The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1888. A Public Hall

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 120, 10 May 1888, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1888. A Public Hall

In view* of the grand entertainment to be given by the members of the Fire Brigade on the Queen's Birthday, the want of a suitable building, large enough to contain the audience and the performers, is being painfully felt on all sides. In fact it is clear to everybody that unless something is done in the way of erecting a Public Hall the people of Feilding will deserve to be looked npon as sadly lacking in business energy. There is an idea abroad that a building of the kind cannot be made "to pay." Now, in our opinion, that is the merest nonsense. With proper management, and a due regard to economy, combined with a certain amount of speculative energy, such a building can be made to pay, even in duller townships than Feilding. Business men need hardly be reminded that theatrical entertainments, public or private balk, horticultural shows, political meetings, lectures, concerts, tea meetings, in point of fact all gatheiings together of the people in the town for whatever object, are directly — or indirectly — the cause of increased trade and custom to shops, hotels, and every other class of business house. That being admitted it seems strange to us no movement has been commenced by those who are so much interested, in the direction indicated. If the town is to progress at ali everyone in it must do his level best in assisting towards that object. It is a good deaL the habit of our fellow .'esidents

to point with surprise at Palmereton

and say "How much that place is going ahead." There is no need to be astonished. The people of that prosperous tovr nship have learned the wisdom of helping themselves and each other, without calling on the heavens to fall that they may catch sparrows. If we think any public work will be done gratuitously for us we are greivously mistaken. We have only ourselves to rely on, and when we do unite for any common object we have noticed succbbs has invariably crowned our efforts. For four hundred pounds a hall could be put up at the pi*esent prices of timber and iron, suitable for all purposes. We only want a modest building, free from architectural display, mortgages, or other detrimentals which cost so much money in the present and the hereafter. The simplest way to raise the money would be to . issue debentures of £1 each bearing interest at the rate of five per cent. If the whole of them could not be taken up among ourselves, outsiders and absentee land owners could be invited to assist, and would freely respond no doubt, when they knew the object of the promoters was to enhance the value of their property. If the proposed building were made of nearly | the same place as the old hall, the Volunteers would, alone, gladly pay £20 a year for its use which sum itself would cover the interest on the debentures. The Fire Brigade, Horticul Shows, are other sources of permanent income which could be calculated on. Of theatrical and other "professional" visitors there would be the usual number, and Feilding would not then be contemptuously passed by, by good companies, as has been the case lately. We hope some energetic resident will take the matter up, bring it to a successful termination, and thus remove the reproach which rests upon Feilding.