroughly representative Committee. The financial arrangements would not be gone into until the Society were certain that the festival would not fall to the ground. The Chairman considered that the work of the Motett Society, previous to appointing the delegates, was null and void. All the proceedings must commence from the present meeting ot delegates. (Hear.) | Mr Acland, in reply to the Chairman, Baid the Motett Society were in possession of Mr Santley's financial terms, but declined to disclose them at present. The Motett Society's delegates had no authority to go outside the resolutions carried at Monday's meeting. However, he would Bay that Mr Santley's terms were one hundred guineas a night and hotel expenses for himself aud Mr Poole. The Chairman asked if these terms must be guaranteed. Mr Acland said he supposed they must be. There was no written agreement, but the terms had been accepted in a letter. Mr Meares understood that Mr Santley had written to the effect that the Musical Society had made overtures to him. Mr Acland said there was a poatcxipt saying in effect that Mr Reeves had written on behalf of the Musical Society, and asking if some arrangement could not be made with that Society. The Chairman thought this very important. If success was to be achieved there must be combination of all the Societies.. Mr Barnett asked if the meeting was to consider the reception of Mr Santley or to carry out certain arrangements made by the Motett Society. The first step to be taken was to decide whether the delegates were a Committee to carry out the Santley Festival. If, so proceedings must commence de novo. The Chairman suggested that some such resolution as— "That it is desirable that the musical bodies of Christchurch combine to carry out the Santley Festival " Bhould be proposed. Mr Gardner suggested the addition of the words, " under the conductorship of Mr Wells." The Chairman thought Mr Wallace should be previously approached. Mr Gardner thought that Church Choirs and others should be invited to assist. The Chairman, from his personal know- j ledge of the common sense and musical | enthusiasm of Mr Wallace, believed that { that gentleman would accept the leader- j ship. It was not an ordinary fiddler that was needed. Tne position was one which Mr Wallace was naturally fitted for, and that gentleman would look at the matter in a practical light, and not be influenced by any stupid motives. He suggested that j four gentlemen representing the four bodies now present should wait upon Mr Wallace at once. Mr Meares read a letter from Mr Price, i dated June 22, to the effect thatno arrangement had been definitely made for the New Zealand tonr; though many proposals had been received they were not sufficiently ripe for settlement. This letter was dated a day later than the letter received from Mr Poole. The Chairman took it that the delegates from the Motett Society had power to act; otherwise there was an end to the matter. Mr Acland said the delegates knew xactly what they had to do. Mr Cohen said the letter from the Orchestral Society was definite. Unless the delegates were prepared to comply with the terms of the letter, viz., to co-operate with other delegates in arranging for the reception of Mr Santley, then the meeting could go no further. The fact of the delegates from the Motett Society being present was an argument that they were sent to co-operate with the other delegates. It was obviously inconsistent that the meeting should be bound by what had been done previously. The present Committee must date from the commencement of the movement. If the delegates from the Motett Society were not to be bound by the meeting, the meeting had better come to a close. Mr Meares moved — "That Messrs Acland, Bonnington, Loughnan and Appleby be a Committee to make arrangements for the festival on the approaching visit of Mr Santley." Mr Acland would be delighted to cooperate With the Committee, provided Mr Wells had the pOßfc of conductor or director. Mr Loughnan pointed out that there might be an arrangement for a different conductor at each concert. This might be , a solution of the' difficulty. No doubt Mr ' >Ilfeilß**w*a*A-4^ He^O**? j

Loughnan) could not find time to acton the Committee. The Chairman felt that if Mr Wallace conducted he could not be leader, and his services as leader could not be dispensed with. Mr Acland knew that Mr Wells had contemplated asking Mr Wallace to conduct one concert. Mr Barnett seconded Mr Meares*njo_.on. He must insist on the Committee being entirely free in its actions. Mr Acland asked that hia name mighfebe taken off the Committee. Af tea some further discussion, Mr Acland said his friends were prepared to agree to start do novo, provided that they had five representatives on a Committee of twelve. The Chairman, on the part of the Orchestral Society > was quite willing to accede to this condition. It was an easy solution of the deadlock. Mr Acland finally proposed—-"' That on the condition of tbe proportion of members of the Motett Society on the Executive Committee being as five to seven, they will consent to the proceedings being reopened by this meeting de novo." Mr Meares asked on what principle the Muaical Society was to be represented by only two members, which would be the proportion they would be entitled to under such an arrangement. The Chairman had no doubt that the Motett Sooiety had a priority of olaim,,and their request was not unreasonable. Mr Pusohell pointed out that the Motett Society had more members than the other Societies put together. Mr Appleby said that the Musical Society had, some six weeks ago, decided to accept the position ; they had not desired to make Mr Santley a bone of contention. What they wanted was to join forces in order to give Mr Santley a proper reception. The only condition was that the Musical Society should not lose its identity. Mr Wallace had very generously placed himself in the hands of the President of the Musical Society, and though he had his feelings on the question, had consented to act as leader. Had the Motett Society waited for the action of the present Committee, much of the difficulty would have been removed. Mr Wella was as good a conductor as could be got, and the Committee would (he believed) be quite willing to vote for Mr Wells being conductor. Mr Acland and Mr Pusehell, after the conciliatory speech of Mr Appleby, were willing to withdraw the motion. Mr Cane disagreed, and he felfc-certain that the Motett Society, would dissent, and matters would not be forwarded in the I least. j Mr Appleby was sure that the Musical 1 Society was only anxious to give Mr j Santley a proper reception. ! The Chairman would certainly suggest j that any surplus should be devoted in equal proportions to the conductor and the leader. Mr Acland quite agreed to this. Mr Barnett moved— "That those appointed as delegates from the four Societies represented at the present meeting be elected as the Executive Committee of the Santley Festival, with power to add to their number." Mr Cohen seconded this, and it waa agreed to unanimously. Mr M. Gardners name was at once added to the Committee. Messrs Bonnington and Mearea were requested to interview Mr Wallace. The next meeting of the Executive waa fixed for 5 p.m. on Friday, at the Union Insurance Company's offices. Mr Bonnington was elected permanent Chairman, and Mr Evans Secretary to the Executive. A very hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting tc-a close.