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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Societies

Societies.

The Dunedin Orchestral So-Ciety , Officers: President, Mr. J. R. Morris; Honorary Conductor, Mr. James Coombs; Honorary Leader, Mr. Ephraim Parker; Honorary Treasurer. Mr. A. A. Finch; and Honorary Secretary, Mr. W. O. Millar. This society owes its origin mainly to the efforts of Mr. Charles Coombs, and was first started in 1883, when a few ardent instrumentalists, under the name of the Apollo Club, and the direction of Mr. G. R West, commenced to give small entertainments and smoke concerts. These fell through after a time, but in 1886 the concerts were reorganised under the conductorship of Mr. Martin, now of Wanganui; and the first of a series of concerts was given under the name of the Dunedin Orchestral Association in conjunction with the Dunedin Liedertafel Quartette. In May, 1886, the performers met in Dagmar College, Moray Place, and agreed to form an Orchestral Society. At a subsequent meeting the necessary rules were passed. No concerts were given in 1887, but in February, 1888, the first concerts, under the new title, were given in the Garrison Hall, with Mr. Martin as conductor. At the suggestion of the president, Mr. Morris, the society made a new arrangement, by which it undertook to give subscribers four ordinary concerts a year, and four tickets for each concert. Since then the society has made great progress. On Good Friday and Saturday of 1896 it gave two sacred and secular concerts, in Christchurch, and one at Timaru on Easter Monday, and these concerts were most successful. Mr. James Coombs has conducted the society in nearly one hundred concerts, with gratifying results, both to the performers and the public. The society was registered on the 3rd of June, 1896, under the Unclassified Societies Registration Act, 1895.

Mr. James Coombs , Conductor of the Dunedin Orchestral Society, and Teacher of the Violin, Moray Place, Dunedin, was born in Parnell, Auckland, and came to Dunedin when a child. He early developed a talent and a great love for music, and seized every opportunity to acquire a knowledge and a mastery of the violin. He first studied under the late Mr. G. R. West, then a leading musician in Dunedin, and took lessons from Mr. Leon Caron, conductor of Williamson's Operatic Company. Wishing to receive higher instruction than was then available in Dunedin, Mr. Coombs went to Melbourne, where he studied under some of the leading instructors, and on his return went to Christchurch, where for ten years he followed his profession with marked success. He was one of the founders of the Christchurch Orchestral Society, and leader until he left for Dunedin in 1885. In conjunction with his brother, Mr. Charles Coombs, the well-known cornet player, and Mr. J. R. Morris, the present president, he formed and organised the Dunedin Orchestral Society, now one of the strongest musical societies in New Zealand. He first acted as leader, and has been (1904) for fifteen years its popular conductor. He held the same position in the Dunedin Naval Band for twelve years. Mr. Coombs was also the first conductor of the present Choral Society, but resigned in 1902, after holding the position for five years. He is a successful teacher of music, and many of his pupils have distinguished themselves at musical examinations and competitions.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.Mr. J. Coombs.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. J. Coombs.

The Dunedin Liedertafel . Officers: President, Hon. G. McLean; Vice-Presidents, Messrs T. A. Hunter, J. C. Thomson, and D. McPherson; Honorary Conductor, Mr. Jesse Timson; Honorary Pianist, Mr. W. E Taylor, F.R.C.O.; Honorary Treasurer, Mr C. R. Gooch, and Honorary Secretary, Mr J. A. Hopcraft. The Dunedin Liedertafel was established in May, 1886, for the practice and performance of music for male voices. Mr. S. Moyle was the founder and first conductor, and under him several successful concerts were given in conjunction with the Dunedin Orchestral Association. After Mr. Moyle's departure from Dunedin, his place was taken by Herr Benno Scherek, a most enthusiastic conductor, who had to resign on going to Melbourne in 1888. Mr. A. J. Barth was then appointed conductor, and was succeeded successively by Signor Squarise and the present conductor, Mr. Jesse Timson. When Mr. Timson took charge the member ship had fallen to seventeen, but under his leadership the society has progressed wonderfully. Four concerts are now given annually; the Society is in a sound financial position, and there are forty-one members, consisting of ten first tenors, eleven second tenors, ten first basses, and ten second basses. The singing for the most part is unaccompanied, but the pianist, Mr. W. E. Taylor, F.R.C.O., gives valuable help, and the weekly practices are well attended. Sixty-four concerts have been given by the society, which has also assisted at several concerts in aid of charitable objects, and has introduced many talented artists visiting the colony.

