TE AWAMUTU PUBLIC HALL. Concert and Dance.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1389, 28 May 1881, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU PUBLIC HALL. Concert and Dance.

A concert and dance in aid of the building fund of the Te Awamutu Public Hall came off on the Queen's Birthday under the auspices of the new trustees, and was thoroughly successful. The night was fine, and there was a large and appreciative audience. The musical part of the programme commenced with an overture by the Cavalry band, which was played in a style which reflects the greatest credit on the painstaking tutor, Mr Sibley. This was followed by a reading, "Sam Weller's Valentine" by the Rev. Mr Phillips, rendered with much effect, his voice being used with skill and judgment. ''Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep" was sung by Mr Hunter, in a singularly fine and fresh voice and pleasing manner, and was loudly applauded- Mrs Innes sang "Ever of Thee" very sweetly and was greeted with genuine favour by the audience. The duet "It's merry when the Moonbeams" by Miss Allen and Mr Benge, was correctly given, and loudly applauded. To this followed the very amusing song " I'm the Girl called Nancy" by Mr Hill, (in character). Mrs Andrews sang " Effie Sunshine" in a nice voice, used with considerable taste and expression. The Band " revival" was received with enthusiastic approval. Mr Winstone's reading from " Mrs Caudle's curtain lectures" elicited loud applause. The popular balad " Yesterday "wasrendered by Mrs Benge, was sung with a quiet force and dignity, which apppaled strongly to the feelings of the audience by whom the lady was recalled. Mrs Benge responded with "Steer my Bark to Erin's Isle " with equal success. "The Bashful Man" afforded ample scope for the display of Mr Benge's peculiar powers of pleasing, which he did not fail to take advantage of. "Eileen Alannah " was sung by Miss Allrn, a young lady who has been listened to with pleasure more than once at similar gatherings, and who must be congratulated upon her well trained musical talent. ' ' Far far upon the Sea " was sung by Mr Hill in a deep rich voice, which only requires a little more cultivatien. Miss Mandeno sung " In the Gloaming " in a delicate and refined style, and was loudly applauded. This lady, has, perhaps, more than any other contributed to the success of musical entertainments in Waikato. The programme was brought to a close with the duet " Very Suspicious " by Miss Allen and Mr Benge, wltich was vociferously encored. The tollowing tadies kindly played the various accompaniments on the pianoforte, and contributed in no small degree to the general success : — Mrs Andrews, Miss Hill, and Misa Wainwright. The whole of the arrangements were carried out under the able direction of Mr Benge, to whom the task was evidentyly a labor of love. The utmost credit is due to this gentleman for the admirable manner in which the entertainment passed off. Previous to the singing of the National Anthem, Mr J. H. Mandeno roue and ad. dressed the audience as follow-i — Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen. — I have been requested by the present Trustees of this Hall to prepare and present to you a phort statement of accounts connected with the hall from its commencement to the present time, and I have thought, that as there are many perwons now residing in the diHtriot, who know but little of the circumstances of its rife and propress, a few words couoerninpr its early history, and the difficulties which beset [ the Trustees in carrying out the design, raiphfc also be interesting-. Those of you who have been resident in the district a i few years, wilf remember the old forage sture in which our early entertainments and meetings were held, also the manner in which the wind used to blow through every window and between every board in floor and walls to the great discomfort of those inside. Also the very considerable danger which attended dancing in the building lest the whole affair should tumble down upon the dancers. In spite of all drawbacks I daresay we used to enjoy ourselves as muoh at those early gatherings a» we have been able to do at more pretentious affairs since. At any rate we used to meet as friends and neighbours (Hear hear), united by the ties of common interests, common difficulties, and common dangers, also a common determination to succeed in spite of all. (Great applause.) For although we can afford to smile now, at "storekeepers panics" as they are called to us, at that time, the danger was real and serious enough as tho^ of you will agree with me who spent nights in the Kihikihi and Rangiaohia block -houses, or in patrolling on the banks of the Punui. Well, the old forage store did well enough, for the time, but it was tumbling down, and some of us thought it was necessary to set about building some place a little more worthy of our future town. Mr. Jff. Roche was the first to speak to me upon the subject and he with Mr. Win. Bruce, P. Bond, and one or two others set about soliciting subscriptions from members of the Cavalry Troop which was then drilling. The troopers responded most liberally, many of the men giving their week's pay, amounting at that time to two guineas and the officers five pounds each. A sum of £75 was quickly collected from the, troop which was supplemented by a grant of £100 from the Government, A

