FREE FAIR.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17974, 20 March 1930, Page 5

FREE FAIR.

GAIETY AT FERRY BANK

HELP FOR WORTHY CAUSE.

BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY’S EFFORT. No public body in Hamilton earns or probably deserves so muc-h general approbation as the Beautifying Society. The wort it has done lives, and the beauties it lias created become more apparent each year. • The Society has been in existence for 15 years. Before that time the town possessed many ugly, weed infested spots upon which was dumped all manner of refuse. The bants of the river adjacent to the Traffic bridge were rough, untidy areas. The ground was very uneven, the growth rant and the heaps of rubbish —bottles tins, road sweepings and other garbage dumped there by all and sundry, were a continuing offence to the eye. It was at a time 'When Ferry Bank was in danger of becoming a permanent borough tip, that the Beautifying Society came into being. It is only the people who remember the bants as they were at that time, who can fully appreciate the change, although not only the river bank, but the work of the Society as a whole is admired by everybody who comes here. .

Hamilton was described by one prominent visitor recently as the cleanest and sweetest town in Australasia.

There is plenty of justification for such praise, for there are few towns which possess the same amenities in the way of parks, good roads, clean streets, pretty houses, well kept gardens and public utilities. Debt to Society. It is to the Beautifying Society that the town owes thanks for its wonderfully improved appearance. The Society is a voluntary body and has been working against finance for years. Everybody who keeps a garden realises the expense and work entailed in tending just a small plot. With several parts to maintain, the general appearance of the whole town to keep, up and with new work ever in hand, the Society's small staff is worked to the limit. The Society is hampered bylack of funds, its only revenue being a subsidy of £I2OO annually from the borough council, which is not sufficient to meet the wages account. The consequence is that the Society is labouring under an overdrawn account and is now seeking assistance from the public, in whose interests it works, to help to liquidate the indebtedness. With this object in view, a three days’ fair was opcnc'd at Ferry Bank this afternoon by Mr J. A. Young, M.P. A large slock of produce and other goods has been donated" and is displayed on about a dozen different stalls. The society has been successful in getting the assistance of many side- ; show men, with the result that FerryBank from now' until Saturday night will be a mecca ’of amusement.

The Attractions. i The attractions include a big wheel, merry-go-round, chair-o’-plane, Maori entertainers, Scotch entertainers, illusionists, Punch and Judy show, monkey motor speed-way, juvenile circus and other features. The Municipal Band will be in attendance of an evening in addition to the Caledonian Pipe Band and the local Philharmonic Society’s choir. The Rco orchestra will supply music for dancing in the "large marquee. A special attraction will be staged on Saturday afternoon in the nature of a tug-o'-war, for which the following teams are entered —Borough Council, Post and Telegraph, ■ Government Farm, Innes’ Brewery, Ellis and Burnand, Central Power Board, and the 'Carriers’ Association. There will also be a display by boy scouts and gipsy maypole dancing arranged by Mrs H. Piper. People visiting the fair during the next three days will, therefore, find ample entertainment, and will have an opportunity of securing genuine bargains in clothing, confectionery and produce, while assisting a most worthy cause. As the whole of the proceeds from the stalls and half the proceeds from the side-shows will go to the society, the result should be most satisfactory, although this depends entirely on the measure of support accorded by the public. Admission to the fair is free.

The fair ground is gaily decorated with hunting and at night-time it will be illuminated with hundreds of coloured lights. There was a large crowd assembled for the official opening which took place this afternoon in beautiful sunshine.

The Official Opening

In addressing the gathering, Mr. " Young said Hamilton possessed many institutions of which the people were proud, hut of none more so than the Beautifying Society. While it was an unofficial organisation it had official recognition and was doing most excellent work. The beautiful gardens and parks found in different parts of the town were due to the society’s efforts. Institutions of this kind which were doing a great service to the community, required practical support. The Borough Council donated £I2OO annually for the work, but this year the society had overdrawn to the amount of £3OO. The society had, therefore, resorted to that fair to try and reduce its indebtedness. Such an undertaking entailed an enormous amount of work and the town was very fortunate in having at the head of the institution a man like Mr. Paul. (Applause.) While referring to the work in connection with the fair itself, Mr. Young said he must not omit to mention the names of Mrs. 11. C. Ross and Mrs. 11. D. Cobb, who had been responsible for much of the organising work. In declaring the fair open, Mr. Young expressed the hope that all the visitors would enjoy themselves and that the society would profit substantially as a result.