A LIFE OF SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 45, 17 November 1926, Page 12

A LIFE OF SERVICE

A POPULAR PERSONALITY RECEPTION TO MR. HUGH J. WARD HIS GOOD WORKS FOR CHARITY RECALLED There were about 150 people present at the Midland Hotel yesterday afternoon, when a reception was accorded to Mr. Hugh J. Ward, the theatrical entrepreneur, who returned to Wellington by the L'limaroa after an absence of some fourteen years. That a good deed is never forgotten was proved by the warmth of the reception accorded to the visitor. His Worship tlie Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) presided, aud there were present: Mrs. Norwood, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Vincent Ward, Sir John Findlay and Lady Findlay, Rev. H. Van Staveren and Mrs. Van Staveren, Hon. W. Earnshaw, M.L.C., Mr. and Mrs. E. Mandel, Mr. J. Hyams, Air. and Mrs. Bert Royle, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Millar, Airs. H. Flimmer, Air. O. N. Gillespie, Mr J. Reardon, Mr. and Airs. JI. Ross, Air. W. Mowbray, Air. Bolt, Mrs Pow, and many others. In welcoming Air. Ward, the Alayor said his duty was a very pleasant one, as it was to welcome back one perhaps who was esteemed and respected more than anyone else in the theatrical world. Air. Ward was over here on a holiday, but they could not allow him to come coldly into their gates, remembering how familiar it was to most of them what he had accomplished here fifteen years ago. (Applause.) Air. Ward was not one who confined his attention solely to money-making. He was one who in a busy life found time to pursue some of the higher ideals of life. Few of them would forget his endeavour here which had culminated so splendidly in the erection of a very fine Children’s Hospital, of which they were all so proud; thev would never forget Air. Ward for his great action on that and other occasions. Air. Ward was one who believed in leaving the world a little better than he found it—he certainly left Wellington better off than he found it—(applause)—and such was the extent of his desire to work for the uplifting and good of humanity that movements he had organised had realised no less a sum than £1,045,000 for charities and other purposes closely allied to charities. (Applause.) On behalf of the citizens he tendered Air. Ward a hearty welcome to the city, and hoped that his holiday in New Zealand would be productive of much happiness. (Applause.) Before resuming his seat, the Alayor announced that an apology had been received from the Hon. R. F. Bollard, who had been called away from Wellington. The Rev. FI. Van Stanveren said it gave him great pleasure to be present, and meet his old friend who had alwavs been so popular during his several visits to Wellington, and who had made a great many people happier by hill stav here. He was sure that they owed a great debt of gratitude to Air. Ward and Aliss Grace Palotta for providing the city with the beautiful institution they had in their Children’s Hospital. , '. , “I will now tell vou how, having put it there, Air. Ward helped to keep it there,” said Mr. Van Staveren. ."That mav sound strange, for a hospital is something you cannot move about —but I will explain. A few years after the campaign, thev had not yet furnished the hospital, when there were those who wished to divert it from its original purpose, but I would not have it. I went to the trouble of cabling Mr. Ward, who was then in Australia, ana he did what he could to retain the hospital for its original purpose, and sp it has been retained for the children ever since.” (Applause). Sir Joseph Ward said they knew all about Mr. Ward in Wellington He would take them away to Mr. Ward in England. He and Mr. Hugh J. V ara met in the Old Country, and together thev visited the American ConsulGeneral, Air. Christopher Cross, and that distingushed . gentleman was ...kind enough to invite two Wards to dinner. There Air. Hugh T. met one of his old theatrical friends, and after dinner they each wanted to know how the other had fared since thev had last , met and to what decree thev had kept their stage form. The thing resolved itself into a dancing competition. If he remembered right, the dance was called "The Corkscrew” (or perhaps it was “The Scarecrow ) ; all he remembered was that their guest beat his friend' “out of sight.” Later thev went to Belgium together, but even there he found that Mr. Hugh Ward was known, and the speaker was not. Sir Joseph said that it was no small achievement to raise over £1,000,000 for charitable objects, and also it must not be forgotten the fine work Air. Ward did for the soldiers during tlie war. He hoped the visitor would remain in New Zealand some six or seven months, and that he would culminate his stav bv raising £250,000 to build an opera house worthy of the name, for after all the village of Sydney was nothing compared with the importance of Wellington. (Laughter and applause.) Mr. Ward, who was greeted with applause, said he • was embarrassed with all the good things which had been said about him. The fact remained that he was verj’ glad to be back in Wellington and meet all his old friends again. He had always wanted to come back, but, somehow or other, there was always something to prevent him even from making an en route call on anv of his many voyages across the Pacific. As to what he might have done, he had held that it was good citizenship when one had conducted an undertaking successfully to give part to the State; and if he could by any action, thought, or advice be of any service whilst in New Zealand he would be only too happy to help. He commended the great work done by Sir Trubv King in checking the wastage in infant life, and said that the first benefit given in the new St. James Theatre (probably the finest theatre in this part of the world), was one for this Trubv King work in Sydney—(applause)—a work which was interesting the intellectuals of Australia to a remarkable extent. Air. Ward stated that lie was in New Zealand on a holiday chiefly.

After afternoon tea was served, Sir John Findlay proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor for the happy way he had presided over a pleasant little gathering.