OPENING OF THE ODD FELLOWS' HALL.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, 7 November 1855, Page 2

OPENING OF THE ODD FELLOWS' HALL.

On Friday last the ceremony of opening the Nelson Odd Fellows' Hall took place. This Hall is situated in Waimea Street, and has been erected by the members of the two town lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, principally for the purpose of holding their own meetings ; but it is also intended to be made available for concerts, balls, and other public objects, until a more commodious edifice shall supply its place in. these respects. The building is of lath and plaster, and is more remarkable for its commodious size than for its ornamental exterior ; although when the proposed outward decorations are finished, it will not present an altogether inelegant appearance. At all events great credit is due to the Odd Fellows for supplying what the town has long stood in need of, namely, a commodious room for public purposes.

The officers and brethren of the Order met at their lodge room 3at two o'clock, and then went in procession, with full regalia, and headed by a band of music, to their new Hall, where his Excellency the Governor, and his Honor the Superintendent were in waiting to receive them. The brethren of the Order having arranged themselves , around the room, and the Building Committee having delivered up the plans, &c, with the usual ceremony. Brother E. W. Stafford addressed them as follows :

Brethren of tho Building Committee of this Hall — The skill and fidelity displayed in tho execution of the trust reposed in you, at the commencement of tins undertaking, have secured the cntiro approbation of myself and the Order of Odd Fellows generally, but more especially of those belonging to tho District of Nelson ; and they sincerely pray, that this edifice may continue a lasting monument of tho taste, Bpirit, and liberality of its founders.

His Honor then pronounced the following dedication : —

Brethren of the Building Cornznifctco of this Hall — In the name nntl on behalf of the wholo Fraternity of tho Independent Order of Odd Fellowship of the Manchester Unity, I Dedicate this Hall to universal benevolence, and the general benefit of Odd Fellowship.

A deputation then advanced, and presented the following congratulatory Address to hi 3 Excellency the Governor :—: — To his Excellency Colonel Thomas Goee Beowtte*, Commander of the most honourablo Order o* the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Islands of New Zealand.

May it plcaso your Excellency — We, the members of the Nelson District of the Loyal and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Manchester Unity, desire to offer our sincere congratulations to your Excellency on your Urst visit to this province.

Although membera of a secret and philanthropic society — whose branches have penetrated to the uttermost parts of Uio earth, and whose career has been marked by deeds of charity, and by the care of the widow and the fatherless — we pray your Excellency to believe that the precepts of our Order strictly inculcate a loyal affection to our sovereign, and a dutiful respect to those placed in authority over us.

As your Excellency may perhaps be aware, our Society is for the most part composed of working men — of those who earn their bread by the sweat of tLeir brow — yet we proudly point to tliis hall, of almost our own raising, as some evidence of our good intentions ; and we assure your Excellency, as her Majesty's representative in this distant portion of her dominions, that our hearts still beat with affection for our fatherland, and that wo view with extreme interest anything which affects the welfare of our Queen, or of the land in which Bhe rules.

"While desiring to obtain and deserve a place in youv Excellency's esteem, we would humbly take the present opportunity of craving, that it may please your Excellency to cause to be introduced into .the Legislature an enactment for legalizing in New Zealand the Order to which we belong.

With every wisli for the health and happiness of your Excellency and family, and praying that your sojourn may be long, and marked by an increased success and prosperity to tho whole colony, Wo remain, &c., Thomas Sullivan, P.P.Gr.M. George Taylor, P.O. John Percy, P.G. Edwin Snow, N.G. J. L. Bailey, P.W. Nelson, November 2, 1855. To which his Excellency returned the folloAving reply :—: — To the Gentlemen signing the Addrcs3 from tho Odd Fellows, Nelson. Gnutlemen — I beg to thank you very sincerely for your kind congratulations.

I am well aware of the excellence of your valuable Society, of the many acts of charity and beneficence you have performed, and of your staunch and undaunted loyalty.

