THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13418, 4 July 1911, Page 3

THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR.

AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Per United Press Association!. CHIHtsTCIiL'IiCII, July 2. Mcmbcrse of the Shoflknd Choir arrive;' to-day from Wellington and were nut by a very large crowd on the Christchurch railway station. The ho-ts and hosti ;.-es of several memljcrs of the Choir chiefly comprised those who were present. The public reception takes place to-monow afternoon. This afternoon, with a local choir, the Sheffield Choir had a rehearsal of “Elijah.”

In an interview. Dr. Ilani-s dealt Irani;iy with tinancial matters and with the statement that the Choir was being overworked. As to the tinancial aspect of affairs, Dr. Harriss stated that the realisation of his scheme of ten years ago. to make the British Empire better known to the people of the British Isles and to advertise the Dominions oversea in a man nor no Government could afford had cost him <£15,000 of his own money, and not a penny of anyone clse's. All he required was that the people of the oversea Dominions should pay the way of the Choir. Lord Strathcoua, who sympathised greatly with the scheme, offered Dr. Harri-s a cheque for j JElO.Otm, which lie gratefully declined. He 1 calculated that the expenses of file present tour of the Choir will cost sBoO.Odt), and that amount does not include sums .spent in the initial stages of the movement. In respect to the Choir's visit to Eolith Africa I he expected a deficit of idiOtii,*, owing to I tlie smallness of the halls. Even in Canada, where the halls accommodate from 0 to 8 thousand, the previous 12 days’ visit of the Choir resulted in a 10-s of .-nmethino- like £BOO. As to the billeting of members of the Choir, ho .stated it was voluntarily of- ' fered. To have asked ior it to '■ ■ done would have been far too delicate a matter for him to suggest. As to the Choir being over-worked, he explained that the recent matinee was not included in the original plan, and involved the Choir travelling there on Friday. Tire brief periods spent by the Choir in different places was dim to the tact that the members of the Choir were nnacie to dsvete a greater period thsn six months and two weeks to the tour

iiiul lio was attempting to do the best possible in tiic eu'cumstauees. Dr. Charles Harriss, who, with the Sheffield Choir was on the sea on Coronation Day, despatched on his arrival in Auckland a telegram to the King, congratulating liis Majesty and Ihe Queen on behalf of the 111,01);) choirislers and instrumentalists in Australasia associated with the Choir in | his Festivals of the Empire on their Coro. | nation. Dr. Harriss has received the following reply:—“ Buckingham Palace, .lime 20th. It) 11, —I am commanded by the King to thank you and all who joined with yon for the loyal sentiments to which your telegram gave expression. (Sir Arthur) Diggc.’’