MEMORIAL HALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1923, Page 1

MEMORIAL HALL.

IN VEILED AT K LAURA. A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. Kumara was on fete yesterday nfter- ! noon oil the occasion of the unveiling ot the Memorial flail to the memory ol the Kumara. moil who laid down their lives in the late war. The building which lias been erected on the site of the former Town Hall in Seddmr .'street, is a large and commodious structure SO loot in length and Jj feet Wide. On each side of the entrance are dressing rooms for ladies and gentlemen respectively, and above a commodious gallery. The main half measures 00ft. ; and the floor lias been carefully laid down lor dancing. There is a neat stage at the other end. and at the rear are comfortable annexes tor supper or other purposes. ’flic building is a lofty one, and has been well built. There is an imposing front the whole making a. very decided im11o\ oment to t!i<» 11 i appearance. .1 he office, fur the Town clerk is accommodated oil the or,stern side of the building, while mi the western side the Library is to be accommodated. In trout ot the building is a concrete obelisk, into which a- gicenstoiie stone is to be placed at a later dale, carrying with it a suitable inscription. The contractors were .Messes McMillan and (-ou.mbes, ami they were generally commended lor the excellent results aeliiev-

the formal opening. I here was a large assemblage in front ol t!ie Hall at three o’clock when the Mayor (Mr \\ . Kenyon) expiessed, on bcludt of the citizens and the people of the district, his pleasure and appreciation ot the large assemblage present to honor the occasion. The building had only been commenced last Sept.” but the Committee who took the work in hand bad carried on Hie erection to a. successful completion. He would ask Mr Seddmi to formally open the hall. Mr I. E. A'. Seddmi then formally i declared the opening of the hall tiedi-I catod to Lite memory of the nurses and soldiers ol the district who had fallen I in the war. Mr Seddmi then opened I the doors, and invited u.c assemblage to enter the hall and inspect it. and j listen to the addresses inside. 3he large assemblage then entered j the hall and seen filled the hull, which ! was generally admired. THE SPEECHES.

Mr \\ . Ceiiyii a-ked the assemblage to join in the singing of the- National Anthem which was heartily done. Mr AA . Kenyon (Mayor of Kumara) said the fine building that had ju-l been opened bad been erected as a ineiiimial to the men from Kumara

district wlio bad fought in the Great War. Nobody was more specially pleased than ho was that day, to he the lirst to publicly speak in that hall.

He was pleased to see the hall completed on the site of the Town Hull. It was a. credit to the man who built it. mid be (Air McMillan) was a native of [).limans. Ihe Health Inspector stated it was splendidly ventilated and would be good enough for a ho—p:tal. The townspeople were to be complimented on the erection of such a line building. The Committee had worked hard, they were only a small band but they had driven mi to a linisb. He wished to specially mention the work of Air A. !!. Spiers who had done a great in assisting in carrying out of

the work to ii successful completion. He extcmle I n welcome to the visitors, thanking one nml all for their attendance. The hall had hern given liy the people and would lie held hy ; a executive and even if the Borough I'ouueil ln.j 11 i'd iuln the Count v Coutieil, they could not eel tileir hall. The younger people as the days on on would be on the eoiiitnittee and they should endeavour to see that the building was Kept in rood order and free of debt. He would ask .Mr Seddon to speak. Mr T. K. Y. Seddon said they were gathered together on an important, but a sad eeeasion. They had gathered together to open a hall .in memory of the men who had fallen in the war. They had erected this to them, to show they had not forgotten their services and recognised how they had given of their host to uphold their country. As far as'the form id' the Memorial is concerned there were many particular opinions, hut the main object was to give a tangible expression to their feelings of appreciation. It may be a moot question as to wliat form that should take. In Kumara. on the site of the old Town Hall, the destinies of the district had been formed. He referred to former Mayors, the present .Mayor’s father (Mr Benyon). Mr Burger’s father, and his own father, all ul whom had been prominent in tho early affairs of the town. The old Town Mall had seen service and that service was completed. Now they had the present building to commemorate thev-e later services. The Government had on the site of the different battlefields erected memorials. They were also to erect a national memorial in Wellington. But lie thought it right and proper for the people to erect momoritls to serve to keep green those memories of their fellows who had served in the war. lie deemed it an honor to unveil the memorial, especially ahe bail served with many of the men who had fallen in the great war, and in' trusted that their sacrifice would always remain green in their mommies. .Mr T. \V. Dull’ (County Chairman', said it gave him a great deal of pleasure to be pre-'ent at the opening of this fine hall to commemorate rhe men who had made the supreme sacrifice. He thought the people of Kumara were to he congratulated on the very fine ball they had erected, a place where they could have the Borough Council deliberate and they could pass many pleasant hours. He trusted that Kumara Borough would prosper and there would I e no need for the Borough to merge with the County. It was ll

compliment to Mr Seddon to have had the honor of opening the hall, one who had also solved in the great war. It was gratifying to lin'd that they had joined together to erect such a fine and sei vieeable structure.

Air W. H. I’arfitt (Mayor of Greymoutli) said ho was delighted to lie piosent that afternoon. Ho wished to congratulate the people of Kumara in erecting such a fine lnd! as a memorial to the men who had fallen. 1 hey must be pleased to know that the great Otirn tunnel was to le opened this week, this nail was opened and the Seddon Shield had been brought to the West Coast, i hey must not forget those men who had fought for the British Flag mid limp ire and all it stood for. He asked the young people to remember what their soldiers had done and to honor them. The West Coast had done its duty. The Kumara boys had done their best for the British Empire. He congratulated the people of Kumara in their enterprise in building this fine hall on behalf of tue people of Greymouth, and trusted all would work together to make this Most Coast the pride and star of New Zealand.

