DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 32, 27 June 1914, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

HUIRANGI. OPENING OF NEW HALL. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

The inueh-lookeu-f'or event of offiially opening the practically new hull took piwce on Thursday nigimt, and, despite the wretched state of the weather, the building was packed to it* fuflest capacity, when a concert and dance wais held, proving moat successful and enjoyable. Air .1. H. Smith presided, and gave a welcome to the large audience He then called on his Worship the Mayor of Waitara (Mr W. P. Jenkins) to officially open the hall. In doing so, Mr Jenkins said that the building nad had rather a varied history, but one that nil may he proud of, as shewing that even such a grim place as a blockhouse can eventually become a house a profit and pleasure First built some ihalf a century ago, during the troublesome times of war as 1 a blockhouse, it served its purpose. With peace proclaimed, the building was then p»it to a mucliii more useful purpose,tha f , of a schoolhouse. In this respect it served its purpose for some time, until tlliw growth of population required something more adequate. Publicspirited settlers fought for and were granted a better .building fo r the education of the young, and the present was erected in the position that this building then occupied. Witti a (royalty to he proud of, the people of the district formed themselves into a company and purchased the blockhouse, cum schoolhouse, from the Edu- ' cation Board, so that they and the..' successors should have some place to hold meetings and nave the neciissary amusement tj .make life ■worth living. This was not done for any personal gain but frtm purely philanthropic ideas. Some years ago, the owners were good enough to bay iiiiat the building should belong purely to the public of the district, ;inu set about preparing a Bill to go to Parliament so that they could carry out their ideas, This scheme was the amalgamation of the Hall with the Domain Board, and the Hon. Mr Kelly successfully pijoted the Bill through, the icsiilt being that the hall became public property. By the aid of subscriptions, the' settlers raised some £l3O, which together with about £SO in the hamh of the Trustees warranted the starting of the improvements. These were costing about £2OO, and the promoters felt warranted in anticipating Hi at with the sale of old material, and : the results of that night'*; function the hall would be opened free of ddbt. This was a fine accomplishment, and well worthy of emulation in larger places, and he congratulated the promoters on the success of their efforts. The good I •work of the Committee had not yet stopped. They recognised that further conveniences, such as supper room, seating accommodation and more lighting weie ivr;;:iivd, and already, they had under way various schemes whereby the funds necessary to accomplish, their •purpose could be raised, so that in a short time they would have a hall as complete as most town Imlh, and better than the majority of country ones.