DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 211, 16 July 1904, Page 14

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

By Footlight.

MR. Fred. Graham monopolised most of the attention of a faai audience at the Opeia House on Monday and succeeding nights by hifa excellent Captain Coddmgton in "In Town." "In Town" is quite a smart thing, and Freddy has the. smartest part of it, which he uses with excellent effect. Freddy's get-up is irreproachable, and his surprising alertness and genius for "gag" found an echo in the more or less suppressed chuckles of the audience. * * * But, the audience remained gloomily unresponsive once in a while. When the Duke of Muffshii c is leaving the impecunious Captain am one occasion, he says "Bon joui." The Captain, bowin"- low, lemarks "Au reservon '" and His Grace disappears murmuring "Tanks!" Deathly silence. This is hut one of many examples. * * * Fredas mimicry was very effective. His dumb "turn " showing a lady undergoing the excitement of dressing her hair, was probably the best thing in the show. A lady on mv right giggled hysterically. "He's getting a mouthful of hair-pins!" "He's sticking them in!" "He's putting his hat on!" "There's the hat-pins'" "He's pricked Ms finger!" "He's powdiring his face'" "He's putting a veil on'" But he wasn't. It only seemed so. * • • Sharing premier honours with Mr. Craham, Miss Aggie Thorne, as "Shrmrn " the call-boy at the Ambiguity Theatre made a real live thing of the oart. The "boy's" dramatic lovemaking; with the leading lady in the green-room, and hi 9 treatment of the nobility got some of the best laughs of the piece. Miss Celia Mavis, always dainty and bright, although suffering

from a cough, did her Loid Clanhide with the lequisite vim, and sang her little songs with effect. Miss Maud Lita a& Kitty Hetheiton, ex-governesh but now leading lady, and Mii>s NeJlie Dent as the haughty Duchess of Muffshire, did good' work, and assisted 1 the vocal side of the show pleasingly. Dukes, parsons chuckers-out, and vaiiou« ol .er people were more or less capably pouirtrayed, the small ballet was good the setting excellent, and the diesising smart. * * * Dixs Gaiety Company, at the Theatre Royal, has again, established itself firmly in the affections of its old and new patrons. Its success is not based on the sentimental support of the pubhe for the show, without doubt, rates first place among entertainments seen for many months in this city. There are no "fill up" turns. Take the Powers Brothers. The. brothers are He andi little respectively. Their act is full of the poetry of motion. A tightwire seems to be their natural element, and, either on their respective ffet or head to head', the nimble brothers never make a fault. Their headMxvheaidi wcrk and their waltzing on the wire is a splendid exhibition . * * • Tenor Wallace Ascot sings "Dreams of Paradise" as if he felt the musao in his soul. His voice iscleal, cultured, teillmg, and of fine quality. His method, is attractive, and his selections eminently suited to his special treatment of them. Kellmann, the magician, may be considered 1 amongst the most expert of his class seen here. His "packinig-oase" act, in which he 1s 1 duly handcuffed, and securely roped in. a case, arriving on the outside free in a short time, is a, sensation. It is alone worth a visit. Then, those four English Cathedral Choirifeters. Their quartettes, duets, and solos are sweet music. It is hard work for those hoys to get away. * * * One thing that strikes, me very forcibly about the present Dix programme ip that it is the "politest" vaudeville show I have attended either in Wellington or elsewhere. Every "turn" might he submitted to the most fastidious audience 1 . Miss Alice Layton's voice, is heard to much advantage in choice songs. Miss Hilda Lane is a charming vocalist. Her intonation is very correct, and 1 she sings with nice unaffected! expression. "Home, Sweet Home" was +he vocal gem of the show. * * * One has only to shut one's eyes when Mi Garden Wilson is on the stage to bei-

