CONGRATULATIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4819, 24 November 1902, Page 5

CONGRATULATIONS.

HAPPY GATHERING AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

An interesting gathering took place at tho City Council Chambers on Saturday morning. On •that occasion the cushioned chairs of tho City lathers were filled, not by grave and reverend Councillors, hut by tho fair ladies of tho Williamson Opera Company, who had recently won fame as cricketers, and through whoso efforts the sum of £317 was raised in aid of the sufferers by tho Elinganuto disaster. Tho Alayor appeared in his robes in honour of tire occasion, and tho Chamber was filled ny a number of citizens. Air F. Dyer, as chairman of the committee which inaugurated tiro cricketing foto, handed over to the Alayor the sum above referred to, and announced, amidst applause, that Mr J. O. Williamson had cabled that ho himself would bear the incidental expenses. Tho Alayor said ho had very much pleasure in receiving tho handsome donation. When ho first heard of tho demonstration being mooted, ho could not help but admire tho method by which the members of the company had sot about helping those who had suffered so severely by the Elingamito disaster, and ho had said to himself, “This is just tho very best way of raising money from tho multitude for such an object.” (Applause.) A performance or a concert; would not have been half so nice, nor would it have produced anything like as much money as had been obtained by tho efforts of these ladies. (Applause.) On behalf of the citizens, and ou behalf of the sufferers, ho tendered thorn every good wish, ami a grateful acknowledgment of their generous donation towards tiro fund. (Loud applause.) Councillor Izard, ou behalf of, tho City Council, also returned thanks. He said tho demonstration had been a successful one in every respect. To use a short expression, they had done “Jolly well.” (Applause.) They had taken tho town by storm, and any future scheme of defence would ho wanting which did not tako into calculation the ladies of tho Williamson Opera Company. (Laughter and applause.) Tho Alayor then handed to each of those who had taken part in tho demonstration a silver fern-loaf brooch, with “ N.Z.” on tho front and on the hack “Elingamito, presented by the citizens of Wellington.” Ho explained that this was a national emblem. It was the emblem worn by every Now Zealand trooper who' had fought his country’s battles in South Africa. (Applause.) As each lady walked up to receive tho gift slro wan warmly applauded by those present. Cheers were then given for the ladies, for Air Poto Hughes and Air J. C. Williamson. Alessrs Hughes’* and Hall returned thanks on behalf of tho company* and said the .members of tho organisation wore very much indebted to tho people of Wellington for kindnesses shown during their stay hero. On tho motion of Air Bannister, votes of thanks were accorded to tho Mayor, tho Premier (as Alinister of Defence for lending tents for the occasion), to Dr Findlay (who had adjourned a meeting so as not to interfere with tho demonstration), to thoso who had made generous donations in tho way of provisions, cto. A voto of thanks to tho press concluded tho proceedings.