NEW HALL OPENED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 221, 18 August 1937, Page 14

NEW HALL OPENED

ACHIEVEMENT AT WOODVILLE. BY WOMEN’S INSTITUTE. The official opening by Mrs H. Paterson, of Pahiatua, of the new hall for which they have worked enthusiastically for a number of years was a red letter clay for the Woodville Women’s Institute yesterday. Mrs N. M. Burnett (president) presided over a record gathering of members including many from sister institutes, and prominent citizens of the town. Associated with her were the Mayor and Mayoress of Woodville (Mr and Mrs H. P. Horne), Mrs Paterson, a member of the Dominion executive, Mcsdames R. Austin (Pahiatua) and C. Jennings (Makuri), representing Bush-Waira-rapa Federation, Miss M. Grant (North Wellington Federation), Mrs E. Harding (secretary), Mrs W. H. Nixon (treasurer), and Mrs J. M. Graham, president of tlie Woodville branch of the W.D.F.U.

Mrs Burnett, who was presented with a posy by Mrs Nixon, voiced her pleasure or being able to welcome so many to the new ball. The feeling of gladness must be mutual, she thought, in finding themselves at last under their own roof, although they had enjoyed comfortable lodgings in former years. Mrs Burnett welcomed the official visitors and conveyed apologies and congratulations from Miss Jerome Spencer, the founder, Mrs W. Deans, Dominion president, Mrs B. H. Norman, first president, Captain M. 0. Grainger, county chairman, and Mrs R. H. Rhodes.

“A COMMUNITY HOME.” The invitation to open the hall was “the nicest thing that had ever happened to her,” Mrs Paterson said. She drew the parallel of the home as a suitable and happy place in which to live one’s life, and of the new hall as a new community home. She applauded the members for their great enterprise, and on the fact that they had always endeavoured to carry out in the Institute the ideals of the homo. She could not but think that this great movement which had spread over the length and breadth of the land had, like the building, good foundations which would last as long as the Dominion. It was to be regretted that Miss Spencer was not present as she had been responsible for laying the good foundations of the Women’s Institute movement. Woodville, as the fourth institute, had an honoured place in the laying of those foundations also, the speaker touching on early developments to show that the first consultative council had come into being in Woodville, where the first school of instruction had also been held. Woodville had every reason to be prond of its place in the community of Institutes, of which there were now over 900. Mrs Paterson referred to Mrs Burnett as the “mother” of the Institute, as it was largely through her generosity that the hall had beoome an ac-. complished fact. Mrs Burnett had guided, planned and directed and all were grateful for her assistance. (Applause.) The members had worthily done their part in raising funds, and in helping to supply the furnishings. As in the ideal home, the hall wrnuld be thrown open to friends and neighbours and to the people of Woodville, providing a happy meeting place for many gatherings. Mrs Paterson and Mrs Horne were both presented with floral tributes. Mr Horne said he was pleased, as Mayor, to congratulate the members on having erected a hall and to compliment them as a resident of the town. He paid a tribute to Mrs Burnett’s generosity, not only to the Institute, but in many other matters concerning the community. Woodville was proud to acknowledge her as one of its residents, and ho hoped she would long be spared to the Institute over which she so ably presided. Mr Horne complimented the builders, Mr Moxon and bis assistants, on having made a fine job of the ball. Mrs Jennings conveyed greetings and congratulations from Bush-Waira-rapa, Miss Grant offering good wishes on behalf of North Wellington. Mrs Graham tendered good wishes from the sister organisation, the local branch of the Women’s Division.

Mrs J. S. Nelson, Miss Grant and Mi-s Nixon also voiced their pride as past presidents. Good wishes were offered from the following Institutes: Papatawa, Ormondville, Silverstream, Kumcroa-Hopelands, Aehhurst, Ngawapurua, Hamua. Pahiatua, Makuri, Mangatainoka, Rongotea, and Carnarvon.

Returning tlmks to all who had helped towards the building. Mrs Burnett mentioned particularly the menfolk who had rendered valuable assistance. It was impossible to mention individuals, so many had contributed towards the furnishing and assembling the seats.

Tlio speaker expressed the hope that the hall would serve as a. centre of good fellowship, with the ideal of being good neighbours, for it was only as people lived peacefully together that there could be hope of an ever-widen-ing circle to bring the desired world peace. Interspaced with the speeches were items, Mrs’ Gyde, of Newman, and Miss Sargent (Makomako) entertaining with elocutionary items, and Miss G. Johnston with local solos, Mrs Johnston accompanying her at the piano. Thanks to the artists were conveyed by Mrs N. Gilbert. Mrs Horne drew attention to the president’s handsome chair and then sprung a surprise on Mrs Burnett by asking her to lay a stone at the entrance to the fyafl. The tablet, which was put in position to the right of the entrance, bears the inscription, “This stone was laid- by Mrs N.. M. Burnett, through whoso generosity the Women’s Institute was enabled to erect this hall, August 17, 1937.” Cheers and musical honours for Mrs Burnett concluded the ceremony. HANDSOME STRUCTURE.

The building, which stands in Ross Street, adjacent to Fountaine Square, is a handsome structure of modern design 78 feet in length with an overall breadth of 70 feet. Within the hall are toilet rooms, a vestibule and office, a spacious stage with dressing room accommodation and up-to-date lighting effects. Running the full length of the hall is the supper room, one end of which is partitioned off for the kitchen. The hall is completely lined with heart of totara, the walls and ceiling finished with plaster board in a soft beige colour and the outside of the building stuccoed in primrose, with green and chocolate facings. Greeri curtains with a pelmet on which is embroidered the Institute monogram frame the stage which yesterday was gay with bowls of lovely spring flowers. The curtains were made and donated by a member, and tile members have provided a fine chair for the use of the president. Thero is a story behind the building. First came the donation of a valuable section by Mrs Burnett. Gradually the funds began to grow through many activities until a further donation by Mrs Burnett made it possible to start out on tlie project. In the short space of about three months the hall became an established fact, the cost being in the region of £I7OO. Furnishing had to be carefully planned, but the gratifying feature of this great effort was the friendly co-operation of the menfolk and of non-members of the In-

stitute in the community. The women with the help of some of the men, assembled all the forms (to seat 400) themselves. There is still much to be done and the debt of some hundreds to be cleared, blit the women have shown what fine team work can do and in this they have had the encouragement of tKe community. Applause greeted the announcement yesterday of the receipt of a cheque for £5 5s from Mr H. E. Russell, and many other generous donations have been made. Conspicuous on the wall is an enlarged photograph of Mrs Burnett.