NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 193, 5 August 1908, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB.

A ai'LKMJID IA.VIUmi O .Y

*oi a tow,, of its si/,- and importance toiy 1U prov.d.ng so „,e place wh \,4, * Z.7 B,n * llen "' h j»"" here i,«. wwation and r,st. cstiictne. u le ].„.,, Jtngad » go 'sought to lill the gap in°s„ 111( , ma ure by the installation of a b,,,:,,^ attcrly tu e laianaki Hilles' ordcrlv ooii. lias become the re.id.zvous to, lie more .socially inclined niembes o hat company. The Roland Club, of re Mn " mi ; ion ', l ! a3 ''g»»% member Alp, but the club room is situated i. foe church grounds, and this act" t. owe extent as a barrier. Then tin -arum* friendly societies and lod<" lave arranged social evenings and can -art.es, a „d the draught/ and Z lubs provide evening amusement fo nany. Two or three attempts in re *at years to establish clubs for youni uen have failed, principally becauai M qualification limited the memueruup. A few months ago this state if affairs was ventilatvd throu",n this journal. Judging from the ensuing ;orrespondencc that there was a desire to provide evening reervation for yomi.. men three young men made an active canvass amongst men or siamv ing, and received assurances of livarty

support and co-operation in any movement having for its object the formution of a young men's club on cosmopolitan lines, 'ihe ranks ot the workers ;rew. With a promised membership )f fifty, the Mayor, Mr. Tiscli, was askid to convene a public meeting to test Ihe feeling of the people most intervstid. Esimatea of prospective memberihip and finance were submitted to a 50od gathering of men and the' anlouncement made that capital clubrooms could be scoured. The club was ormed. Wnce then a hwt-and-soul .•ommittce, with an admirable secretary, has been hard at work, and as * result of their efforts the New Plynouth Club has now been formally and mccessfully launched, with a me'muprihip of nearly 300, and a suite of clubrooms that do infinite credit to the promoters and to the town.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING, line official opening took place last light, about 120 of the members asleinbling in the billiard-room at 8 ''clock. ' The president, Mr. G. Xiscli, in his ipening remarks, extended a cordial' velcome to the members. It was his pleasing duty to formauy open the new lub rooms. He had to congratulate he members on the Success that .had leen with the movement, enabling him o open the club under such favorable onditions. It was just two months .go since he had been asked to convene meeting to consider the question, and a less than two weeks afterwards, no. ess than 150 members had been enrolld, enabling the committee, which was et up, to secure splendidly situated mniise*. Xhe membership was now ■ver 200, and the cry was ''Still they ome!" As members would see the biiiant room was now completely s«t up ritii two new Alcock tables and all lecessary accessories. The committee ras very desirous of catering for the fant3 of all the members, and a splenlid commercial room and a social and ard table had been thoroughly iurdshed. The commercial room was supilied witli the club's note paper, etc., he leading daily papers, and pcriodials. The committee hoped to further xtend the functions of the club, and rould endeavor to establish a debating ociety amongst other branches. It rould' be gratifying to members to earn that they were already m a posiion to pay for all the furniture. The. tlterations, costing upwards of £SO; lad been paid for, and a £SO deposit md been paid on the billiard tables, ['hese, cash payments would total close in £2OO, all raised by. members' subscriptions, and £ls in donations. The ommittee proposed to give "afterloons" to the members' lady friends at ntervals, enabling the ladies to sec low their men-folks spejt their cvenngs. i'hey wanted to make the club t credit to New Plymouth. (Applause). le wished to thank the Press for the ! fupport they had accorded the movenent. He wished also on behalf of the :hib to thank the Hon. Oliver Samuel, lev. Mr. Evans, and others who had nade donations. The committee, he onld tell members, was one of the test ,nd nrOai enthusiastic he had ever rorked witk, and everything had workid smoothly. He was very pleased the [lon. Samuel, the founder ofv the raranaki Club, was present, and he .'ailed on him to make a few remarks to the members. (Applause). The Hon. Samuel, M.L.C., who was warmly applauded, said he did not know anything that could give liim greater pleasure than to be present to congratulate club members on their efforts and to wish the club success. It seemed, he said, only yesterday, although it was years, since he had first endeavored to form a club in New Plymouth. They tad just started in the building now occupied by Joseph Hooker and Co. They had an auspicious opening, and everything pointed to success, but after a few months it fell. The population of the town was then too small, and they had to wind up. Two or three yvars then passed before another effort was made, and a meeting was held in the very room in whic* he was now speaking. - Another start was made, but after a short time fund* ran short, and again they had to close Each time the losses fell on tho.se wh< ■were guaranteeing the finances, ant the promoters naturally became dis heartened. In 1892, however, the posi tion was again faced, and an endeavo made to obtain as many members a possible by guarantees. When he sav the excellent billiard room with twi tables and the other comfortahh rooms provided for the New Plymoutl Ulub he felt what a great advantagi members had over what the old Tara laki Club was able to oiler, lo pro •eed, however, they had great difficult) n making ends meet, but New Ply nouth progressed and the number o; Ittose who were able to allord socia. .musements increased, enabling then Lltiinately to establish the club on » ir»*r basis in new premises. Member; if "the New Plymouth l 'lub wouia or •leased "to learn than the Taranal? ;iub. after all vicissitudes, was now m n extremely flourishing condition, and heir pecuniary troubles wore over. Applause). He had digressed irom M! übiect onlv to show members they •eeu not be depressed by cheeks, fc.ite«, was all the sweeter if long delay A and detained through mamtold truces and defeats. The. club Hey vere now opening was, he said, an exclient tiling for members and for the own. The importance to young men ra, vnormous. Speaking tor himselt, , e 'said be had often felt, a, a youngter, the need of sucn advantage = aembers of this club ww "Here, lh. irst advantage to a clubman was the pportunitv alforded of social intoourse with his fellow-men. Many m n tad no opportunity ot mak.iig U * , n d associates in the ordinal) w->, M -mooned' about unhappy fo rant of companionship. Man, hu sam, a" a -rcgarious animal, and if, unuutrally, C hc sought only Ms own con•anyundesirable- traits m his c a.acMeanness and pettiness ould not exist amongst m* mmng J , odl es Another advantage of club as s discipline. JJiseiplmc was n - eiry that members might not do .nything that would cause d.scomort Everyone could not a . the discipline, eHAs« s

