ONEWHERO HALL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 712, 7 March 1922, Page 8

ONEWHERO HALL.

“ONEWHERANCA.” Sir, —I have read with much interest “Stray Notes” by “Bon Quixote,” in the Times of February 17th re the Onewhero Hall. On hears many strange rumours about this proposed hal!—of meetings being convened and ending in nothing being done —of indignation meetings—of futile expeditions to the Domain to locate a suitable site for the proposed hall, and of many hard things being said of “Don Quixote.” Yet he, the man with a purpose, true, nobly stands his ground and keeps the hall scheme before (the people’s minds.i One must admire bravery, whether displayed on the foreign battlefields of Europe or on the ploughed fields of the Onewhero Domain. The position prompted me to write the following lines, which, although guilty of distorting the immortal poem “Casablanca,” have nevertheless a certain touch of humour to justify this being written. Judge for yourself, O Editor : The man stood on the Domain ground, Whence all buft he had fled ; His neighbours apathetic round, Breathed curses on his head ; Yet all the time his ground he stood, As though he’d carry on, A building for his township’s good Two halls to build in one. The time rolled on—he would not go Without his neighbour’s word ; Those neighbours fain* in prices low, His voice no longer heard. He called aloud : “Say, people, say, You’ll have this building done!” He knew quite well the chief cause lay In squabblings long begun. “Speak, people!” once again he cried, “And take debentures on.” But now the booming times are past And fast the time rolled on. Upon his brow he felt the sun, And in his waving hair, But skill he’d have that building done, He did not once dispair.

And shouted yet once more aloud, “Pull, boys, pull together, say?” While round him fast the people crowd, L The building scheme made way. v They’ll wrap the hall in splendour wild, They’ll set a flag on high, And streamers on the Domain ground Like banners in tihe sky.

There’llcome a burst of hammers’ sound; The halls—oh! where are they? Ask of the man on the Domain ground, With With wreath’d smiles he’ll say: “With floor, and walls, and ceiling fair, Thsjt well have stood apart; United now you see them there, One building formed in graceful art.” I am, etc. “ROMANCE.”