heve that the. stage is peopled by a crowd of celebrities. The mimic is Cuyler Hastings, or Johnny Sheridan, or anyone else he chooses, and his sevelal styles are without farult. Miss Pora Taylor, the well-known toe-dlancea*, is more giaceful and daring: than before, it possible. The serio-comedy is in the hands 1 of Miss Pearl Hellmrich and our oldi friends, Harry Carl ton andi Joe Cowan. * * * Fullei's Entertainers have been fortified by the advent of Professor Ohmy, who has a couple of dogs— big and little — that can do quite a number of reasonable things. Their canine lntelHerence promots them to be either bmed oir quadiruped, they know the difference between a half-crown and a humble "brown," they are steeplechasers go to bed when sent, and all tihe rest of the hines done by dogs I have known, seen and admired. • • • Miss Lulu Eugene is a supple "seiio," who can sing a song or encircle her nee. with a dainty nether limb. Also, thehmb will beat a tattoo on the atmosphere or gambol twinkhngly round the boards. Her "Mary Kissed the Catntain" is the vocal excuse for heir aerial (?iST)lav of slipper. Carmo, with his ladder his chair, and his wife, is still balancing all three separately or in the bulk, and is demonstrating: the value of muscle in the earning of one's dandy b v ead . • * • Miss Dolly Lamont told us about "Tihe Valley bv the Sea," where the sun and shadows mcct — also lovers. Likeiwisei, where the grirl is buried, and touching things like that. She has to sing other pathetic bit 9. People like to feel weeroy. WilH Stevens has noit yet faded into tihe whence and he has a song "Kindness Rewarded." which, without Will Stevens isn't comic. He infuses the neee^sar^ smiles. The Steele Sisters still do solid work, and Tillie> Dunbar sings of the only subject onei ever hears of in coon singing, "Ma Bai — a-a^by." I wish that baby would eret overlain. The ""Wrestlinor Boom" is promised for tomorrow (Saturday). • • • The skating boom* is wearing well. There are signs that the fever is increasing. Afternoon, and night the giddy wearers of the wheel are doing their best to retain an upright position, and peorjle who, last week involuntarily examined the pattern of the floor are now rejoicing in their unassisted perpendicularity. Skating seems to be not only a splendid tonic exercise, but a sociaJ success. Sympathy with a braised

cranium leads to an exchange of confidence, and ultimate friendship. Mr. James Mac Mahon's courtesy to patrons, and sympathy with learners, have won all hearts.

We read of love, we lead of war, Of val'rous deeds and mystic lore. But then, we've read it all before; And yearn for something newer. There's nothing fresh, the world is stale, And weary as a twice told tale. Yet stay ! when coughs and colds prevail, There's Woods' Great Peppermint Cube.

Mr Fred Graham and his wife, Miss, Nellie Dent, late of Abbotts Opera Company, are appearing under the 1 uJler management in. New Zealand — bo the "Newsletter" says, anyhow. * * * Paderewski had his hair cut in Melbourne. A lady who bought a sample at a Collins-street store, is very proud of it. It is light flaxen, and was probably grown, in a paddock. » * * "Of course you don't live with your husband."— "The Marriage of Kitty." This is the kind of thing that even the dress circle permits itself to laugh at. * * * Graceful Gertie Campion (Pollards), who was said to be suffering from lung trouble, is much better, and is on her way from South Africa to Melboui ne.

Mr. T. Shields, of Lambton Quay, Wellington, says that he has derived great benefit in kidney trouble by the use of Plantekoa. The Wellington. Wharf Labourers' Union hold their fifth anniversary social in the Druids' Hall, Tarainaki-street, on Friday, 22nd July, commencing at 8 o'clock p.m. The Petone Naval Artillery hold their "coming of age" ball in the Drill Hall, Petone, on Wednesday, July 20th. The preceding twenty balls have each been a great success, but we are assured that the twenty-first will be a "ringer." Nominations for the events in connection with the championship gathering of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Boxing Association, close next Saturday night, the 23rd instant. The entries promise to constitute a record for a 1 fathering of this kind, as already the hon. secretary (Mr. W. Coffey) has received' ai goodly number from the country districts. Many local exponents of the art of self-defence intend tryine their skill at the championship meeting, and altogether the revival in the sport shows no sign whatever of weakening. The attention of investors, financiers, etc., is called by Messrs. Thomson and Brown, to their advertisement in reference to: a corner block m Mamnensistreet, to be submitted by them at public auction,, on Wednesday, 20th July. An opportunity to acquire property in this locality seldom occurs. They will also offer on the same date two building sites in Hataitad, and' two shares of £500 each in the Hataitai Land Syndicate. At the same time the firm wiiLl submit a valuable site in Courtemay Place. All the above are being sold! under instructions from the Public Trustee, to wind up the estate of the late Mr. Roskruge.

