WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 39

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

By P. Rompter. May 7. Deab Pasquin,— Were it not for a merry hour to be passed at the Criterion, where Amy Vaughan's company holds the boardß, opening last Saturday, the week would have been dull indeed, with not even an above-the-average concert to break the monotony. The Criterion company is of the usual varied vunay vagaries, very vrolicsome, vhea yon visits variety shows— neither lets so nor more. The assiduous Amy is there every time, and as popular as ever, and the whole programme goss well, and, has gone to good houses every night— and George Warren hopes to do co yet a while longer, with no opposition to run against. Some folks don't like to see the Theatre Royal lying »a idle at a loafer 'neath a willow In high summer time, so It is mooted in towa that it be turned into a fresh-water swimming bath. A good wash would do the old building good. Why not turn it into the Wellington Aquarium f Mr Robert Parker has bad occasion to be a very happy man af late. He got his L.T.O.L. last week; at the local presentation of trophies te

contestants at the' Trinity CollegH (London)/ exams his daughter took the Martha Myers gold medal for pUyiug ; and his Son is holding up this colony's ruc-juet stoutly at the Intercolonial Tennis Meeting at Sydney. To-morruw uight we are to have the Maughan Barnett Musical Society concert, special features of which will be a new song, " The story," "by Mr Alfred Hill, which will be sung by Madame Eveleen Carlton, and two part songs by Mr Maughan Barnett to be sung for the first time. One of these, "Earl H»ldan's daughter," was performed, immediatnly after, its publication, in London, uader the conductorship of Herr Guatav Ernest, the well-known conductor and com*oaa». The Opera House Company have just held their annual meeting, at which Mr W. H. P. Berber, chairman of director*, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said the capital of the company wan shown the same as in previous years -viz , £14,530— because, in order to give effect to the resolution recently curried by the shareholders redu >ing the value of the shares by 303, it was necessary to obtain the consent of the court, and there was not time for this between the confirmation of the reflation and the close of the financial year. If tho reduction had been Riven effect to before tbe 3lat of March, the profit and loss account would now show a credit balance of £619 10s 9d. The result of the year's business had been fairly satisfactory. Although the rent account did not show as, large a balance as last year -£1660 aa against £2019— yet the difference between expenditure and income was a surplus ef £829. Debentures for .£5803 at 51 per cent, bad been issued during the year, thus teducing the expenditure on interest by over £150 per annum. . The directors recommended th»t * dividend be paid at the rate of 4 per cent, on £5 Bhare3, absorbing £581 4s, and that the balance, £48 6s sd, be transferred to profit and loss account. The present, year had commenced very well, and promised to keep up to the average. Tho shareholder.) were to be congratulated on the position the "company had arrived at. Ho »aw no reason ' why it should not continue as a dividend-paying concern, and not only should the dividend be paid regularly, but the percentage should even b* larger than was at present recommended.