A PATRIOTIC EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3057, 19 April 1917, Page 3

A PATRIOTIC EFFORT

• FOR SOLDIERS' CLUB BY WILLIAMSON COMEDY COMPANY. That Wellington should yesterday hive .experienced its 'coldest snap for five months : 'past was. very unfortunate for the Returned' Soldiers' Club, and must have been' a little disappointing- 1 to'the members'; of the Williamson Com-, edy' Company (Headed by Miss Beatrice Holloway and Mr. Robert Greig), Who so generously came forward to assist the men who haVe been, through the war to keep their, club financial. The weather was uncertain dur- ■ iug the morning,, arid jnsfc as the Trentham Baud,' and about fifty returned men marched through tlie streets to the Grand Opera House, the • rain began to drizzle down, and the cold became more acute. Still there was a good audience ill " the dress circle and stalls,"and' tho. entertainment given was quite worth while.*; : . \\, The outstanding.'.featuro!of the afternoon was unquestionably 'Mr. Robert Greig's effort ill disposing of a largesized Union Jack (presented by Miss Holloway),-bearing on its white sections tho. signatures of manyVreturncd Wellington soldiers, and subsequently in disposing of 'a. large number:,of the seats for the.Anzac Day. function. The big, breezy actor was fairly in his element as the auctioneer. He veibally wavecTthe flagj' called it a common'; old tiling, seen anywhere and everywhere in tile world, lie wheedled and jok«d, / coaxed and cajoled, flattered- and ehticed in the happiest mannerv After an effort that deserved better,' the flag was sold to Mrs. Erio Riddiford for £20, and that lady later on' presented it to the Returned Club. Then' Mr. . Greig became.- active in the 'disposal of seats fpr. the Anzao. ; Day function. The first seat was knocked down to the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) for £1 10s., and others were! sold (from an enlarged plan) from £1 down to ss. per seat, many present ' securing four seats' for £I.' At the |l

conclusion of that portion of the enterthe . Mayor came forward, and expressed the thanks of the club for the good work which had he en done by Mr. Greig and Miss Holloway, and all others who had assisted. Colonel J. Hughes, speaking from one of tlie: boxes, also voiced the gratitude of the returned men to those who had .helped them so willingly and ably. la -the entertainment, Mr. Greig told a number of rapid-fire stories with great gusto; Miss Holloway recited Rttdyard Kipling's "If" with good emphasfsMiss Violet Yorke contributed p. musical monologue; and Miss Esther Mitchell\ displayed naivette in the verses "The Usual Way." One of the most mirth-provoking contributions was that of Mr. Harold Moran, who revived the'"lndiscretions of. Mrs. Wizzen," or something to that effect. Mr. Haydn Beck contributed a violin solo. By permission of the Messrs. Fuller, Miss Eliot sang "Some Baby," and Mr. Huntly Spencer sang a couple of ballads. . ' Special mention should bo mado of the services rendered by the Trentham Camp Band, wliich not only played tho returned men to the theatre, but played on the balcony, and on the stago gave a sound reading of the "Poet and Peasant" overture. Afternoon tea was dispensed in the theatre by a number, of Wellington ladies, who also disposed of siveets and flowers to ail who would buy.