FOR THE CHILDREN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16559, 25 May 1914, Page 2

FOR THE CHILDREN.

THE OPEN-AIR HOME PROPOSAL.

BENEFIT CONCERT IN KING’S

THEATRE

The King’s Theatre was comfortably filled on Saturday evening, when a benefit concert, organised by Miss Balkind and Mr C. W. Hervey, was held in aid of tho fund for an open-air home for consumptive children, on whose behalf the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) recently made a public appeal. The programme consisted principally of items by competitors who appeared in the recent elocutionary and musical competitions, and it was thoroughly appreciated. During an interval the Mayor (Mr H. Holland), in a short speech, said that he felt it would bo rather insincere of him if he did not personally thank those who had attended tho concert that evening in support of the fund, which an effort was being made to raise. Ho was sorry that Dr Blackmore was not present, as lie was an expert on tho subject of the euro and prevention of consumption. Dr Blackmore could have made, he thought, a far more pathetic appeal on behalf of the unfortunate children who were concerned. At a meeting at the Council Chambers, Dr Blackmore had told them of many cases that would stir the most hardened hearts. Recently, continued Mr Holland, a public appeal was made for a consumption sanatorium, for which £4OOO was raised. But it seemed to him that they had commenced at the wrong end. They were raising consumptives in their midst._ He thought that in preventing the disease from obtaining a hold of the children was to commence in the right direction. He was sure that all persons were desirous of doing everything they possibly could in helping to raiso the £3OOO required. If everybody gave only threepence or sixpence, the work would soon be done. The committee set up for the purpose had a great deal of hard work before it, and there were many difficulties to face; but those difficulties were meant to be swept- away, and the committee was determined to raise that £3OOO. (Applause.) Mr Holland then presented Miss Balkind with a bouquet of liowers, in recognition, he said, of her good work and help in the cause of humanity. Miss Balkind, in a brief reply, said that it was not she who should be thanked for the arrangement of the concert. The artists, Mr C. W. Hervey, the stage manager, Mr J. W. Sweeney, and the large committee were those to whom all the praise was due. The work was by no means hard; it was .a pleasure, and she wished Dr Blackmoro “good luck” in his scheme. Tho following was tho programme submitted:—Songs, Misses E. Croxton, M. Stringer, M. Davenport and Messrs J. H. Cocks, F. Hannah and C. Joll; quartets, Misses M. Stringer and M. Saunders and Messrs F. ; Hannah and J. H. Cocks, and Messrs Millar. March, Cookson and Vincent; recitations, Misses A. Saunders and E. Devereux, and Mr C. J. Smith; character dialogue, Mils Thiel and Mr F M’Donald; pianoforte solo; Master F. Cordery, violin solo, Mr R. L. Clarke.

The latest contributions to the fund for establishing an open-air home for children are:— Bishop Julius £o, T. F. Hall. “ M.E.C..” Mrs Mollet and H. F. Clifford £1 Is each, and “A Lady” 2s 6d.

At Saturday night’s meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Football League, on tho motion of Dr Thacker, it was unanimously agreed to support the fund being raised in connection v. it.li the openair home for children, and the secretary was instructed to write to tho Mayor, suggesting that the League would give a benefit match in order to assist the funds.