PRINCESS THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 4218, 2 September 1876, Page 4

PRINCESS THEATRE.

Thors was R full attendance at the v ’ Princess’s last night, when the Lingard’a took their benefit. *■ A Lifes Dream, which, as a play, presents no feature calling Jbr notice, and the burlesque constituted the pitmtmme, and between the pieces Mr ■Sdngard delivered the following address This being our last night, allow me to return our most sincere and grateful thanks for the wonderinUr handsome manner in which you have been nleaaed t© bestow your patronage upon us during fbe past seven weeks. I wish to state here, ladies •nd gentlemen, that thongb I usually take a funny nart in some piece, I am not going to make a comic aneeoh. but merely to state a few facts that I trust will be received by you with pleasure concerning our first visit to Dunedin. We landed here in this City under engagement to your worthy idan£t££r*—Mr Hoskins —for two weeks; «hat extended to font weeks; and now it Ini m been seven weeks. (Applause.) During that engagement we have piven von no less time eervn copyright pieces over which wa have thf copyright in the Australasian Colonics. I neeo hardly say that one of those pi°ces is “ Our Boys,’ which ran for eight weeks in Melbourne. lu Londoi It is now, I think, in its 520 th night, and comparint your population with that of London, it must rni 1,000 nights to favorably compare with its dnratioi In this City.—(App’ause ) I have recently writtoi

♦o Mr Byron comparing the cities we have played In, and I can speak, after sixteen years’ experience, that this City has the most unparalleled position, the like amount of money not bavin? been taken during the same period 'n so small a City as Dunedin. We are going to play an engagement in Christchurch, and wo are going to return bore if possible and play, to use an Americanism, another farewell. We will then substitute “ Our Gtata” for “ Our Boys," and if “ Onr Girls” turns out bait as well as “ Onr Boys,” then onr boys and tha manager will have no'cause to complain.—(Applause.) Mrs Lingard and myself hav- tendered our services oh Monday night for the t-enefit of Mr Wm. Hoskins, and I nan only say that I hope you will rally round Mr Hoskins, so that the house will bo as full if not fuller than it is to-night, for a more worthy and honorable mem her of our profession I have never had the pleasure to meet.— (Applause.) I have to thunk the Press and the Orchestra here for the many kind attentions they have paid ns. From the entire company w» have met with nothing but kindness and sincere friendship—indeed, from everyone. We wish you goodbye for the present. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me once more to thank you on behalf of myself ami Mrs Lingard. If we return from Christchurch, ns we hope to return, nothing shall be wanting on onr part to render us still more worthy of your patronago.—(Cheers.)