Former Members Of Wanganui Male Choir Recall Other Years

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 June 1948, Page 6

Former Members Of Wanganui Male Choir Recall Other Years

Reminiscences of other years, some of them dating back to the late nineties, were recalled when past and present members of the Wanganui Male Choir met in the old Museum Hall last night for a reunion. The choir was established 51) years ago and the reunion was part of the jubilee celebrations arranged for this year. The first concert was held in St- Paul's Hall on September 22, 1898. The president, Mr. E. Christie, said at the outset that there was one big regret. Throughout the past 50 years they had met various men who had been a source of great strength to the choir, but had since passed on. "I would ask you,” Mr. Christie added, “to stand for a moment as a silent tribute to their memory.” Subsequently, Mr. Christie welcomed visitors from Timaru, Christchuch, Wellington, Napier, Waipukurau, Tauranga, and other centres. Many other past members, who lived in various parts of New Zealand and could not be present, had sent messages of goodwill and friendship, Mr. Christie said. “The spirit of the choir, as we have always known it, is still abroad among our members," he added. "I am glad to know that we have still got that good spirit, of friendship which has always been shown toward this choir-” Present at the reunion were Mr. Frank Hatherley, who sang a solo at the choir’s first concert in 1898. Other foundation members present were Messrs. F. G. Beaven, L. E. Bassett and H. Neverman.

Mr. Christie said that during the past 50 years the chair had been well blessed with conductors. He paid a tribute to the present conductor, Mr. F. Wentworth Slater, unable to be present because of an engagement in Palmerston North, and said that the success of the concert in the Opera House on Tuesday night was due to the hard work Mr. Slater put in to bring the choir up to such a high standard. “I can recall attending the choir’s first concert in 1898 as a small curly-headed boy,” Mr. Christie added. “I can also remember the first conductor, Mr. C. W. Naylor, and though I was only a boy playing in the same cricket team as he did "

Over the pasf 50 years the choir had given 110 concerts, excluding numerous performances in other centres. It had the proud record, however, ol never having broken down during an item. Much could also be said about the assisting artists and at times some famous people had taken part in the choir's concerts.

An outstanding feature of the choir was the good fellowship which had always existed. Harmony among members produced harmony in the singing raid if good fellowship did not exist, the best results, could not be obtained. Throughout the years members of the choir had been noted for their kindness and many stories could be told of acts of kindness which had a very marked affect on those who received them. "In the final analysis, what has the choir meant to Wanganui and what has it meant to us ? We have given pleasure to ourselves and literally thousands of listeners," said Mr. Christie. Proposing the toast," Past Presidents," Mr. J. McDougal said that the choir owed much to the sound administration of past presidents. As a result of their efforts the choir stood very high in the musical appreciation of the public of Wanganui- Mr. W. J. Healey, in reply, referred to many changes which had taken place during the past 50 years and added the choir was to be warmly congratulated on its performance in the Opera House on Tuesday night. "We must thank the conductors ol the past for bringing us up to the standard of the present,” said Mr. G. W. Currie, proposing the toast, "Past Conductors.” Only three of them, Messrs. O. Kitson, Lance Craig and George Buckley, were surviving, he said. "My recollection goes back to the first concert and the first conductor, Mr. Naylor,” Mr. Currie added. Replying to the toast. Mr. Kitson said that members of the former Wanganui Boys’ Choir, which he founded in 1934 when living in the city, were now growing up and he was making every effort to see that they joined the Male Choir. Alreadv several had assured him that they’would do so. Mr. Craig, who also replied, said that no musical body—he emphasised that he was not referring to himself—had been so fortunate as the Wanganui Male Choir in its choice of conductors. They were men of keen musical intellect out to get the best results possible.

The toast “Old Members” was proposed by Mr. G. P. Williamson, the response being by Messrs- E. R Hodge, H. Morgan (a retired stipendiary magistrate of Timaru) and C Wadman.