AUCKLAND'S TOWN HALL

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 297, 14 December 1911, Page 7

AUCKLAND'S TOWN HALL

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES

taJM presence ...' . :<X)O people AukumiaeW Town Lu'i was opened at 3 j.'oock th.s a'ti-ruoon by his ExeolGovernor, U rd Islington. The itWfUM* .-' i.j-riscntatne of t:.« rbdl pro .'in ■■ . an.l 'lie ceremony uus , t#Uiar. • '"• :l i Ex«.l> C i : .v, ''> was rtvtived by tne Mayor, Mr. rt y&rr, at the ma i entrance to the jjushpal otuces :i (..'jeenstreet. glbd souvenir ke>s were presented to v;»i'lccllencv and t.j tl. ■ '•! n „r, a.n.l tha'ioor was thereupon opened t.y .'■.■ (fflraor. \ procession v.... t.ic-a Med L> tl.e following oid.-r:— Tl.e 3et of wmks ( iir. McLaren), the eontrtors (Messrs. Fcrgiusou and MaiCv n!, the urchite. ts . Messrs. .1, J. :-»nd r,l. Clark), the • C, c.i officers of the (.poration, the cou u illors, the town fk (>tr- H. W. \V..-on), the deputy»yor (Mr. J. C"urt , the Mayor, and e Governor. Th.i procession therein proceeded ilirouzh, the, en.•ance vestibule int.) the frreat hall. .s they entered, the p-rand organ soundQ i.be first no'es of the National intlenn, which was sung by the Choral society. The 3000 people present, a t the lenuest of the Mayor, joined in the \ut I'erse, and to the swelling aecomBT,ninent of the instrument ihu3 heard for the first time the anthem sas =ung in a uiann-r inspiring in the atraue. THE MAYOR'S SPEECH. I | AUCEXAKTTS WONDEKFTXX | PROGRESS. ACTIVITIES OF THE FUTURE. The Mayor I Mr. C. J. Parr) said that i this •»':!9 a red-letter day in. the histo-y ffifAutkl.'ind. I'or that <J;>y they clo d I down a chapter of the hook, and begxi-n !l new period. He regretted the absence of the Father oi Auckland, Sir John Lojin Campbell, from the day's fetiritits. Sir John had fully intended being present, but yesterday he bad lint a message to say that he could not resist the weight cf years and the iraihies of Age, and this alone prevented him. from miking a public appearance that afternoon. It was a unique thing that .Sir John, who was now in his 95th year, landed on the Blares of the Waitemata when there ws not a single white inhabitant, and trhen the present site of Auckland was trarpied by a few natives, living in 1 scattered wharfs on the high places. Sir John had ,-een Auckland grow from nothing to the position of fourth largest city south of the line, with a pc.puUuion of over 100,000 people. What a retrospect! It -was indeed {riven to few Den to live to such a rip? old age, and witnrps such f-cmendous changes. (App'ause.) A GREAT BUSINESS CENTRE. Referring to the Town Hall itself, too iiayor said it was rather late to attempt, any discussion on the question cf site. but even to-day one heard all kinds :f opinions on the subject. He would like to point out that, although theprtaont site might not bo the centre of Greater Auckland, it was right in the business centre of the city. This was a very important feature. It should not be forgotten that the building would now house all the large municipal toilless departmcr.Ls, including the town clerk, city engineer, electrical engineer, traffic depa.timen'., etc. The building was majniy to bo used for business purposes. S'o one could deny that for such purposes it would be very happily situated. Ilatepayers and citizens having bu. inrsf, at the Town Ball would never recrret its propinquity to the business heart of the oty. As to the building itself, continued the Mayor, would like to say a word or two. The architect was deserving bf their couara.tuJationi and their thiinks. Dealing rith a site that was practically a trij.rn.ie in .-hape, Messrs. Clark and Son had K-en confronted with an awkward problem. Notwithstanding these disadvantages the architects had mveii thr-rn it building of which they might he proud. Neither must the Ibuildors be overlooked. Messrs, Malcolm and Ferguson had done excellent w 'irk, and credit was due to the capable Bupervisora. Messrs. Biddle and McLereu. Parr said he was one of those who thought the hrrilding looked well from the outside, and its architecture, «e thonprht. would on people as ftey frot iiped to it. But whether that was so or one thing was undeniable, and that was that the great hall, concert hall, and office and internal arrangement.-; wer" as near perfection as possible. Tae nugc audience present tiit afternoon could form its own opinion regarding the grand hall, and he venture] to say that the spacious chamber, dignified an it was by the finest and most up-to-date organ in New Zealand, would (Compare favourably 'with anything south of the line. (Applause.) GREATER AUCKLAND WITHIN" SIGHT. The Mayor nest went on to say that they had not built merclv for the *%; they had built for the Greater Auckland of the future. There was room, and to spare for housing the great council and the various departments of that united municipality which, ii tbey were wise, they would without delay bring about tocmtrol the administration of the isthmus. It- was not uufitl"ng that on this great occasion he should urr-3 on the suburban representatives present the futility and "waste that there must be in continuing the pretot avstem of btviru* >» local bodies