Air H. AI. Coitlson (Deputy Mayor of Hokitika) regretted the absence of tlie .Mayor who was laid up with influenza, and thanked tho Committee fertile opportunity of being present. He congratulated them on the erection of such a tine hall as a memorial. Nettling they could do was too much to honor the many sacrifices of the men who had, when need be, laid down thoir Eves, so that we here could live here in peace. We .should remember our duty to make this great country what those brave men had endeavoured to make it. It was only a matter of a lew years when the great war would become a matter of history, but they should keep warm their feelings for those who had laid down lives. To the mothers and bereaved he extended his sympathy at their great sacrifice. Air AY. Gilbert (Greymouth) said lie wished to thank the Committee for the opportunity of being present. He congratulated the Committee on thoir cnergy. loresight and enthusiasm in carrying to a successful issue the project mul had undertaken. He lind only one regret and that was that judging l,v the present in tei tin I iotial .situation that the object ol the men who had fought. Lo end war, was not going to |>c achieved. He rclciTod to the old hall and those who had served in tlie public fife, of the town. The late K. J. Sedilou was a .Mayor and Councillor ot Kumara for many years, but he wished

to mention that Air Seddon commenced bis public services at Stafford and another mo.-t important happening also occurred there he (Air Gilbert) being Horn there. (Laughter). He expressed His pleasure at being present <ni this occasion.

j .Mr I). J. Evans (Hokitika) 071 1)0li!»if of tiio Returned Soldiers Assoeiation of Hokitika was- pleased to be pivsent, and congratulated tlie people of Kumara anil the district in tl:o election of this title memorial hall. They had a very fine building, and it would he a useful one to the community. The .Mayor bad mentioned that a. health officer bad stated that this hall would, if the necessity arose make a fine hospital, hut if there was a necessity of the Borough to be merged with the County, then this ball would make a fine County Chamber. (Laughter!. References were made to the old time affairs and early reminiscences. and early public officers. Referring again to tile ball. Mr Evans said lie felt that Kuniara luid very tender recollections of those who had laid down their lives. Two nurses from the Hospital, and the Byrne • famliy who lost three sons and others were referred to. These memorials ! should he held to remind of those i who have gone, hut also they should ! remember those who had come hack and : who Mere deserving of their host eon- | sideration. | Rev. W. Berry said it. gave him a ’ great deal of pleasure to say a. few | words. Some twelve months ago. they | had a tumble down (date instead of . the present line structure. He ven- ; tured to say they were commencing a j new era in Kumara. He was optimisj lie about Kumara, and if tbev painted ! tneir bouses and cleaned up their garden, l bey Mould have an ideal village. ; He Imped be bad a little bit of opiinij ism. lie bad tried to do bis bit ill connection with tlie erection of this ball. 'I here Mas; one tiling that tlie K meal a folk did, 1 li.-it most of the other Coast towns did not do - that was to pull together. He wanted to whisper to ail Kumaraites to follow' Kelson's great message, and for all |to do their duty. His first sight i "I the Kumara Mas the tumble down places, but hum some of them bad been pulled down, but now this was the first of the new Kumara. .lie asked them to make the ton'll worthy of tho.-e mlio lived In it. Ills thoughts "cut away to the green mounds in Caliipoli in I'Tinders and France. They bad erected Ibis building to i.ie meiuoi'.v of some of the grandest ; • 'Ve.s who bad gone from Kumara. Lot u- not. forget those who mourned and i those mbo Mere sleeping a wav in these 1 distant lands. Mr lienyon on bohn/f of the town expivs-ed thanks to all who bad come forward to assist in the proceedings that day. especially the visitors who had conic to help to sin■< es-full\- carry through the function. Tlie National Anthem then brought a very successful gallon ing to a close. 'lac vi-imis weie then entertained at afternoon lea in the annexe at the rear if the building, very daintily arranged bv the ladies committee amt their kindness was much appreciated. Subsequently a number of the visitors Mere entertained at I.on'is’ Hotel, n pleasant, hour being spent. The M a.vor (.Mr lienyon) presided. After a substantial repast had been done justice to. a number of toasts Mere Honored. Ibe usual loyal toast Mas proposed by tlii> ( hail mao. Then Mr Hcddoil proposed the health of Mr Benvon. trihuting bis services to the town, and referring to his (Mr Benyon’s) father, also a former mayor, with appreciative recognition of past services to the town. Replying to the toast u! the Visitors .Mr 1 ’a-.litt (.Mayor of Oreymontli) stressed the necessity of tlie whole district 'pulling together and mentioned that he had recently formed one of a deputation that had visited Nelson and Marlborough in the interests ol j Ihe both i bit ion to be belli at Hokitika i at the end of the year. He expressed j bis appreciation of the splendid organiser (.Mr Evans) at the bead of tbo movement, and said they would he glad to have him at Breymoutli. (A voice— Would you find him a job?) Yes. replied Mr I’arlitt. readily, and a good one too.

The health i.f the deputy Mayor (Air Spiers! was also proposed, special relorenccs being made to tiie great amount of energy lie had put into the carrying to a successful completion of the memorial hall just opened. The toast ol the Ladies was also proposed, Air R. Ford replying. Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem concluded a very enjoyable gn thori ng.