THE STEVENS TROUPE.

West Coast Times, Issue 233, 21 June 1866, Page 2

THE STEVENS TROUPE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE " WEST COAST TIMB8." Sir, — I havo no intention of entoring upon a newspaper controversy -with Mr Bartfett, bat it is due to myself that I should take some notice of his letter in your columns of this morning. During my engagement of the Theatre Royal at Dunedin, I played the Stevens Troupe against Lady Don (then in tho height of her popularity at the Princess's) for a period of eighteen nights, at a profit to myself, giving them a dear half of the gross reoeipts, and afterwards engaged with her, for them, to appear for a few nights at the Princoss, at the rate of sixty pounds per week, with a benofit. I think, then, that I am entitled to be dealt with on something like equal and liberal terms, whon X bring, at groat expense, a comEany of olever artists to the West Coast. I ad hopod to make orragemonts whioh would have enabled me to ofier this entertainment to the publio from the stage of the new Theatre. But, without entering into any exact statement of the terms that were made — the sole condition on whioh I could obtain the use of the house for the Stevons troupe to appear in conjunction withh the Dramatis company, it will bo sufficient for. me to say that they were entirely of a prohibitive oharacter, and such as must deprive tho publio of the opportunity of seeing many companies who would gladly pay the West Coast a visit if they had Buffl« cient encouragement to do so. 1 am Sir, yours obediontly, G-eoege Donne, Cafe de Paris, Hokitika, Juno 20th.