OPENED THIS AFTERNOON.

A BRILLIANT CEREMONY.

DEVIEWED BY THE GOVERNOR.

to administer the affairs of 100,000 people. j!c was not pressing a Greater .\u._Uand on the outsido boroughs. He had st'-aJjastly declined to exercise any pressure in jtliU direction. But he wished to point out tliat the day could nnl lm far distant when the suburbs would, in their own interests, find it folly to stay outside the federation. ( Applause.) Auckland city had little t i p.iin from a material point of view, hut the suburbs had everything to gain, •i ■ ■Aould s.".t nothing further under this rr-•-)::'-. t\ .:■ : ■> intimate that when- ■■•■•- 1 ic 'uourbs wpjo inclined to come • '-'$ f r ;'. ne could promise that the eii.v flonli g;v tT.ns of imaiira.mai.ion that would appeal to every reasonable ra.tcp.Tyer in the suburbs. COUNTRY AND CITY INTERESTS. Tbrv were, ho said, particularly pleased to have with them that afternoon so many country Mayors and chairmen of County Councils. Thcry all realised that the country and the city were inter-dependent. Auckland's prosperity 10-day depended almost entirely upon the men who were on the land. H had bepn his policy (and he hoped it would be a continuous policy of the future) that the city should ever be willing to urge and help the development of the ruril areas. In the same manner it was hoped that this function would interest the men who controlled the local bodies in this huge province in the welfare of the city. A SIGN" OF THE TIMES. The hall they were in, added the Mayor, surely typified the symptom of municipal advance and wonderful progress of Auckland. It typified the ivouderful material prosperity of the place. They should not forget, however, that these material blessings brought with them serious and important, responsibilities. It was for the councils to plan wisely for the future of this f-ver-gTowing, widely-ex'pandiug city. It was their duty to see that the most capable men in the city controlled their municipal 'business. Eet theia make no mistake. The tendency of modem times wa3 to immensely widen the scope cf municipal activities. Some people talked of a revolution in the future. Surely, they were in the of a revolution to-day. Gradually, almost imperceptibly, the old order was giving place to the new. The time was soon coining when almost every form of monopoly in business 'would lie owned and controlled by the big municipalities. That was the spirit of the times. Tf they were wise, therefore, they would prepare themselves for the great tasks which la/ ahead. The era of the village and the town had passed away. They began a new chapter in the life of their city that day. (Land applause.)

