OPENING OF CLARENDON PUBLIC HALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 35

OPENING OF CLARENDON PUBLIC HALL.

For a rumber of years past the need of a hall for religious and social gatherings has been felt by the residents of Clarendon. For nine years a Sunday School attended by 30 children has been held in Mr Brabyn's house, and at times the accommodation ha 6 been severely taxed. In June of last year a meeting was called at Mrs Hay's, tc consider the advisability of erecting a suitable building. By dint of energetio canvassing oxer £70 was collected, and steps were taken to erect the hall om a piece of land alongside the railway and! main road, generously donated by Mr A. P. Grey. Under the supervision of Mr Littlejohn, of Milton, the residents set to work, and practically finished the job in a fortnight's time, and then a fencing bee was held in the evenings, when the old: gorse was cut out and a strong post-and-wiro fence erected. The building, which presents a very neat appearance, is 40ft long and 20ft wide, and has a good platform and splendid system of ventilation. The official opening took place on Friday evening', February 14, ' and took the form o£ a social followed by a dance. Mr Donald Roid, M.P., cook the chair, after being introduced by Mr A. P. Grey, chairman of hall trustees. The attendance was very large, over 20G being inside, and about a score were not abie to get a seat, and remained outside. The Chairman congratulated the people on puttinsr up such a substantial building, and amid great applause declared the hall open. The following programme was then gone through: — Piano-fc-te eolo, Miss Hansard; vocal soles, Miss Cooper and Messrs Standage, Harvey, andf Arnott (encored) ; recitations, Mies Hamilton (encored), Miss Bewley, and Mr Christie ; gramophone selections, Mr Bowie. Abundance of refreshments were handed round, and after the customary votes oc thanks tho hal! was cleared for dancing:, which was kept ivo with great %'igour till the early hours. The hall fund will benefit to the extent of over £12 by the proceeds o B the social. — (Owr Correspondent.)

Palmerston North is being pestered with" the meanest kind of petty thieves, and owing to further Tobberies of t"he alms boxes at All Saints' Church, the Rev. Me Harper has been compelled to get "bur*, glar-proof" boxes. . " - '•