MELBA AND CHARITIES.

Mataura Ensign, 16 March 1909, Page 4

MELBA AND CHARITIES.

It was announced last week in Australia. that- Madame .Melba had given 1000 guineas among the charities of tho chief cities of Australasia in the followiug proportion—Sydney, £250 ; Melbourne, ,1200; Adelaide, £110; Auckland, JJ-30; Cbristchurch, .tit); Wellington, £00; Dutiodin, £00; I'ertli, £00; Holiart, £SO; Launceston, £lO. 1 lie amounts will lie, forwarded to the Lord Mayors or Mayors of Lhe various cities. In a. letter explaining her reasons for making the donation .Madame .Melba says : —".Numerous requests for donations tor different charities have already reached me ami 1 am sure to receive many more. The exigencies of constant travel, my necessarily incomplete knowledge ol local conditions, and the bewildering impasse created by an overwhelming correspondence, make it imposssible Jor liio to duly consider these several applications. The number ol concerLs already arranged for my tour makes it a physical impossibility lor 111 C to undertake any additional appearances whatever. In any case J wish to mark my affection, for the Australasian people by .some direct personal gilt, however inadequate, rather than by a charity performance-, which, aftei all, is but a tax on the geuerositv of ones friends."