PATRIOTIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13795, 16 June 1915, Page 6

PATRIOTIC ENTERTAINMENT.

HELPING SICK AND WOUNDED

SOLDIERS.

OVER £60 REALISED.

Thanks to the liberality of Mr. H. Saunders, proprietor of the Empire j Theatre, the Sick and Wounded Soldiers! and their Dependents' Fund benefited to the extent of £60 by the entertainment given last evening. There was a crowded. audience, and the programme presented met with enthusiastic appreciation. A capital series of films was screened, comprising two war dramas, a .number of topical war subjects, showing Canadian troops embarking for Europe, cavalry in Prance, 'British and Indian troops, the Nelson Gazette, showing the departure of Captain Houlker, Lieutenants Rout and Dron, all of whom have been wounded at the Dardanelles, and a fine picture showing life on H.M.S. New Zealand, and incidents in connection with the visit of our gift ship to the Dominion. The films were all loudly applauded. In addition speeches were made by the Bishop of Nelson, Mr. T. A. H. Field, M.P., and the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Harley). The Band of the 12th Regiment played a descriptive fantasia, "A Soldier's Life," the rendering of which received well merited applause. During the screening of ..the pictures the National Anthems of the Allies were sung by a choir of members cf the Harmonic Society. The Bishop of Nelson, in the course of a very interesting address, said it was a splendid thing that Mr. Saunders should give up an evening's entertainment in aid of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund. He referred to the gravity of the \var situation and the losses the New Zenlandevs had suffered at the Dardanelles. "Everyone," he .said, "who gees out is taking his life with him, and that war, also the feeling in the Old Country." The Bishop spoke of the wonderful genius Britain had for the government of her overseas Dominions, and, referring to the responseto the Mother Country's call, he said it was the case of "Daughter am I in my mother's house, !jut mistress in my own." The finest illustration they had of tin's wsis in South Africa, with that grand man General Botha at the head of affairs. "We must," said the Bishop, "keep Ahe old flag flying. If the flag which stands for liberty and freedom goes down, we will g<? down with it rather than have the burden of a foreign yoke. The last man and the last penny we will give." (Applause.) The Bishop spoke of the" traditions of the past, and paid a tribute, to the bravery of "our New Zealand boj^s who have laid-dewn their lives for us!" The Lion was fighting for freedom, and the Indians, Canadians, South Africans, j Australians, and New Zealanders were ! joining together in one great company ;to fight until there was atonement for the tearing up of the "scrap of paper," until Belgium was restored, and until | the Empire was triumphant. (Api plause.)

Mr. T. A. H. Field, M.P.; expressed Ins appreciation of the liberality and kindness of Mr. Saunders in giving the entertainment in aid of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund. How necessary such a fund would be was shown by the heavy casualty lists that were j coming to hand. Those lists also brought home -to us the terrific nature of the contest in which our troops were engaged. To uphold the flag of freedom and liberty the people were prepared to make every sacrifice. "If neces- ! sary," said Mr. Field, "let us have } conscription; let us have a dictator— . anything for victory." Our boys were I fighting heroically, and we must do j something more than honour them in I verse and isong: they must not be alj lowed to die in the workhouse like [,some of the Balaclava heroes. We must i not forgot our duty to our Brave beys." (Applause.) I The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Harley) apolo- : gised for the unavoidable absence of ' Father Finnerty, and asked the aud- > lence to tender their thanks to tho ■ choir, the Band of the 12th Regiment, the local newspapers, the Empire Theatre orchestra and staff, and lastly and heartily to Mr. H. Saunders for giving the gross proceeds of tho entertain- | ment, which amounted to over £60 to ! the fund. At the call of the Mayor, j three hearty cheers were given for Mr. i baunders.