/J*HE Company is being formed for the purpose ~l of acquiring, as going concerns, the tashion- * able and well-known " Empire Hotel," m Willis and Victoria Streets, Wellington ; the picturesque and far-famed "Bellevue Gardens and Hotel," situate at Lower Hutt, and the fine public residence or pmate hotel known as "The Mansions," recently erected m Ghuznee Street, Wellington ; and of carrying on, consolidating, and extending their trade or business, and generally of carrying out the objects mentioned in the Memorandum of Association of the Company. The \aiue of the assets to be acquired by the Company has been fully reported upon by wellknown, experienced, and reliable experts, and the following is a fair summary of their reports • — " The Empire Hotel " — Land, Buildings, Furnishings, and Goodwill £111,200 Stock of Wines, Spirits, etc. ..^ 1,000 " The Bellevue Hotel and Gardens " and Furnishings .. ••• 21,233 Stock of Wines, Spirits, etc. ... 250 The Mansions"— Buildings, Furnishings, etc 10,546 Total ... £144,229 These figures, based on thoroughly reliable estimates, show a surplus of £14,229 over and above the purchase price to be paid by the Company. "THE EMPIRE HOTEL." This palatial hotel, recently built and reconstructed, may now be classed as equal to any establishment of its kind which the Southern Hemisphere can boast of. The position of this hotel may be said to be the most valuable in point of situation and convenience which could be selected for pmate or public enterprise out of the whole of the capital city of New Zealand. The "Empire" has frontages to two of the most important business streets of Wellington City Willis Street on the one side and Victona Street on the other — and to each of these streets it presents a handsome and imposing front. The area co\ ered by the hotel represents a length from street to street of 190 feet, and the frontages to Willis and Victoria Streets are 75 feet and 71 feet respectively. By no possible fluctuation can such a site as that on which the Empire stands be otherwise than materially enhanced in value in years to come. "THE BEILEVUE HOTEL AND GARDENS." At the present time a journey of thirty minutes by train and ten minutes' walk from the Lower Hutt railway station brings the visitor to the gates of this Hotel and Gardens — a truly magnificent property of some sixteen acres, with a frontage of about 1500 feet to the mam Waiwetu Koad, which is one of the main thoroughfares of the Hutt Valley. The Bellevue Gardens are unique in New Zealand, being, as they are, the only private botanical gardens on a large scale in the Colony. A carriage drive, shaded on either side by fine old trees and fringed with graceful ferns, leads to the hotel — a veritable old English manor house — standing in the midst of emerald green lawns, flower beds resplendent with gorgeous blooms of

