A BRUTAL ASSAULT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 33, 2 November 1929, Page 16

A BRUTAL ASSAULT

MELEE IN HOTEL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, November 1. Thomas Richards, licensee of Gleeson's Hotel, was charged at. the Police Court witli assault, opening his premises illegally. and selling liquor after hours. Evidence was given by Kenneth Douglas, Leslie Wilson, and George Couch that they went into Gleeson's Hotel about 10.30 p.m. on September 27. The licensee admitted them, and they had drinks in the bar. Douglas and Richards had a dispute as to whether Mr. Massey or Sir Joseph Ward was the best Prime Minister. Richards offered to tight Douglas, who went out of the bar into the passage, where Richards struck his several times on (he bead and face. The barman joined in, and Douglas was thrown into the street. Douglas said that he had a lame leg and a muscle of his left arm had been removed, so that he could not fight. Richards, in defence, denied that: the three men named had been in the hotel. Ho said that he had never seen them before. He denied selling them liquor. Mr. Hunt, S.M., said that the three men were perfectly respectable citizens, and had perfectly believable stories. The assault on a crippled man was a particularly brutal one. Richards, was lined £lO for assault. £lO for selling liquor illegally, and his license was endorsed.

DUSOLIN'A GIANNINI TO-NIGHT. -That New Zealanders should, have, tlie, .opportunity of bearing tlie glorious young soprano Dusolina Giannini practically at the outset of a career which promises to be one of tlio most remarkable In musical history is due to the enterprise.of Mr. E. J. Gravestock, who lias brought to this country a host of musical celebrities, including ■ Backiiaus, Charles Hackett, the late Jean Gertirdv, Lipkovska, Rosina Buckman, Kendall String] Quartette,“Shura. Cherkassky, and Alexander Watson. In introducing Giannini to this part of tlie world, Mr. Gravestoek declared his linn belief that this young singer would immediately be recognised as the indisputable successor to Melba, Clara, Butt, ami ' Gaiii< Curci—ami this iib spitii of (lie opposition of modern nmelianical vnisie. Commenting on the, fact Unit sonic hundreds were turned away from a matinee concert, tlie Melbourne “Argus” said: “Sueli a happening honours tiic artist and vindicates tlie musical name of tlie city. This was the seventh concert of-a series which might easily continue for several weeks, so keen is tlie delight of all intelligent music-lovcrs in tlie singer's wonderful art... Discerning listeners realise Unit they arc in the presence of one ot’ tlie great singers of tlie world.” Only two concerts will be given in Wellington, to-night and Monday next, at the Town Hall. Tin- programime for to-night includes “All, Spietato” (Handel), “O Del Mio Amato Ben” (Donau Dy), “Non So Pin” (Jlozart), the well-known aria, “Vissi d’Arte,” fron? “La Tosca," “Invocation” (Kramer), "When I Love i'ou” (Cole), "Before tlio Crucifix” (La Forge), “Joy” (Gaul), and a group of Italian and Spanish folk songs which arc such a feature of Giannini’s concerts. Supporting tlie star are two line instrumentalists, Miss Molly Bernstein (pianist),; and Mr. Sol Deutsch (violinist). Tlio box plans and day sales are at the Bristol. "JOURNEY’S END.” Great interest lias .been, aroused in the production here on' Wednesday night, November 13, by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management ’ oil the. . new worldfamous drama, “Journey’s End,” which has proved the outstanding theatrical success of recent years.! “Journey’s End,” wrote a Sydney critic, 1 “is, without question, the most significant ami most vital play that has been seen in Australia for a generation. It has , other than merely dramatic value. It is a more or less faithful historic record of a’ phase in the most moving and tragic ported the world has ever known. But, ab«ve ail, it is part of a tremendous message—propaganda, if you like— that is beginning to flare spontaneously in every civilised country of the eWorld. Since the play is brilliantly written and perfectly acted, it serves as a vehicle for matter of absorbing interest. Men of tho warts generation, the trusting young, who were the sacrifice of an older world, have, till now, Remained stunned by the prolonged horror ; of those years of senseless butchery. Grim stories of war in all its foul realism have been rarely and grudgingly told. Ftor years after peaee 'was declared plays and books about the war were not popular. These men wanted to forget for a time, as the world wanted to forget I for ever. But now, at last, they are becoming articulate. It is the beginning of thh protest of deluded ami tortured youth. It is also a cry in tho chorus of horrified warning that haft not. yet swelled to its full volume. Out of the sham Wes, so far, at least, four players have came, ami “Journey’s End" is by far the best that lias been written in England.” The approaching season is to be a brief one. ami the box plans for it will be opened on Friday morning next at tho Bristol.