COSMOPOLITAN CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1933, 16 December 1913, Page 14

COSMOPOLITAN CLUB.

An institution in Wanganui that cannot be passed over in any review of| this pleasant and prosperous town is the Cosmopolitan Club, situate at the corner of Wickstcad and Campbell Placcs. It was founded by the late Mr. John Ballanco twenty years ago. Its first domicilo was a humble suito of small rooms in a residential. and shop building in Campbell Place, occupied by Mrs. Hogg (widow of the Rev. Mr. Hogg, whose name is honourably associated with tlio..early days.of. Presbytcrianism in Wanganui). It 'commenced with a membership of 120 —now the names on the club register-total 1420. In 1399 the club purchased tho corner site above-mentioned, and erected fine commodious premises, that were added to considerably some four years ago. Still, it lias land to spare for a moder-ate-sized bowling green. With its $>lcndid billiard room (containing five tables), spacious reading-room, writingroom, and library, the "Club" compares moro than favourably with any institution of its class in the country. Its library (amply stocked with standard and modern fiction} is an ably-con-ducted department, which makes tho Club endurable even to the wives and daughters of members, as they are, by right of relationship, members of tho library Tho Club has its artistic sido. The writer noted on tlio walls a very good. Nerli (badly in need of a cleaning), a fine Huddlestoiio, and some really snlehdid canvases illuminated by the clever

brush of Mr. Sheriff, a AVanganui artist, who has recently returned from a lengthy sojourn in England. Mr. Sheriff is an artist whose pictures should be better known than they are iu other parts of New Zealand. Should the Club, through any at present unforeseen circumstances, ever have to wind up its affairs, the pictures are to bo donated as a nucleus of an Art Gallery for Wangaimi. The present president is His "Worship the Mayor, Mr. T. H. Williams, and the seerotarv is Mr. W'm. Hall. i