REFRESHMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 499, 16 August 1871, Page 2

REFRESHMENT.

We yesterday published the bilance sheet of the Choral Society's Bazuar ; and we do not hesitate to any that it is thoroughly disgraceful, not to the ladies, for they have acted nobly and ■ well, and the return for their labours has been munificent, But to the committee, or "whosoever had charge of the arrangements, the result is discreditable in the extreme; they should bo thoroughly ashamed of themselves. We do not purpose going into the details, but inerclv point attention to some of the items oi expenditure. One of those items usually a heavy one, printing, is Nil, it having been generously performed (jratuitously by Jones and Tombs. We regret to see that Mr. Jones' spirit has not been manifested by others who were concerned in the Bazaar. Attendance oust (he round sum of £10 10s. What was attendance ? Who attended ? Or whom did they attend V Or how did they attend them when they were paid so well ? Ten guineas for three afternoons, made seventy shillings per evening. Jf the assistants received day's wages for the evening's work —.six shillings a day—there were eleven, and two-thirds of them employed in attending. There's a screw loose somewhere; and there's something rotten in the state of Denmark1.

The next item is fittings and decorations, '£17 2s 4d ; and these fittings and decorations were sold at the close of the Bazaar for a good round sum. Where are the proceed) ? Certainly not entered on the balance-sheet unless they ware the property of some one or another of the I stalls.;

JBu£ we waive all other points for the refreshments, which amounted to £2L 13s lOd. This does not include the sums paid for furnishing the " Hef'reshmenf otall" proper, which are included iv " Expenditure in purchase of materials," &c , iJi'A 4s 6d. But, for the refreshment ot the committee and their friends, and we presume, the " Attendants," there was consumed the sum of £21 JLSa lOd. This computed for the three afternoons, gives upwards ol seven pounds per evening, or nearly a pound per hour during the continuance of the Bazaar. This wus "refreshment" with a vengeance. If the committee kept it thus up at the rate ol a pouud an hour, for three days, verily they must have been "refreshed." We had the pleasure of seeing one of the gentlemen " refreshing" himself. We dropped on him unannouueed. We Toiiud him alone, and " refreshing ;" his cheeks were distended, his ejreballs glaring in the frantic effort at rapid deglutitiou. If the other members of committee " refreshed" with similar energy and determination, we wondSr not that the funds of the Uazaar were poured down the oesophagus at the fate of a pound per hour. But this is really scandalous in a civilized city, and in connection with a respectable institution. Hurely members of committee might bs found to perform the duties of offico, without being paid j\w wages. Or surely some decent restraint might be put upon the voracity of persons known to have a penchant for cheap victuals. Eeally the members of committee or whoever have swallowed thus en-

ormously should be made to disgorge this —not the victuals, for that they cannot do, but the £21 13s JOd paid for them. We cull on the committee in the name of

the public, to tell us who have swallowed this £21 13s lOd. We observe the name of Mr. V. K. Itice appended as secretary to the committee. He should be able to tell what became of the victuals. He should know who was " refreshed." We ask him to explain this item in his balance sheet. The Bazaar as we have said re-

fleeted the highest credit on the ladies who have contributed so generously of their time and efforts. But shame on those, whoever they are, that swallowed up the proceeds, and stuffed themselves witli theresults of the efforts of;fair fingers and kind hearts.