MISS NELLIE STEWART'S VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 232, 30 September 1902, Page 2

MISS NELLIE STEWART'S VISIT.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The fact that Miss Nellie Stewart is. unable to visit New Zealand at the present moment will cause universal regret throughout your populous country. But the lamented death of her father—the late Mr. Richard Stewart—together with the serious illness of her mother, now at an advanced age, and also .the continued indisposition of her sister, makes it impossible for her to undertake any extended journey at this juncture. No one regrets this more than Miss Stewart, who is anxious, once again, to meet her many friends in New Zealand. However, she hopes at an early date to make the tour of the islands, and to appear in the play which has recently made her name famous in the Australian cities.

Under the circumstances, Mr. GeOrge Musgrove has decided to send his new English Comic Opera Company to fill the "Sweet Nell" dates, as far as possible. The season at Auckland must necessarily be curtailed, but the original dates at Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch will be adhered to. The company will leave, Sydney by the... s-s, Waikare next Wednesday, and will open in "A .Chinese Honeymoon" at Auckland on 'the 6th October. Mr. Musgrove decided to stage the operas in the repertoire of the company ih the same elaborate way which has characterised his previous productions. I trust you will do your best to minimise the disappointment that must necessarily be felt at the inability of Miss Stewart and the dramatic company to come to New Zealand on the dates originally ar- ! ranged, ahd beg to assure you that the Opera Company will give a good account of itself, and well deserve a generous support from press and public —I am, etc., THOS. P. HUDSON, Manager. Princess Theatre, Melbourne, September 24, 1902.