"THE MARBLE BAR"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2890, 30 September 1916, Page 14

"THE MARBLE BAR"

"OPENED WITH ECLAT. The newest "Marble Bar" was opened in Maimers Street by~tlie Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luko) yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a gathering that filled every seat in tho place. The premises, which are artistically decorative, are certainly a credit to the management, as was also the decision to give the first day's takings to the Cnristmas Gift Fund. In formally opening the new cabaret, the Mayor said that on behalf of the citizens of Wellington lie gladly presided at tho opening of the Marble Bar, which was to give its first day's takings to the Mayoress's Christmas Gift Fund for tho "boys" at tho front. If those present had seen the returned soldiers at the Town Hall that morning—those boys who had been fighting for them all, for the British Empire, and for civilisation, they would feel it. a duty to pay, pay, pay, for this great war required the sinews of war, and they in New Zealand must take their part. The Mayor paid a tribute to tho ladies who were doing so much to help the soldiers in camp aud in the trenches, and eulogised the memory of the men who fell at Gallipoli. It was now in the power of those members of the community who were present to help in a small measure "that little woman, the Mayoress of Wellington." (Applause.) They had to find the money for 7000 parcels, so that every boy from the Wellington military district would be sure to receive a Christmas box from New Zealand. (Applause.) The Mayor referred to the generosity of the proprietary in contributing to the Christmas Gift Fund, complimented the lady attendants, and said that they were ''engaged in a work that would redound to their credit as one of reorea. tion and pleasure congenial to the building up of character and good citizenship." , , . , Cheers were called for and given ior the proprietary and the ladiesMrs.' Luke, in speaking for the Jiund, mentioned that not only were Christmas parcels to be sent to every man from the district at tho front, but they had to provide for the Christmas dinner at Trentham. She thought there might bo some misunderstanding as to what Mr. Luke had said about the number of parcels. The 7000 parcels were only tho Wellington distnot quotathere were 28,000 parcels being sent altogether, to Mesopotamia, England, Egypt, and Samoa. They were not the Red Cross-that is to say, the}- were not sending parcels to the men in the hospitals—that was Rcd Cross work. They were attending to the well boys, and trying to help them to keep fit in the firing line. She knew there was criticism, and repeatedly heard people saying, "I would give you os., but I don't believe they'll got theml _ They got all the parcels sent last Februar) -a little late sho knew-bufc if people wished to know, Borne fifty letters were received by the ladies working in the Town Hall, acknowledging with thanks parcels received. Anyone could _see those lettors for themselves. The parcols had been laid out m tho trr,nones, and ono letter said that everyone, from the captain to tho sentry, took ono. They, wore so close to the enemy trenches at the time- that the Germans could tell what they wore getting, and it was tho first night for - weeks that thoy were not ' strafed. Ihe committee said they did not care who sent the parcels, but if it wasti t acknowledged it was not the boys fault, ac they often worked under grave disabilities. "It is tho least we can do said Mrs. Luko, '.'and we <1« it with our might and main, are pledged to send <1000 parcels a month ordinarily, and I am ashamed to say. that for two months v;e did not, do so. had to send tho inonoy to make it up. ] hopo that will never occur again. As for tho 7000 Christmas parcels, they will be finishod to-night! (Applauso.) Later on, Mr. C. 6. Wilson returned thanks to the Mayor for presiding An instrumental trio played appropriate selections, and to the lilt ot the.music tho Marble Bar shpped do*n the glitrariug ways into the sea of public use.