ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2460, 26 March 1909, Page 5

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Gi.shame Orchestral Society was held in tne City Band’s- 1 practice room last evering. Mr. M. L. Footer occupied the chair, and there Avas a good attend-ure of numbers.

The following report was read end adopted:— *■ Your committee lias pleasure in /submitting herewith th© .baJance-shect and statement of accounts of the Gisborne Orchestral Society in connection with tlie 1908 season, and has’to congratulate the Society on the result of tho past year’s working'. The balance brought foi’Avard from 1907 Avas £1 4s Sd, to which is added from the season just closed the gross total receipts of £125 Is sd. From this is deducted the working expenses of the year (including the purchase and payment of a set of tymparii), leaving a cash "balance in hand of £34 9s sd. The property of the Society stands at iw r o double basses, tympani, music, stands, and banner, estimated at a value of £72. The balance of assets aver liabilities is estimated at £lO6 9s od. It can thus be seen that the Society is in a good financial position. The re-inauguration of the system of obtaining subscribing members has proved beyond doubt to be a satisfactory and move, and -has..worked admirably to the advantage of subscribers and the Society alike, and it has enabled the Society to ascertain tlie state of its finances at the early part of a season, and thus enable the engagement of best available vocal talent front outside sources. The public has accorded us very liberal support, the list of subscribers containing some 200 names, and the accredited success of our past concerts augurs well for the ensuing season. The question of the. rates of subscription trill probably have to be revised, and this matter can lie dsicussed at the annual meeting. Particular mention must be made, and the thanks of the Society are. due to, Messrs J. Adair, Cuthbert, and Chrisp, and other* for their special efforts in securing subscribers, by far the bulk of the list being the resunlt of the active canvass of these members. The average attendance at rehearsals has been A r ery satisfactory, and it is hoped that the interest of performing members in the Avelfare of the Society avi 11 be maintained. To many, tlie greatest pleasure is obtained front the practice and rehearsal of an orchestral programme, and to derive this pleasure it Avould be a graceful act on the part of members v to try and make the practices as full as possible, endeavoring, as far as practicable, to a\-oid all other attractions that should happen to fall on our practice night. A very pleasant feature of the year's work is "the practical interest shown by our musical friends in the presentation of music and instruments to the Society. We are indebted to Messrs W. A. Barton, Lissant Clayton, jas. Brown, C. P. Davies, TV. Samson, R R. Bakirov, A. W. Moodie, and M. L. Foster for the gifts of orchestral music and scores, and to Messrs Max Jackson and G. Palairet for the presentation of instruments. Mr. Jackson presented a bassoon and French horn, and Mr. Palairet a French horn. These AA-cre very acceptable to the Society, and it will be an instruction to the secretary to convey the thanks of this meeting to these gentlemen for their handsome gifts. Tlie Society in indebted to .Messrs Vita Bros, and Air McKay for help at last season’s "concerts, and a complimentary concert tendered them resulted satisfactorily. The committee tender their thanks and appreciation to Airs. AL L. Foster for artistically and successfully undertaking the arduous duties of honorary accompanist during the past season. The outgoing officers tender their thanks generally to_ the members of the Society for their cooperation and help during the past season, and trust that the incoming officers AA’ill bo favored with the same consideration.” Tlie following officers Avere elected tor the approaching season: —Conductor, Air. AI. L. Foster; secretary, Air. Jas. Chrisp; committee,' Alessrs Jas. Bi’oavii, F. B. Palairet, C. Adair, AI. L. Foster, and Jas. Chrisp. It was decided that the committee recommend five gentlemen for election as president and- four vice-presidents of the Society. A special committee, consisting ol Alessrs Cuthbert, Swallow, J. Adair, J. Chrisp, and AI. L. Foster, was appointed to revise the subscribers’ lists. Air. Barraclough was elected auditor. It was decided to hold the first _practico in Townley’s Hall on April 7th. It. was agreed to allow performers two tickets for each concert at half subscribers’ rates. A special vote of thanks was passed to' Messrs' Vita Bros, for their assistance. and to Air. Jas. Chrisp for Ins excellent secretarial work. Votes of thanks were also passed to the press, and to Air. AI. L. Foster, accompanied with an honorarium of ten guineas; members paying a high tribute to Air. Foster’s work.