e\ery shade and hue, shady arbors and quaint summer-houses over which trail sweet-scented roses, interesting a\enues of rare trees and shrubs brought from e\ery clime. There are nearly all varieties of New Zealand trees in these grounds. The straightening of the Hutt Railway has been agreed to by Parliament, and this important public work has already begun. The impio\ement of the Hutt road is a work also to be put in hand immediately. It is needless to say that the Belle\ue Hotel and Gardens will immensely pioht by these improvements. "THE MANSIONS." One of the finest establishments of its kind south of the line is the handsome new boardinghouse known as " The Mansions," situated in Ghuznee Stieet. The fine proportions of this building, as it towers in its garb of white above those buildings which surround it, immediately arrest the attention in the panorama of Wellington City. The building, which is three storeys high, of brick and stucco, has a frontage of 47 teet 6 inches to Ghuznee Street by a depth of 66 feet 3 inches. The furnishing is of the most palatial character, as may be seen from the fact that it has cost nearly £4000. FINANCIAL ASPECT. The Empire Hotel. The fullest investigation of the books and accounts of the Empire Hotel has been made by Messrs. Badham and Biss, professional accountants and auditors, Wellington. Their report shows that from June, 1899, to October, 1903, the receipts totalled £83,206, against disbursements, £51,371 ; leaving a net profit of £31,835, exclusive of interest. The following is a copy of a supplementary report from Messrs. Badham and Biss, showing the receipts toi the four months from the Ist No\ ember, 1903, to the 29th February, 1904. " Wellington, Maich 10th, 1904. "Having been lequested to supplement oiu former lepoit ot the 7th Decembei last with a statement of the leceipts ot the Erapue Hotel foi the four months from the Ist Novembei last, we have accoidingly made a fuithei examination of the books of the Empire Hotel, and have to leport that the leceipts of the business for the foui months fiom the Ist November to the 29th February last, inclusive, as shown theiem, amount to £10,571 ss. lid. " This bungs the total receipts foi the yeai ending 31st December, 1903, to £28,671 10s. Sd. " Badham and Biss, " Piofessional Accountants and Auditois." It will be seen from the reports that the receipts show a marked increase year after year, rising from £14,040 for the year 1900 to £28,671 for the year 1903 — an increase of OVer 100 per cent., or more than double. Compared with 1901 — only two years ago — ■ when the new building was completed, the receipts for 1903 actually show an increase of over 60 per cent. An examination of the books shows that the receipts for January and February, 1904, amounted to £5,570 10s. lid., which is at the rate of £33,423 per annum. The present rate of profit on the Empire Hotel alone represents in itself over 8 per cent, on the entire capital of the consolidation without taking into account at all " The Mansions " and the " Bellevue Hotel and Gardens."

With more accommodation available, which the addition of another storey will give, coupled with the large economies which can undoubtedly be effected under the consolidation, the neb profits should be increased by fully 50 per cent. Receipts of " The Mansions." The receipts of " The Mansions " amounted for the past eight months to £2134 195., and the expenditure to £1621 16s. 9d., leaving a surplus of £513 2s. 3d. It must be borne in mind that the house is a new one, opened on the Ist August, 1903, and that these figures represent the returns for the period in which the house was started, and before it can be said to have been in full working order. The following is a copy of Messrs. Badham and Biss's report : — " Wellington, April Bth, 1904. " We certify that, having examined the books in connection with the establishment known as "The Mansions," Ghuznee Stieet, Wellington, we find the receipts for the past eight months, from August Ist, 1903, to March 31st, 1904, amounted to £2134 195., and the expenditure to £1621 16s. 9d., leaving a surplus of £513 2s. 3d., but in the above figures no amount has been included for interest on capital invested in the business. " BVDHAM AND BISS, " Piofessional Accountants." Receipts of the " Bellevue Hotel and Gardens." The receipts of the " Bellevue Hotel and Gardens " from Ist January, 1902, to 29th February, 1904, amounted to £10,221 os. 4d., while the expenditure was £8,545 7s. 7d., leaving a surplus of £1,675 12s. 9d. During this period 52,103 visitors paid £1,302 11s. 6d. for admission to the grounds, and £416 9s. was realised for flowers. In the expenditure is included the sum of £1,609 10s. 10d., which is an extra outlay incurred in repairs, upkeep, and generally improving the property. THE VALUES OF THE PROPERTIES. As to the values of the three properties, reports on this point have been obtained from the leading valuers of the city, men who are well known in Wellington for their absolutely unbiassed judgment, skill, and experience in this class of business for a long period of years, and generally their " bed-rock " valuations. The whole of these three properties have been carefully valued, and there is no doubt that if sold in the open market to-day they would realise considerably higher prices. Moreover, from the fact that business in Wellington is expanding enormously and that the values of these three properties must increase proportionatel yyear by year, it will be admitted by everyone that the possibilities of the Company must be very great indeed, and that its earning facilities, which are already so high, must be materially enhanced in the immediate future. Early application for shares is invited, and should be forwarded to the brokers, accompanied by a cheque for £1 on each share as application money. Copies of the Prospectus may be obtained from the several brokers of the Company, or the vendor. The vendor (Mr. Herrman Lewis), or the local brokers will be glad to show intending shareholders over any of the properties, and to give any further information desired.