MR. HUGH WARD. RECEPTION AT THE TOWN HALL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 85, 11 April 1911, Page 4

MR. HUGH WARD. RECEPTION AT THE TOWN HALL

- AN ADDRESS AND SOUVENIRS. There were no spare seats in the Town Hall yesterday when the people of Wellington tendered a public reception and presentation to Mr. Hugh J. Ward, Miss Grace Palotta, and the members of Mr. Ward's company, as a slight mark of appreciation of their efforts on behalf of the Children's Hospital. It was a large gathering, marked by the utmost enthusiasm right through. Mr. T. M. .Wilford .(Mayor of; Wellington) presided^ ;and prominent on the" platform were' several ladies who had taken ' an active part in the movement, City Councillors, members of the Hospnal Board and medical profession. Miss Palotta was presented with a beautiful bouquet by .Mrs.. T. G. Macarthy. When Mr, Ward and the members of his company took their seats on the platform they received a welcome which was quite striking ; iho large crowd applauding", cheering, and waving handkerchiefs for some minutes. It was very flattering) but well deserved. ' THE MAYOR'S SPEECH. The Mayor said he was pleased to express the sentiments of the citizens towards Mi. Ward and the members of his company. The gathering was striking evidence that deep down in, the h-earte of the people of Wellington was the remembrance of those who were kind and generous in the public cause. Mr. Ward, Miss Palotta, and the members of the company had assisted to p^rry out a great scheme, and had aroused the most generous impulses. ever experienced here". Ivlr. Ward was endowed with a temperament, electricity, and aya v personality to command enthusiasm in others. Mrs. WilforH and himself appreciated to the full the no.ble work that had been done by their guests. Mr. Ward had a heart to pity and a hand open to melting charity. On behalf of the citizens Mr. Wilford presented Mr. Ward with the following address: — " Wellington) New Zealand, "April 10th, 1911. ."To Hugh J. Ward, Esq., " Dear Sir,-=— The citizens of Wellington, New Zealand, assembled in public meeting at the Town Hall on Monday, 10th April, 1911, desire to take the opportunity of your welcome return to the city to express by this address and the accompanying souvenir their sincere and warm appreciation of the feeling of sympathy towards suffering children, and the public spirit which animated you "when you so generously supported, both financially and otherwise, the movement for the provision of a Children's Hos.pital in Wellington inaugurated last year. "Due, no doubt, in a great measure to the enthusiastic and splendid exdmple shown by you for this noble cause, the 1 movement was 'a pronounced success. A, sum of no less than £16,000 was provided by voluntary donations subsidised by the State, sufficient to build, decorate, and furnish a Children's Hospital of the most approved type (now in course of erection), which will be the greatest boon to the community, and adequate for its needs in that direction for years to come. "Your unselfish efforts and those of the ladies and gentlemen of your company, who so loyally assisted you, will ever be gratefully remembered, and the reward of yourself and those associated with you will be the knowledge of the good accruing to the sick and suffering. With best wishes for your future success and happiness, "We remain, on behalf of the citizens, "T. M. WBLFORD, Mayor. " Conveners of Committee. — F. W. Haybittle (chairman), H. Van Staverea. R. Clement Kirk, Ernest C. Levvey, Knox Gilmer, John Fuller, junr., H. Hardwick-Smith. " < Oak tablets, bearing inscriptions Cil . silver 'bands, " For the children's sake," > and "From the citizens of Wellington, j N.Z., 1911," and an engraving of the 1 hospital also on silver, were then prei sented to Mr. Ward and Miss Palotta, to^ the .^accompaniment of _ cheers, applause, and the singing of "For He's a Jolly. Good-.. Fellow."' Photographic copies of^ the jaddress were then presented to tho members of the company — .Misses ..Celia Ghiloni, Maud Chetwynd, Ruby Baxter, - Florrie Redfern, Messrs. R. Wykeham, A. Mallalieu, W. Monk, H. H. Wallace, R. Greig, H. Henningham, W. A. Low, and H. L. Gilbert. -- - ■ &&.»WABD'S REPLY. J; On rising to reply Mr. Ward had a great reception, "and it was severaJ minutes before he was able to speak. He declared that they were making -too much fuss over the affair. The people of Wellington deserved the tribute as much as he. They gave, and that was all that was essential. He had given a little leading help,' which anyone eke would have done. 2t was so easy'l t6 give in a good cause, -"and if-the-oc-casion, offered again ha hoped the people of Wellington would take it up with enthusiasm. The experience had been a real joy to nimself and the members of his- company. They iad helped him before in these matters. For people of emotion, spontaneity, and real heart, there were none superior to those of the theatrical profession. The way in which the money was raised for the Children's Hospital here stood as an. Australasian record. (Applause.) Though he was retiring from the stage, he ivould not lose touch with this hospital, and the people of Wellington .vould hear from him again about it. (Loud applause.) Miss Grace Palotta also received a great outburst of applause, and in a graceful little speech, m reply, said that in comparison, with what Mr. Ward had done, her. part had been a small one, bat she had been delighted to assist. She ,was about to leave New Zealand, and would be away for a very long time, but .tfould never forget the warm welcomes and the hospitable kindness of the public of New Zealand. A vote of thanks to Mr. Wilford for presiding, carried with the singing of "He's a Jolly Good Fellow," closed the proceedings. Before the presentations were made Miss Mabei Fowler, and Messrs E. J. Hill and J. F. Carr contributed songs, all the singers being enthusiastically recalled. The combined orchestras from the Theatre Royal and His Majesty's Theatre, assisted by members of the Professional Orchestra, played .several selections, which were much appreciated.