TAHUNA FIRE FETE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9987, 16 March 1893, Page 2

TAHUNA FIRE FETE.

TO THJB EDITOB. Sib,"—ln reference to the remarks made at the meeting of the Executive Committee for the Queensland relief fund about the unsatisfactory return from the recent Tahuna fire fete, I may state, in explanation, that the Kingsley Club did not ask for, nor did they get, any assistance gratuitously from other than members. There was no charge made for manufacturing the fireworks by Bickerton Bros,, nor for the material we had in hand, such as timber, wire, &0., and of course we had to pay for printing, advertising, bands, &c., all of which figure up considerably; in fact, nearly all arrangements were made and our expenses largely incurred before the section decided to devote the net proceeds to the Queensland relief fund. We anticipated and made arrangements for a very largo attendance,. expecting at least between one and two thousand persons, instead of which there were only about five or sis hundred people on the ground. We were also disappointed in the fact that of the three hundred tickets for the fete that the Executive Committee had to sell, exactly three hundred were returned unsold, showing that they at least had taken but very little trouble to assist us in our endeavour' to gain funds for the Belief. We deplore as much as anyone the fact that the fete did not result in a large surplus, hut every endeavour was made to make it a success, and I fail to see why we should be hauled over the coals because the expenses amounted to more than the Executive Committee (or some of the members) expected. They evidently do not know the expense attendant on a firework display. Surely they did not expect us to pay all coat out of our own pockets and stand the risk of loss, &o. I am, &c.— J. WALKER. Hon Sec.