THE HOSPITAL BENEFIT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1414, 13 April 1881, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL BENEFIT.

[to the editor.] Dear Sir—The statement made by Mr Nicholson in last night's paper that the Amateur entertainment cost lis more than the Comedy Company's would lead the public to believe that either the Amateurs were paid, or that all their personal expenses were refunded to them. Now I wish to deny this fact, as each amateur was at his or her own expense for their " get up," which in some instances amounted to something considerable. As there was no balance-sheet published after the benefit, there are certain facts I am acquainted with, and some lam not. I kuow that when the amateurs played " Blackeyed Susan*' for the prize fund for the State School the proceeds (gross) were about £55, and that a large per-centage of the audience was con)posed of children, who (in common parlauce) were " dead-heads." When the same piece was played for the Hospital, it was reckoned there was as good a house, and all bona-fide admitances, and yet the net proceeds amounted to only £25. Truly the Amateurs' expenses must have been something extraordinary ! The only items of expense I know of incurred by the Amateurs were refreshments, 255; coach hire to rehearsals on wet evenings, a few shillings ; and six complimentary tickets, given to Mr Mogdridge, to be distributed amongst about twenty who took part in the entertainmeut. I should be very sorry to insinuate that the Committee of the Hospital intended to pocket the proceeds, as Mr Nicholson hints at, as the Committee is composed of as honorable men as could be found, and more especially as they are not paid members, but make it a labor of love. Still, at the same time, there are a great many of the opinion that there is a screw loose somewhere. I hope Mr Nicholson, for the sake of the Amateurs (who are willing at all times to give their assistance to any local charitable cause), will clear up this matter of relative expenses—Amateurs versus Professionals -especially as the Comedy Company got £ls for playing, independent of incidental expenses.— Yours, &c, John "White. Dillman's April 13, 1881. [to the editor.] Sir—Would the Hospital Committee through your columns inform the public how £ls lis was expended on the last entertainment?—l am, &c, Harry Hope. Three-Mile, April 13, 1881. [The first and principal portion of the above letter, being precisely to the same meaning as the one preceding it, is omitted.—Ed. Iv. T.]