PORT AHURIRI CLUB

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 15, 11 October 1937, Page 9

PORT AHURIRI CLUB

•lew Pavilion and Green Opened l'he Port Ahuriri Bowling Club not ly opened its 1937-38 season on turday, but it also opened a new vilion which has been built since the >se of last season. I'lie new pavilion is a double-storeyed ilding erected in timber throughout, th concrete flooring. In its coinoted state it is a decided credit to ie club, the members of which have >-operated in a splendid manner in rder to provide this valuable asset. famed the "J. P. Smith Pavilion," in ,lououj of tho founder and present

patron of the club, the building was I erected by club members at a total cost, including furnishings, of £700. Towards this amount in the vicinity of £200 was provided by members, while portion of the timber and materials r«quired were also donated. The construction of the pavilion was commenced in June last. Painted an attractive cream colour, it consists of members' and ladies' locker rooms on the ground floor and a large social room and a kitchen on the upper storey. Throughout the building is attractively and comf ortably furnished. . The pavilion and the club's fine new green were both encompassed in a scbeme of improvemetnts, which, originally intended to occupy five years. As was pointed out by speakers at Saturday's opening ceremony, that has been made jiossible only by the tremendous amount of voluntary work and financial assistance which has been fortlicoming from members of the club.. Mr. J. P, Smith, after whom the pavilion has been named, founded the Port Bowling Club in 1913 and was presidant from that year until 1926. Mr. H. Mayo was president from 1927 until 1936, nad the present president is Mr. R. V. McCarthy.

Opening Ceremony.

Visitors from all other .clubs in the district were present at Saturday' s opening ceremony. In extending a nearty welcome, the president, Mr. McCarthy, referred briefly to the early history of the club, mentioning that in 1913 the site of the present green nad been nothing more tlian a tidftwash. "You will agree, I ara sure, that the pionears of this club 'showecl {f/eat courage when they tackled the job of making a green liere," Mr. McCarthy said. He paid a tribute to the work of Mr. J. P. Smitn and the band ot members associated with him -jn the early years of the club's history, atid also to the wonderful efforts of Mr. Mayo during his term as president. The club, he said, had received a severe setback from the earthquake, but with the assistance of outside clubs, had been able to reinstate itself rapidly. At the present time the club was out of debt. "The improvements made are a suitabie monument to the work done by the club's pioneers," said Mr. McCarthy. "The changes made would not have been possible had it not been for the hearty co-operatdon at all times of members of the club." He referred in glowing, terms to tlie work of Mr. Frank Logan, the club's greten superintendent, and to the ladies for their whole-hearted assistance. In naming tlie new pavilion in honour of Mr. Smith he considered that tlie club had made a happy and appropriate choice. Mr. Smith then formally opened the door of the pavilion and declared the building open, He expressed the view that the club's green was a splendid one, and stated that h# looked upon it as the "king-pin" green of the district. As a gesture of appreciation of the eft'orts of Mr. Mayo, Mr. McCarthy, on behalf of the club, presented him with a framed photograph of himself. Mr. Mayo returned suitable thanks and, atfiis request, the photograph is to be hung in the pavilion. He appealed to members at all times to maintain the spirit- of loyalty which had been evident through- the years. A large number then took part i ji friendly games.