ORPHANS CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5170, 26 August 1927, Page 2

ORPHANS CLUB.

PAEROA BRETHREN MEET.

ENJOYABLE FOURTH SESSION.

The fourth session of the Paeion Orphans’ Club’s 1927 season was, held at the Soldiers’ Club last evening. The member chosen to preside was Bro. C. E. Andrews, one of the vicepresidents, who was formally invested and introduced by the president (Mr P. Williams). On assuming command of the session the chairman returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him. He said that his opening remarks would necessarily have to be brief, because the local members were to be entertained byrthe Thames brethren, who had been good enough to roll up in) force.

The musical portion of the programme opened with an inspiriting couple of selections by .the Hauraki Orchestra, and the; large gathering was- quickly absorbed in the atmosphere of “begone dull care” and realised than an evening of. real pleasure was beginning. That they were not disappointed was evidenced in no uncertain manner by the rounds of applause which greeted the efforts of each artist. Encores were the order of the night, and the generous -manner in which the Thames brethren responded was greatly appreciated. The humour of the evening was provided by the popular favourite, Bro. Beeche, who “put across his stuff” in his- own inimical style- and was, of course, given a great reception. The hard work of the session, that of the accompanist, was ably carried out by Bro. J. L.’ Buchan. Included in the artists who contributed to the harmony of the evening were Bros. E. Watson, Griffin, Mcllvride, J. Bongard, G. Foster, J. Galloway, the Thames Lyric Quartette, anh E. White. The latter delighted the audience with some very clever whistling solos. WELCOME TO VISITORSDuring the session Bro. E. Edwards extended a hearty welcome to the visitors. He paid a special tribute to Bro. Bongard (Mayor of Thames), and assured him that the brethren were honoured by his presence, and that it was good to see him occupying a table with Paeroa’s worthy Mayor (Mr W. Marshall). The thanks of the club were due to the visitors for the enjoyable and generous programme they had contributed.

Continuing, Bro. Edwards referred to the splendid organisation and hospitality that had been met with by visitors to Thames during the recent jubilee celebrations. There was little doubt that much of the success had been due to the untiring efforts of Bros. Bongard qnd E. Watson.

The speaker made: an appeal to the brethren to contribute liberally to the funds.- for the provision of the children’s playground, at the old railway station site. He briefly traced the history of the acquisition of the land and the efforts of the Mayor and several other citizens to provide a re-creation- ground for the children of the town. Subscription lists' had been opened and about £l4O received. Approximately £4OO was required to carry through the scheme, -and he appealed to the Orphandom spirit of such brethren who had not already made a donation to come forward as early as possible, and money was required urgently. The unemployment relief fund had made the work possible, and a splendid opportunity presented itself to .the brethren to assist a worthy cause. ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN. During the evening Bro. Andrews delighted the gathering with typical “Digger” stories and yarn<f concerning incidents in the* old volunteer days. After supper, when the chairman is expected to give a serious, though brief, address, Bro. Andrews held the members’ closest attention with his account of the Landing at the Dardanelles as he had experienced it.

Commencing from the time the New Zealanders left the base camp at Zeitoun, Egypt, Bro. Andrews vividly told of the orders received to proceed to Cairo, thence by train to Alexandria, where the embarkation took pla.ee; then the exciting journey to the islands of Lemnos and Mudros, and finally the part: taken in the actual landing on Gallipoli Peninsula. The story, which was freely punctuated with pathetic as well a.s thrilling incidents, proved deeply absorbing, and will long be remembered by those Who were privileged to hear it. REMARKS BY B.RO. BONGARD. In returning thanks for the hearty welcome accorded himself and the Thames brethren Bro. Bongard said that t'he outing had been a treat and a pleasure to his party. Since holding the position of Mayor of Thames it was his first visit to Paeroa, and he was already looking forward to his second one. To him it had been a pleasure- to meet t'he Mayor of Paeroa- Mr Marshall’s name was a household word in many homes at Thames, and he was recognised as a live-wire and a gentleman of sound judgment and strict integrity. (Applause.) Continuing, Bro. Bongard said that he had obtained life-long impressions from the jubilee celebrations, and the meeting of the old folk during the celebrations was a matter never to be effaced from his memory. The hearty welcome and kind remarks of Bro. Edwards, said the speaker, were sincerely appreciated. There seemed to be a constant “spar” between Thames and Paeroa, but he saw no reason why it should continue. The institution of a. children’s playground in the town was a worthy and laudable- undertaking, and to show his appreciation in a tangible form he would ask the chairman to accept a donation of one guinea from himself. (Prolonged applause.)

In thanking Bro. Bongard for his donation and the kindly references to himself the Mayor (Bro. Marshall) asked Bro. Bongard to accept one guinea as his donation to the Thames Unemployment Relief Fund. The reciprocity between the Mayors of the neighbouring towns was heartily applauded by the gathering.