LAWRENCE CHRISTY MINSTRELS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 179, 13 July 1871, Page 5

LAWRENCE CHRISTY MINSTRELS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — In a letter which appeared in your columns of the 6th inst., relative to the Lawrence Amateur Christy Minstrel performances, there was a paragraph stating that the Minstrels declined ever playing again for the benefit of the Tuapeka Hospital, under its present management, on account of the wanner in which the Hospital Committee had treated them in connection with their last entertainment for that institution. That paragraph, notwithstanding that it has given considerable annoyance and offence to some of the gentlemen constituting the Committee, is, I am compelled to say, perfectly true, although neither it, or the letter in which it appeared, emanated from any of the Christy Minstrel Company. I As a leading member of that Company, and as both the Hospital and the Minstrels are to a certain extent public bodies, I feel it my duty, in exoneration of the step we have taken in this matter, to publicly explain the exact nature and particulars of the transaction which led to this much to be regretted disagreement. Early in February last, it was proposed to give an entertainment for the benefit of the hospital, in which the "Artful Dodge" was to be played by a few gentlemen, representing the remnants of the Dramatic Club, and the Christy Minstrels were to finish the rest of the programme. On the 16th of February, this entertainment was successfully performed, the amount realised by the name being £27 or £28. Now, as there is a special law in the printed rules of the Dramatic Club, and also afac simile one in those of 1 he Christy Minstrel Company, as follows: — "That 12i per cent, be deducted from the proceeds of each performance given in aid of any public object," f, as the appointed secretary and treasurer to both of these companies, -considered I was but doin" my duty, and that in all inn«>cence of giving any offence, by making this usual deduction — especially as. l know iha^ the Christy Minstrels were entirely dependent upon this allowance in order tomeefctheir

expeuses, which are of a much heavier nature than those attached to a dramatic club; and in no instance whatever hare they performed wir,h.»ut receiving their 12£ per cent, out of the proceeds, as pro^ vided for in their rules— although the Dramatic Club may have dona so on one or two special occasions, when the expenses did not amount to as much as the usual deduction of 12£ per cent, would have come to. Accordingly, I gave the Secretary of the Hospital, who had charge of the proceeeds of the entertainment, a formal receipt for the amount (some £3 6s ) Out of this sum I had to pay Mr. Bastings, for rent of room, refreshments,. . and damage done to forms on the night «-f the performance ; after doing which, I had a surplus in hand of 26s. — that amount being all the Minstrels received from the entertainment, and which was not a fifth part of the expenses actually incurred by them. This 265. I paid to Mr. Jeffery, on account of the Company, who were indebted to him at the time some £6 or £7. Having explained these facts, you can easily imagine how annoyed and disgusted I felt, when, a few days after, aleading member of the Hospital Committee charged me, and that in a very abusive manner, with not only having been guilty of a gross piece if impertinence and excess of duty, for doing what was actually a compulsory act on my part, by virtue of the offices I held ; but also charged me — or, perhaps, I should say the Christy Minstrel Company, through me — with appropriating moneys the pr«»perty of the Hospital, threatening at the same time to us a all means in his power to make us refund every shilling of it. That these charges were uncalled for, and a piece of unpardonable ingratitude on. the part of the Hospital Committee, I am sure any sensible person will have no hesitation in saying — although, I must, in justice to that Committee, Btate that I don't think there were more than two or three of the gentlemen composing it who had, or have even at the present time, any cognition of the transaction whatever. As in duty bound, I informed the members of the Christy Minstrel Company what had been said to me, one and all of whom instantly asserted their determination not to perform again forthft Hospital in consequence thereof. You will agree with me, Mr. Editor, that even a band of minstrels must stand upon their dignity at a certain point, and I think it it fast approaching that point, when we are insulted by a charge of appropriating th» funds of an institution for whose sole benefit and welfare we so freely devoted our time and talents ; and although there is no canse for which the gentlemen of the Christy Minstrel Company would sooner give their services, or in. which our sympathy could be so easily enlisted, as that of the Tuapeka Hospital ; and notwithstanding it is a pity so valuable an institution should suffer through • paltry quibble — for I really cannot call it anything else ; still, unless the reflection and odium cast upon us by the act I have above mentioned, be removed, by an apology from the Hospital Committee, I am afraid that the determination already expressed by the Christy* will be ad' hered to. In writing this letter, T must state that I am not actuated by any private feeling in the matter, but do so purely by desirs and on behalf of the Christy Minstrels, as a company, in justification of their conduct in the transaction ; and as a proof that we are not influenced by any monetary considerations, 1 herewith beg to enclose you a cheque for 265., which I will thank you to hand to the Secretary of the Hospital — not as a refund of the cash received by us, but as a contribution to that institution from the Lawrence Amateur Chriaty Minstrels.— l am, &c. r W. F. Dowjtbs. Lawrence, llth July, 1871.