number* might think *W, ™ „ lc i» , d jin rovc , ; i^eo£u..ol . J"l Ub TW » tlutna. and he ÜB*ts,v,r,lv upon ..m. (-MM£« , t lllin . n,,n.h.M S h,a t ; imv -sU%^^. B Th5 reuwitud outside. (-Ml"' ( lv with one another, I *■!. i;; ' l UtUe-tattl, «a, g , ; , "B„ l " il ,t M " ,^ l u. confidence, Hint was worth {!< m* .<> 0 . ttank.d Up |..'.'s..t.'"t tor to «,. . tunitv altoruVd th- -p™-e '*.; 1»° ■ srnt.'and the rf«l. for c ~<-' n ß h ™. '.

W Vl X'pro,Ulont then d-Haro-1 11..I 1 ..- rlu]» ■l, o.,en, an.l wished it a 9 i.ecesst..l eareo.: On the call of the Hon. Samuel. rinjring cheers were accorded the prc-ai-'»'tot and the secretary, Mr. A. lfumpftries. : \.

Au adjournment was then made (,„ | tile social room, where a lirst-class nro- | gramme, arranged by Messrs. r-yh-» and Cornwall, ivus rendered aud luor o'iglily enjoyed. Cards, draughts, oilmrds and reading occupied the attention of club-men in the rcnammr°o«H, and the steward was kept bus? intending to the luimrenients of nieniwis from the Kitchen, iiio i'ollowin.. i items were contributed at the concert? March (violin and piano), Messrs. jCornwall and K l.loldiug; ,-ongs (3), Mr U oodard; recitation, . Ur lilMlic; sonla), Mr U. tinnitus; mandolin anil I guitar (it), .Messrs Cornwall, McEwcii, I ■ii'd S.vkes; recitation, Mr Love<'Tovchumorous song, .Mr. (Mirier. ; son" iilr' I'. Cornwall; song, Mr. Melsaar- 'humorous, story, Itev. .Mr. Evans; recitations (•)), Mr. I'. Hopkins. 'J'lie chili will be open on week days from 10.30 a.m. to 11 p.,,,., and country members, who are admitted to membership for 10s per year, are particularly invited to take'advantage of the privileges of the club. 'HiE CLUB KOOiMS.

