WAIRARAPA & EAST COAST P. & A. SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2596, 19 October 1915, Page 8

WAIRARAPA & EAST COAST P. & A. SOCIETY

! OPENING OE NEW, HALL, Tlio Wairarapa and East Coast P and A. Society's new agricultural hall ut Carterton was opened by the Mayoi of Carterton, Mr. M. D. Hornsby, last .week. Before. the hall was . officially declared open, the president of the society gave a short history of liow it came to be built in its present position. Ho said that in 1913 tho society held a gift auction sale on the show ground for the purpose of adding furtlier improvements to the accommodation for stock, and also to effect several necessary repairs, amongst which was the improvement of the old agricultural hall. With tho funds deriyid from thb sale, the purchase was effected of tho section known as Ericksbn's Estate, with buildings on it, the place being altered at a very reasonable' figure and those in. charge of the society's affairs 'considered that suck a valuable asset 'should be acquired, as it would give linore much needed room to tho front ■gates, and space for the public on show days, wliich of late years has bo#ome crowded. ( In June and July, 1914, the commits ;tco considered the question of moving the hall, and obtained l estimates for the fpvork of placing it in its old state on "concrete foundation on the new section, phut the scheme was abandoned on the •outbreak of war, and was not again "revived until definite offers were received from three different sources, to '•lease the hall if it was turned into a :.tkeatre. These proposals were not entertained favourably by tho committer ;for various reasons, and the fact that ..the war area was increasing, and the /probability of the difficulty of obtain'ing the necessary money, added to the objections already, put towards the proMeet of lereoting a revenue-producing iliall. I Last March the offers wero again renewed, and the-definite information received that negotiations were already .proceeding for the erection of an up-to-date theatre in Carterton if the Pastoral Society did not proceed with their •proposal. ,-This had tho effect of removing tho last * objections to the scheme, and plans wero immediately proposed for altering and movinE the hall.

In this connection Mr. C. E. Daniell, of Masterton, and also liis son, Mr. Arcli Daniell, had given very valuabla assistance, and it is only necessary to .look round to' see the effect of their expert knowledge. Ho also paid a. tribute .to those of the committee who had given valuable time and help, not only ill the plans, but also in the erection of the building, Mr. W. Howard Booth and Mr. E. Eagle, chairman of (the Building Committee. • Mr. A. B. Wallis was the contractor and the work had been carried out : under the supervision and direction of his son, Mr. H. R. Wallis. Messrs. {Underbill and Son carried out the plumbing and gas lighting, and Mr. R. Smith -til© drainage and bricklaying work. Mr. J. Suckling installed tho electric light plant. : The hall is leasod to Mr. F. H. "Wise, of Eketahmia. The architect, and the contractor also spoke, and tlio' Mayor of Carterton then declared the hall open. ANNUAL SHOW. Entries for the Wairarapa Show at Carterton have bseoi coming to hand in large quantities during the last few days, and are still being received. Sheep and cattle give promise of an excellent show, especially as numbers of entries have been received already from other districts, and thero will be a considerable quantity of extra pens required. Intending exhibitors should forward entries promptly, to avoid being placed at the end of the catalogue in tho late entry list. Though the hack classes and , tho jumping competition will • not be I quite as well filled as last year, there .will be good stock competing in the

various events, and "with some entirely new attractions the show is cxpectod to prove more interesting and draw a larger attcndanco.