meeting wan then held, at which the following names* were chosen as a commit tee for carrying ont the object— Mea^rs. P. Bond, .T. Rutherford, J. Neill, Wo. Bruce, J. We^tney, and J. fl. Mandnno Thin was on June 7th, 1874. The dimensions of the building having been arranged, it was agreed to offer by^drerfciaement a prize of £o for the best plan of a hall. These plans wore sent in, and one designed by Mr White, of Hamilton, approved of. ' ,'TendWa werejth'en called for, and the one of Thomas Wallace, for £32fr,~ being the~ lowest, vflflEaccepted, Messrs, J. Roche and Sibley being his sureties, to thw extent of £50 each, for tha performance of the contract. The members of- the committee r -with some others, agreed to do all the carting free. The contractor soou showed that he was thoroughly incompetent for the work he had undertaken, and the architect (Mr Vialou) living at such a distance, was unable' to see the work as often as was necessary, 'so that serious blunders were made. The frame of the building, however, was erected and partly covered, after the exercise of much patience on the part of the committee, and much fault finding on the part of the architect. When partly shingled, things came to a crisis. The committee had guaranteed payment for the timber, the sawyers refusing to cut it except on those conditions. The contractor had drawn all the money for work that the architect would certify for. He had also got as deep into debt to his workmen and the stores as he was able, and then he vanished, no one for some time knew whither. There came lively times for the committee, sub- contractors, workmen, storekeepers, each thought he bad a right to make the committee pay him what the contractor owed him, and dire were the threats of vengance when those poor committee men refused to see it in the same light. They bore it though as meekly as they could, knowing they had both right and law on their side. As for the surities, the committee did not think there would be any justice in trying to make them responsible for the amount of their bond. They therefore set to work and got the building covered in, and eventually finished in its present form, not, however at the cost of £320, but £420. To meet this expenditure a sum of £20 was subscribed by the public, and £30 was granted from the Troop funds, £150 was borrowed on the personal responsibility of the committee, the Government not having given a title to the land, although the site had been promised and reserved for the purpose. Twenty pounds was also obtained by entertainment at the opening of the hall. From this time things went on quietly untillB77. in which year Sergeant Uloth, who had all along acted as secretary and treasurer, left the district, and here I must say a word of the debt of gratitude we owe to Mr Uloth. During those first three years he was most untiring in his efforts, he grudging neither time nor trouble in working for the hall, and not for the hall alone, but for anything by which the welfare of the district could be advanced. (Applause.) The commencement of the library we owe to him, and so long as he wa3 here he attended to it alone. In fact he worked zealously for every public object, and all without fee or reward, except in the esteem and good-will of all who knew him. (Applause.) During this year, 1877, the hall was let to the Board of Education for school purposes, at a rental of £15 per annum ; an amount which just covered the interest we were paying. During the same year an effort was made to reduce the debt by means of a bazaar, and it was so far successful (for which we were indebted in a great measure to the assistance rendered by Mrs Hall) that a sum of £93 was netted so that shortly after when I took over the accounts from Mr Uloth, November, 1877, I had the pleasure of paying off £100 of the £150 debt. During the following year a piano was purchased for the Hall, at a cost of about £45, which was raised by special subscription from the public. Previous to this, a piano had to be hired for concerts, &c, at a cost of 30s per night. In November, 1878, fresh trustees were elected, viz., Messrs Rutherford, S. Westney, H. Roche, A. Bruce, and J. H. Mandeno, at the same time Messrs Gresham und Weatheral were appointed auditors. During last year the remain* ing £50 of debt was cleared off, so that during the time the late trustees, were iv office, there was paid, balance due to late treasurer £1 14s, amount of loan, South British Insurance Company, £150, new lamps, £11, seats, £3, Piano, £45, in addition to repairs, insurance, interest, and other expenses, so that the late trustees went out of office handing over tha hall with piano, free of debt, (great applause). This you will agree with me in thinking is a result of which they may be prond. They have sometimes been accused of "apathy " and " want of go," but I venture to assert that there are few public buildings in Waikato that can show as good a balance sheet at the pre« sent time as the le Awamutu Public Hall, which has a balance on the right side of the ledger (Loud cheering.) Fresh TruBtees are now appointed, and they are making a good beginning tonight. Youug blood is hot and vigorous, and I doubt not but the young trustee blood will soon leave its mark on the old place, and we shall soon see it presenting a more attractive appearance. It needs lining badly. The rain comes through tiho roof in various places. The outside requires painting and other improvements, and the trustees will find enough to do with all the money they can raise. The trouble of getting up an entertainment like the present is very considerable, and it falls mainly on the trustees. Ie is only fair that the public thould show its appreciation of their efforts, by patronising 1 these entertainments, and assisting with its subscriptions. There are manj living in the district now who have not done anything to assist them. These should remember that the building was not got up for the benefit of a few, but of aIL Its use is allowed free for all public meetings, whether political or religious, so long as there is no charge for admission, and the want would be quickly and seriously felt if it were removed. It should also be remembered that all the trustees are doing for the hall is don© free of cost, and whatever sums are raised | by entertainments or otherwise are spent on the improvement of the building. Mr Mandeno f hen concluded hi a address by reading the accounts for the past year I and to the present time, which testified i that the expenditure and receipts equally balanced, thus leaving a clean aheefc. This gentleman then quitted the platform amidst vociferous applause, and a vote of thanks was accorded to him by acclamation. The hall was now cleared in ahort time and the dance commenced. The mnsio performed by the band daring the various dances was also an especial treat. It was not until the small hours of the morning that folks thought of seefcjgg repose.

Timaktj and suburbs hzv&mw a popaiatioa of 6537, as campalsa&ifce 5063 in 1878 i -•' The Bruce EerglA states that last week that Afr James Grey, of Clarendon, lost ins barn and stable by fire. They were insured in the South British office for £300. The Government have resumed the construction of the approaches to the Duntroon Railway Bridge. The North Ofcago Agricultural Society according to the looal Mai^ oonaUts of about 150 members,- all moie or less in* tereatectin agrioultare, ( •