CAMPAIGN BEGIN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 887, 5 August 1910, Page 6

CAMPAIGN BEGIN.

CITIZENS ACCEPT MR. HUGH WARD'S OFFER. TWO £108 CHEQUES. THE CHILDREN'S SATURDAY ] PROPOSAL. The announcement in yesterday's Dominion of Mr. Hugh .1. Ward's scheme for raising funds for the proposed Children's Hospital has set the town talking to such an extent that it appears that a straight-out offer of the kind was just the spur needed to set the ball rolling in tho right direction. In the street, the clubs, the tea-rooms, and the drawingrooms the chief topic of conversation was the Children's Hospital, and the generous offer, which had been made, by tho actor-manager. Early yesterday morning the Mayoress (Mrs. Wilford), who is actively interesting herself in the Children's Hospital scheme, was kept busy answering telephone messages from those eager to assist, monetarily and otherwise in the money-raising campaign. Amoug the subscriptions she has already received are cheques of £100 each from Mr. Joseph' Joseph and Miss R. Joseph, whose generosity is! sure to be followed by other large donations to the fund that is to make Mr. Ward's scheme possible. That scheme, it should be again explained, is that the actor is prepared to give £10,0 and a matinee performance (estimated to produce about. £250), providing tho citizens of Wellington subscribe £900-five sums of £100 and eight' of £50!' Two of the five larger amounts are already in hand. Other sums have been:received for lesser amounts, w:hich distinctly shows the spirit in. which the proposal has been accepted. One is an amount of £5 55., subscribed yesterday morning by the clerks of the House of Parliament, whose lead, it is understood, is being followed by other large official and mercantile institutions in the city. . ....... "A Splendid Certainty." Another citizen forwarded a cheque for £1 Is, with the following note -.— Dear Sir, —Let me warmly congratulate you upon the practical character of the proposition . you * have devised. It should make, tho s provision of a Children's Hospital in Wellington a splendid certainty. I enclose a prompt subscription of £1 . Is., and hope that there will speedily reach you many other. contributions. . You are almost certain to get the big money from those / whom you term our "wealthy citizens." They have ■ i .been waiting a chance like this— waiting for years. The Mayor has.received a subscription of £15 15s. from Mr. and Mrs. Ben Fuller in aid of the project in hand. "I am sure," wrote Mr. Fuller, "that the amount needed will be readily subscribed now that the leader has been found." He expressed his willingness, with Mrs'. .Fuller, to act on any committee, and also made some valuable practical suggestions as to methods by which further sums may be raised. , "Hospital Saturday." ■ Preparations are. now well, forward for the conduct of a vigorous- campaign in the city, the climax of which will bo Children's Hospital Saturday to-morrow week. His Excellency tho Governor is to bo approached for his patronage, and a like, honour is being sought from- the Prime Minister and Ministers of the Crown. " Scats at Auction. As there is likely to bo a very heavy demand for the novel and -most entertaining programme Mr. Hugh Ward has in hand-for Saturday's matinee next week, it has been suggested that the seats for the dress circle should bo sold of auction, in which case it is more than likely that Miss Grace Palotta will act as auctioneer. Particulars of the sale will be' announced later. Mr. Ward expressed himself yesterday as delighted with the manner in which his offer, had been taken up, and it is his earnest hope that all classes will join in making the effort a. noble one, and one which will redound to the honour of the city.