CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21178, 30 July 1940, Page 3

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

OPENED AT NGARUAWAHIA PLUNKET AND REST ROOMS A large crowd assembled in Jesmond Street, Ngaruawahia, on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the official opening of the Centennial Memorial, which takes the form ol a combined Plunket and Ladies’ Resi Rooms. The building is of brick j veneer in the Moorish style of archi- | tecture, and presents quiie a pleas- : ing appearance. It cost £BBO, and tn*> I Centennial Committee was able to | hand it over to the Borough Council ■in which it is vested, free of al> I liability. i The money expended on the buildS ing was raised by a queen carnival ! conducted by the memorial commil | tee with the addition of the Govern j ment grant in aid of centennial memorials. The section was generously ! donated by Mrs O. M. Reid, nee | Burned an old resident of the town j whose parents had taken a leading part during their lives in forwarding the welfare of Ngaruawahia.

The proceed ngs were opened by Mr W. M. Paterson, chairman of the Memorial Committee. Workers Congratulated After giving a brief history of the course of events resulting in the erection of the building, Mr Paterson, on behalf of the Centennial Committee, thanked all who had during the Queen Carnival, worked so enthusiastically to obtain such good results. He then handed the key of the front door to the Mayor, Mr R. Eyre, as representative of the Borough Council. The Mayor congratulated the band of workers and passed the key to Mrs H. J. Sampson, president of the Plunket Society, to nominate the person who would perform the official opening. After a short speech, in which she stressed the good work of the Plunket Society, and its need of support, Mrs Sampson gave the key to Mrs Reid, the clonor of thp section. In a brief speech, containing some interesting reminiscences, Mrs Reid declared the building open. The public were then admitted, and were greatly impressed by the interior o* the building. During the afternoon the Ngaruawahia Silver Band, under Bandmaster Forest, played some fine selections. Subsequently members of the Plunket Society entertained visitors to the function at afternoon tea in the Red Cross room.