£l000 GIFT FOR AVIATORS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 June 1928, Page 7

£looo GIFT FOR AVIATORS.

ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES AT ST. JAMES' THEATRE. CHAD VS MONCRIEFE AUCTIONS SEATS IN SYDNEY. Amid scenes of frantic enthusiasm, the- Pacific fliers learned at a gala performance of “Rio Rita,” given in their honour by Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller at St. James’ Theatre, Sydnev, on Tuesday, June 12. that they had benefited, to the extent of over £11)00. There was a rousing demonstration when the fliers entered tin; theatre, and the cheers were deail’eiiiing. When they filed on to the stage it broke out into great roars ol applause. The theatre was packed to Ino doors. In three minutes, Miss Gladys Moncrietf, in the unaccustomed role of auctioneer, had sold an autographed. picI uro of Captain Kingstord Smith loi CJHO. Pretty chorus girls sold “Kingsford Smith” gramophone records like hot cakes in the stalls. The performance lasted till midnight. When attempting to address the crowd, the two Americans' accompanying Captain Kings ford 1 Smith and Lieutenant Ulm (Messrs. Warner and Lyon) said they were too “overtaken” to speak. Captain Kings ford Smith came to the rescue, however. He said: “We cannot sav how glad we are to be in Australia'again and to receive a welcome like this. We had some trouble oil the wav, as you have probably heard; hut that was nothing to the trouble we had 1 in starting. Now we find to our joyful surprise that we have not only liquidated- our debt of £IO.OOO. but we are on the road to becoming perfectly rich.”

During the day Miss Gladys Moncrieff. with .Sir Benjamin Fuller presiding. bad auctioneered all seats which had not been booked for the night performance. Seats in the stalls realised from Cl hs to £lO 10s- each, arid in the dress circle op to £lB 18s. There was a ready purchase for seats throughout the house at £3 3s and £2 2s. Only one box (to accommodate- six peope) was available for auction. Bidding was brisk, and started at £25. Bids of £5 each carried the price to £4O. at which figure- it was seen red* by Mr. Edmund Resell.