§ 24

Within the walls of the Town Hall is the School of Music, where instrumental and vocal music are taught, and where the elements of opera training can be learnt. The Town Hall is at once the seat of government, not only commercial but artistic. A great proportion of work done in it is voluntary, being conducted by men and women who have time and energy to spare, and is leading more and more to what has been called, the upper class taking part in general progress. Time gone by, and not so long, that class was idle as regards local affairs. Thus they got into the hands of ill-equipped tradesmen, who were out for their own advantages, and misconducted local affairs to a deplorable extent. I reiterate, that, being held in check, the more or less ignorant and selfish class no longer rides roughshod, but is held in a leash by better equipped citizens; and so there is hope for them to mend their manners, and in time to become useful members of Home Rule.

The theatre is not open all the year round, but only at times of festival, hence the pleasure and instruction it provides is always fresh.