Mr. John Armour Hopcraft , Honorary Secretary of the Dunedin Liedertafel, was born in Dunedin in 1867. He was educated in his native city, and for twenty-two years followed a commercial life, from which he retired on his appointment to his various secretarial duties. He became secretary to the Dunedin Star Bowkett Building Society in 1899, four years later secretary of the Dunedin and Kaikorai Tram Company and in 1896 he was appointed corresponding secretary to the Otago District Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, with which he has been connected for many years, and has passed through the various chairs. Mr. Hopcraft, who has always taken a great interest in musical matters, has been a member of the Liedertafel since 1891, and honorary secretary for the last ten years. His services have been always willingly given when called upon, and he has for years been a prominent member of All Saints' choir. He was secretary of the Dunedin Bowling Club for a number of years, but, owing to the many other calls on his time, was compelled to resign that position.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. Mr. J. A. Hopcraft.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. J. A. Hopcraft.

The Dunedin Choral Society: Mr W. Wills. President; Mr. Jesse Timson, Conductor; and Mr. H. C. Campbell, Honorary Secretary. At a meeting held in the Town Hall in 1897, presided over by the Hon. Richard Oliver, M.L.C., it was agreed to form a Choral Society, with the object of cultivating a taste for music amongst the people.

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The first conductor was Mr. James Coombs, to whom the success of the society is due in a large mefisure, and the first president was the Hon. Richard Oliver. Four concerts are held annually, and in the case of any special musical artist visiting Dunedin extra concerts are given. In 1897, the year of its establishment, the society performed the “Creation,” in the Agricultural Hall, with Mdlle. Trebelli and Mr. John Prouse, a chorus of 200, and an orchestra of thirty.

Mr. William Wills , J.P., President of the Dunedin Choral Society, was born in October, 1846, at Paisley, Scotland, and was educated at the Nelson Institution in that town. He was brought up to commercial pursuits, and came to New Zealand in 1879. After four years' residence in the colony, he was appointed resident secretary for the Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria; this position he held till May, 1897, when that society merged with the National Mutual Life Office, and he was appointed District Manager for Otago and Southland. During his residence in Dunedin, Mr. Wills has taken considerable interest in local affairs, as mayor of the borough of Mornington in 1892, as a member of the Dunedin Hospital Trustees and of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, as one of the directors of the Choral Society, and as president of the New Zealand Brass Band Association, and of the Horticultural Society of Dunedin. In 1881 Mr. Wills was married to Miss Lang, of Paisley. He is referred to in another article as a commission agent.

Mr. Jesse Timson , who was appointed conductor of the Dunedin Choral Society in 1903, was born at Springfield, Essex, England, where he received his first musical training. At an early age he was appointed organist at Great Baddow, Chelmsford, and held the position for six years. He was afterwards for several years organist in the private chapel of Sir Robert Menzies, Baronet, Perthshire, Scotland. Mr. Timson came to Otago in 1887, and since then has been successful as a teacher of instrumental and vocal music in Dunedin; and he has been organist at the First Church of Otago since the erection of the first organ there. In 1894 he was appointed conductor of the Liedertafel, one of the oldest and most successful musical associations in Dunedin, and in connection with that society serenaded the Prince and Princess of Wales during their stay in Dunedin in 1901. Mr. Timson has given organ recitals of a high order in Dunedin, and also in the Christchurch Cathedral.