FAREWELL—MISS PALOTTA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 10

FAREWELL—MISS PALOTTA.

LEAVING FOR VIENNA,

There are few actresses on tho colonial stage who have been fortunate enough to attain the general popularity of Miss Grace Palotta (late leading lady of the Hugh Ward Comedy Company), who passed through Wellington yesterday en routo for Sydney, and thence for Vienna.

"Now Zealand 1 Can I ever forget it?" said Miss Palotta to a Dominion representative yesterday. "I love tho country,, and I love the people. They could hot have been nicer to mo than they have always been I don't like breaking away. It's very hard—but what can I do?" Are you going to Europe straight away?

"Y'cs. I have, received cables from my mother, and she must bo my that consideration."

And the future?

"Oh, 1 don't know. Nothing is settled—it all depends upon my mother, I go on to Sydney by tho Wnrrimoo, and leave. Adelaide by tho Osterlcy on May 10. I liiivc had <a very happy time, and the company eonld not do enough for mu. It nearly lirolre iny heart. They presented me with a lovely suit-case," and what do you think was inscribed upon the lock?—' Mary, wo will miss you'—tho old song from 'Tho Scarecrow.' "

Miss Palotta states that the' campaign for the women's annexo to tho Onnedin Hospital was very successful. "Tho origin, (ors of the movement started with absolutely nothing in hand, and went to Mr. Ward for his assistance. Ho gave £50, if so many others would du Uie same, and. when I left, tho sum had reached £3000. There wero numbers ot lists still to como in."

As each £1 carries n Government subsidy of 255. (similar to tho Children's Ho'spilnl Fund in Wellington), the sum already approximates £7000, a substantial thing by which to remember Mr. Ward, Miss'Palotta, and his company. New Zealand will have many very kindly memories of Miss Palotta in tho years to come, not only as an actress but as a most unselfish worker in tho cause' of those who so greatly need as-sistance-and as a woman of tho world in tho most charming sense of the term.