LYTTELTON CORONATION HALL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11487, 21 January 1903, Page 4

LYTTELTON CORONATION HALL.

OPENING SOCIAL

On Monday the new halK -which has been erected by the Lyttelton Harbour Board, for the accommodation of the members oi the Stevedores' Union, was opened by a smoke concert. The building, the dimensions of which are 55ft in length, SOU in breadth, and 34ft in height, was brilliantly lighted and ornamented with the Federated Wharf Labourere' Union's banners and flags. Mr A. Kaye, chairman ot the Harbour Board, presided, and vra# supported by Mr H. Gibbons, president of the Union, and Mr F. H. Barna, secretary of the Canterbury Stevedores' AssociationAmongst those present were:—Messrs C, Hood Williams, Strout (architect of the building). G. Laurenson, M.H.R., Watkine, Fraser, Captain McClatchie, Measm Smith (contractor for the building), Gill, and Putnam, and the Maydr and Councillors of the Borougli Council. Nearly 200 persona w*re present. Th<? president and secretary of the Lyttelton Railway Union weTe thereby invitation. The refreshments were catered for by -vlr J. T. Norton. The toast list wa*: a> long one, comprising tlurty-thiee items. "The King" was drunk with" musical honours. The Chairman having apologised for the absence of a number of the members of the Harbour Board, expressed pleasure at being present to open such a comfortable hall. He referred to the contrast between the state of whart labourers in London and that of the wharf labourers in Lyttelton. In 1893 the LyttoltoniJoard had built a shelter shed, now replaced by the present structure. Between 400 and 500 applied to the Board to build this hall. The speaker went on to state that the wages paid by the Canter bury Stevedore**' Association in 1891 amounted to £18,000, and in the subsequent years respectively £20.000, £16,000, £16,0u0, £15,000, £16,000. £18,000, AU3.000, £26,000, £23.000, £33,937, and | £32,296. When to these amounts were added the wages paid by the Harbour Board, the railways, lOid private companies, it would bri recognised that a large sum was sprat in. the port. The building, he hoped, would be u-sed by the men as a place to discuss matters affecting their welfare, such as the question of the size of sacks, etc. The building; wue an evidence of improved taste, and he hoped the men would live up to it. Hβ had never expected to have itnamed the Coronation Hall. The name would, however, suggest loyalty to tne King and to the Harbour Board" and employers. The speaker concluded by handing the key of the building to the- ehai~man of the Stevedores' Union, and resumed hts seat amid long continued applause. Mr H. Gibbons returned thanks to ttu Harbour Board for the very handsomebuilding—the Coronation Hall, no longer "shelter shed. ,. He hoped all would <1o thtir bttft u> keep the place in order. He also thanked Mr Williams and the chairman for the many which had been placed in the hall to add to the comfort- ol the men. The result of their application to th 2 Harbour Board was as unexpected as it was satisfactory. He proposed the toast of "The Harbour Board." The toast was drank with enthusiasm. Mr C. Hood-Williams, in briefly responding, said he trusted that the improvement in Ly tie It an would .«till increase, and tlie number of workmen would pondingly. (Applause.) Among tlie <>t!)vr ioa-ts wera "Canterbury Stevedoring Association and Shipping t'ompiinitr-i," responded to by Mttwrs F. Barns. Fias«r. and Wutkins ; "Kindred Societies," "Our Visitors," "Houses of Parliament." responded to by Mr G. Laurenson; "Late OHicers" and Free*.' Between the toasts some excellent song>, musical selections by the Lyttelton Bras« Band, gramaphone eeleetions, ttc., were givea.