THE ROLAND CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 117, 8 May 1908, Page 3

THE ROLAND CLUB.

An institution that should speedily establish its popularity was officially <)(!(.' lied la>t night by His Worship the Mayor, Mr. (i. Tisch. The Koland Club, e whilst inaugurated and managed by the progressive members of the lionian s Catholic congregation, has been formed 11 with a view of providing a plaee of re- .. sort for the young men of the town, i irrespective of creed, where they may t spend their evenings in recreation and ■ mental and physical development. Th-' 1 eliibrooms are ill the building uutil-re--1 l< '"tly u-ed at St. Joseph's Schoolroom. ' '"'"ard-table Ims been installed, and a library is being formed, whilst promi- - Hence will also be given to debating and oratorical competitions. In a sentence, the dub i H designed to till a serious (jap in Xeiv Plymouth's social system, lherc was not a very large gathering at the opening, owing to the unpleasant weather rtud to the luck of publicity given. Mr. \V, Malone, the president, called upon the Mayor to perform the owning ceremony. His Worship expressed his pleasure that his first act as Mayor was to open such a useful institution, which he had 110 doubt would prove very successful, as there wan ample room in the town for its operations. He understood that the club was named after the self-sacrificing Father Poland, whose name was ho well known in connection with the Maori disturbances. lie wished the club every success, and expressed his willingness to help, instancing tlii* by offering a gold . aud a silver medal for oratorical com- 1 petition, conditionally upon there being 1 | six or more competing. ' j .Mr. Malone traced the history of club movements, aud of lhi b club in particu- ' lar, emphasising (hat the doors were ( open to all and not confined to Catholics. 1 Mr. J. 11. Parker's remarks were addressed principally to the Catholic young ■ men. He referred to the necessity for ] study on behalf of the citizens of the 1 future in order to fully understand the 3 various social problem., and to combat socialism, which he characterised as an 1 ellort on the part of some people "to 1. secure by illicit means the property of £ "thorn, secured by hard, continuous, and i lifelong work," A musical programme was rendered as ( follows:—Songs by Misso*. M. Clarke s and Foley and Messrs. Haslam and ]j Archer. Supper was provided by the s lady friends of the members. After- j ( wards an hour's dancing was enjoyed, whilst the devotees of the billiard-table betook themselves to the pursuit of this „ pastime. £