THE OPENING CEREMONY. THE GOVEKNOB'S SPLENBrD HSCEPTIOS. AUCKLAND'S GSEAT I'D'JUKE. PHASES OF CIVIC LIFE. His Excellency the Governor, who was accorded a very warm reception, said that the ceremony to which he had been invited that diay, and which all present had assembled to do honour, would be regarded as marking a most important epoch in the history of this city. (Applause.) He rejoiced to find himself associated with an event of such siaruficajice to the future progress and •welfare of Auckland and its citizens. That splendid Town Hall of spadous dimensions and dignified design, with the adjacent municipal buildingß and offices which he was there that day to formally declare open for future service, represented the most convincing proof of the progress which had to such a very gratifying degree characterised the social and commercial life of Auckland during the past decades. (Loud applause.) SHIRPINO AND INDUSTRY. "That progress," continued his Exeellencv, "especially of recent years, has established your city both as a port of vigorous activity and a centre of increasing importance, not only in New Zealand, but throughout the Southern Seas. (Applause.) A port with splendid natural harbour and important geographical position, ever busy with that increasing volume of oversea, shipping which means so much to New Zealand. A centre of industry in diverse 'branches ministering to a wide and extended province, stretching both north and south, which, as road and railway facilities are projected and th- 1 land opened up, may be expected to provide subsistence and profitable careers for a growing population engaged in those mineral and agricultural pursuits with which your province Ls so aJ>undarrtly endowed and which will afford added sinews and muscle to the national fibre ox ithe countryi (Applause. ) MXTNICrPAL NECESSITIES.

"These attributes which I have bat briefly enumerated, "continued his Excellency, "bring iwith them their corresponding demands and responsibilities to your city in the nature of ever-increas-ing municipal service. And that in turn justifies—l might rather say: necessitates—that an adequate and appropriate buikling should be provided for those •who ar<* selfcted by their fellow-citizens to ronirol and administer that service. Such a building requires to be: central in situation, spacious in dimensions, dignified in appearance—one indeed that all Auckland citizens to-day and hereafter may themselves regard with pride and show to others with satisfaction. (Loud applause.): Jiat ibis- inuMing realisea,

that ideal is a matter or congratulation to all, especially to the architect and those •who hare been engaged in its construction. (Applause.) It* erection and completion will contribute a two-fold service of inestimable value to this city. The absence of a hall like this has been much felt for years past in Auckland. Its presence will now and for all time furnish a most appropriate gathering ground for recreation and for learning which, whilst it cannot fail to stimulate and diffuse those activities in local talent and cultivation, wall at the same time act as a potent inducement to oversea talent to visit this city, and so enhance the critical power and appreciative sense of this community in the realms of art, culture, and refinement. CIVIC BENEFACTORS. "And in this connection ol municipal effort and enterprise," his Jixceileiicy proceeded, "1 feel it is only fitting on an occasion like this to remind an Auckland audience —so large and representative in character —oi the notable services that have been generously rendered to this city from its earliest days, ail through to within its most recent hours, by successive benefactors inspired by love and ambition for Auckland's welfare and. its dignity as a city. (Applause.) I will not attempt to enumerate those benefactors. Their names are indicated in the souvenir book, which can be obtained by any -w<ho desire it, attached to the programme of to-day's ceremony. But their names are already writ large on the map of this city, whose libraries, parks, lion, s institutions, 'both various and bene lice ut, art galleries, and the organ v uhai these walks, and clock in the lower, may be counted as among lasting t-: .iii.ony to their citizenship, their munificence, and their solicitude for tic wt ...'are and enjoyment of this age and posterity. (Loud applause.) .aCiCIPAL SIGNIFICANCE. "Gentlemen," continued his Excellency, "there ere assembled on this platform and ir: this audience to-day the represen-tatiM-s of every local governing body in iuekian.i and its suburbs. It would, therefore, ill betit my task were I to conclude without dwelling briefly on the municipal significance- of proceedings. The adjacent premises within this building are to become the centre and home of the government of Auckland. Those upon whom the task devolves of administering the "government of this city on behalf of its citizens, in the very nature of things, have imposed on them great —and as time proceeds, increasing— responsibilities. (Applause.) To-day, under the machinery oi the constitution, the work of mimhupal service stands seconc to none in all that makes for the first essentials in the social and industrial life of great communities. (Applause.) WELLHEEJG OF THE PEOPLE. "Upon th.» broad and humane interpretation of municipal laws and the efficient and regular administration of those la-w3 mainly," said his Excellency, "■depend, the health, comfort and wellbeing of the people—the progress and welfare of the city. (Applause.) The very development of Auckland—its increase in population, its expansion in urban area, the strides it has made in its volume of trade, its revenue, and its ratable vaDue are great, but I refrain from quoting figures (applause) ; whilst gratifying features in its onward course, must also be the source of intricate and perplexing problems which will tax the •wisdom and foresight of Auckland's best administrative ability. THE CHIEF CIVIC ARENA.