s It was exceedingly fortunate U.aL i -it tue moment ,vnen the club was I hist mooted, a most suitable suit- of '' n,T,, ""f ~a IJOUt t0 "« vacated. The . laianaki Mueation Board was nreimr- ' !H? !?• I ," ove into ,ts °"' u uew ohices on ! M. Michael's Square, thus releasing the •TIv 8 . a ?.M I ' ,y tllC1 " iu i,ovou »«cet cuitial. lhese rooms had once o«n occupied by the Taranaki Club ami I some of the necessary appurlenanccs still remained. The rooms wure secured on very favorable terms. It was at Jtrst thought that the club would outer into possession of tlie flat as it stood, but when the membership ro»' to about a hundred more than had be™ expected, (Hie comniittee decided that tlivi accommodation would have to be provided on more exLcnsive— and incidentally more expensive—lines. So | the board's meeting room and tl'ic old . inspectors' room wure knocked into one, and the same process adopted in jegard to-the new inspectors' room anil the storu room. The club is housed upstairs in me building, and

it has a suite of four rooms, with tlit right to acquire further rooms on Uic same lloor if Ve ( |iiired. The lineal room is the billiard-room, well li«l"(e( i)y day and by night, and contaliiinj

;wo of Alcoek's licsL billiard tallies" lew. The upholstered seating accomuodation is raised on a platform round the room, which iias been ruiapercd and painted. Next to this is lie commercial room (formerly the education Board secretary's office), a ileasant apartment and spacious, with rindows opening on to Devon street, .'his room is luxuriously furnished, .'here are writing tables, supplied with he club's own stationery, and iues and periodicals on the reading antes. "Mo smoking" is the rule lere, but those who wish the weed I'hile they road can take magazines to be social room, which opens from the uain landing and also overlooks Devon treet. The, social room is replete with ouches, lounges, and chairs, e-.ud-ables, and so on. There is a. fireplace u each of these three rooms, which nivo been thoroughly renovated and re very spacious. At the head of the tairs is the steward's room, ivitn a lide opening into the billiard room, .'he steward, who is resident on the ireiuiscs, sells all manner of refresh' ug but non-intoxicating drinks, cigarettes, and so on. There is no charter, io no alcoholic drinks will be perinit;ed. I'liu club has been placed on {he ist of subscribers t 0 the telephone (exchange, and a private letter-box has oeen engaged so that members may liavc their letters addressed to them at.

tlie club. One noticeable feature of the interior lecorations, and one that robs the rooms of that homely and comfortable tone which is typical of club-land is ;lie absence of pictures. Hut the finmces of the club havu not been sutiiiient to warrant the committee in attempting to do everything in the first ,'car. The pictures will come, and ilioro is littlu doubt that those of our ■itizens who are interested in the weliire and the provision of wholesome urroiiiulings for our young men—and riio of us is nut?—will see that this refect is remedied. The club does not iolicit donations but we have yet to learn that its rules rorbid the accept-

■nice of good engravings, pot plants, or any other of those little finishing furnishing* that have not come within the bounds of th« committee's purse strings. While on this matter it ought to oe mentioned that his Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. Tiseh), Rev. F. G. Evans, and Hon: 0. Samuel each donated £5 towards the furnishing of the rooms. Curtains were the gift of Messrs Morey and Son and Ambnry Bros., and a useful gift of towels from Messrs. Win to and Sons. Chessmen and draughtsmen

have been presented by Messrs. A. I\ Gray, W. Brcreton, U. Enroth, and P. Hopkins, and a prize for a billiaTU tournament has been offered by .Mr. R. .). Deare. The contractor for the alterations to the rooms was Mr. li. W. liond, and for tile funiishins Messrs. J. Ilayden Mil K. Dingle. Each one has done his part exceedingly well.