This line building which we nro this day opening, is a most creditable proof of your industry and exertions ; and I can well believe that tho brave and honest hearts, who have given such a proof of perseverance, do beat with affection for our fatherland, and will never forget our gracious and well beloved Sovereign.

I am not aware that any act of the Legislature is nccessaiy to legalize your Society, but I shall always feel most happy if il is in my power to forward tho views of so excellent a body. I beg you again to accept my best thanks for your kind wishes, which are not at all tho less grateful to me because they come from good men and true, who earn their bread by tho sweat of their brow. T. Gore Browne, Governor.

Nelson, November 2, 1855,

The appearance of the Hall during the delivery of the address wa3 highly interesting. On the slightly raised dais at the extreme end of the room was the representative of her Majesty surrounded by his suite, and by the members of the Provincial Government, the magistrates, &c. ; in the centre of the hall were the Odd Fellows in their full regalia, the gorgeous colours of their sashes combining to give a harmonizing effect to the scene ; the ladies in the gallery ; the roof festooned with flowers and evergreens ; and an attentive public crowding the back part of the picture ; presented altogether an impressive scene, and such as had never before been Avitnessed by a Nelson public.

After hearing the Governor's reply to their address, and the honours of the Order had been given to his Excellency, and the National Anthem sung, the Odd Fellows retired, and returned in procession to their lodge-room. We would add, that for the orderly and wellregulated manner in which the procession was conducted, great credit is duo to P. G. M. Sullivan, and to the members generally.

In the Evening a Concert was given in the Hall, at Avhich about 300 persons were present. The concert was conducted by Mr. John Percy, who was assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Augarde, Mrs. Laking, Misses Vant, Gaukrodger, Bird, and Hargrcaves, and Messrs. Snow, Taylor, Balme, Harris, Sullivan, Clarke, Nattrass, and Turner. All gave their services gratuitously, and when it is considered that some of the ladies and gentlemen came from very long distances in the country, and that others had devoted their time and attention to practise for some weeks past, it would be wrong to harshly criticize performances which, besides being done well, were done for a good object.

The glees and choruses were generally pretty well sung, and " Hail Smiling Morn " appeared to give great satisfaction. Mrs. Laking's songs, " Kathleen Mavourneen " and " The Vine Feast," were rendered with an elegance and truthfulness that was quite pleasing to the audience. The solo " Hurrah ! for the Land of the Brave," sung by the Conductor, did not, although a song for the time, receive that full meed of approbation which its merits deserved. The flute duet "The Manly Heart," was played in a creditable style by Messrs. Clarke and Nattrass ; Mr. Balme's song "Annie Laurie," gave universal satisfaction, and elicited a rapturous encore ; as also did the solo " Bonnie Mary of Argyle," sung by Mr. G. Taylor. Some of the duetts of Mr. and Mrs. Augarde were exquisite morceaxix, particularly "The True Heart of Woman," "Dear Home Beloved," and "Holy Mother " ; and although the operatic style in which these duetts were rendered was new to many of the audience, the harmonious blending of the voices in some of the finer chords could not but be appreciated. Mrs. Augarde also gave the beautiful solo "Scenes of my Youth" with a finish and truthfulness which its high character demanded ; and the lighter song of " I'll marry him to-morrow " received from the audience an unanimous encore. Of Mr. Sullivan's two Comic Songs we need only say that they were both encored.

Between the parts of the Concert, Mr. J. L. Bailey delivered a Poetical Address, which we have printed in another column, and which was warmly received by the audience.

We cannot conclude this brief notice without expressing a wish that the time will not be far distant when we shall see all the musical talent of Nelson united in one harmonious gathering ; for that there is musical talent in Nelson we think no one will deny. Then may we expect to see a Concert got up which shall far exceed anything we have hitherto had, and constitute, in the language of one of our Nelson wits, " a harmonious body of harmonists practising harmony harmoniously together." At the conclusion of the Concert, Mr. Winterburn generously gave an excellent display of Fireworks, which terminated the proceedings of the day. We understand that a Ball will take place in the Odd Fellows' Hall this evening, for the benefit of the Building Fund, and we hope it will be well attended. '