"I would venture the hope and coirple with it the prediction," proceeded the Governor, "that the time is hot far distant when by common consent it will be realised that if economy, efficiency and uniformity are to reach their highest attainment in the nrunicipal service, then this buildnig will become the chief arena oi civic administration for Auckland. (Loud applause.) And may I, in conclusion, venture the prayer that throughout the life that lies 'before these new buildings there may ever be found available to occupy them and to work within them, men possessing public Bplrit, breadth of vision, and integrity of purpose, to whom th« citizens of Auckland may with confidence entrust their interests and the high destiny of their fair city." (Cheers.)

THE FATHER OF AUCKLAND. SHt JOHN CAMPBSIiL'S MESSAGE. The Mayor read the following telegram from Sir John Logan Campbell, "the Rather of Auckland": " I rejoice with you that on this, the 14th day of December. 1911, it is given to you to receive 3000 cf your fellow oitizens as guests in their own Town Hall, the construction of which by resolution they sanctioned in 1905, and which now is so happily consummated. May the chapter in tie history of the city of Auckland which you are now opening be one of the game progress which I, now at the close of my life's book, have been privileged to take part id. (Signed) John Logan |"^ampbelL" The reading of Sir John's letter was greeted with an enthusiastic outburst of applause.

PRESENTATION OF SOUVENIRS.

TO MESSRS. BRETT AND MTEKS. The Mayor next nude presentations of beautifully bound souvenirs to Mr. Henry Brett and <sSr. Arthur M- Myers, in recognitilm of their magnificent gifts to the cfty—a grand organ by Mr. Brett, and a tower clock by Mr. Myers. The book Jets are bound in specially designed leather covers. Tho resolution and vote of thanks i o Mr. Brett have been illuroinatej and bound in his presentation copy, in a style following that of the 14th cAtury. It is chaste in colouring, rich in detail, the capital H. enclosing a miniature of St. Cecilia, the patron Goddess of music, and supplying the key note to the two pages of lettering. The address to Mr. Myers has been carried out in a modern style, each page having a richly decorated paneL On the right, the figure of Time carrying a scythe, and in the background a slight landscape, and overhead the sun. On the left panel is shown another rendering of a figure representing Time—holding an hour-glass overhead—a new moon and the Southern Cross. At the feet of both figures burns the lamp of Truth. The booklet issued by the City Council to commemorate the opening of the Town Hall has also been prod'iced by the Star Printing Company, uccler the supervision of their artist, and marks an advance on the usual typo of festival production. The decoratfvo cover, borders,; lhitinals, and headpieces have all been specially designed, and are in keeping with the motive of the bttMimj..

HIGH PLANE OF MUSIC. ITS BEARING OIT THE COMMLJSITY. A PAGE OF PAST HISTORY. SPEECH BY MR. H. BRETT.

Mr. Tlenry rsrett, in responding, said there was no need for him to say how very much he appreciated the address with which the Mayor had presented him on behalf of the citizens. He regarded it as the duty of every man to do what he could to promote the welfare of the city where he lived, and it had been a source of pleasure to him to give this organ for the benefit of the citizens of to-day, and those who would come after them. Good music made its appeal to the deepest emotions of the soul. It had ever been associated with the best forms of religious service, and also ministered to our enjovment of the wholesome pleasures of life. No community among whom the cultivation of music failed to obtain a hiph place in public estimation could be regarded as really civilized; and in a city of the importance of Auckland they should set a lofty standard—nothing less than the best should satisfy them. (Applause.) ]l e had for many years cherished in his mind the desire to present an organ to the city, and when the Council called for designs for this magnificent building, he discussed the matter with Mr. Lemare, the eminent oreanist. who wns then giving a series of recitals in Wellington. As a result of this conversation, he realised the importance of making the gift before the tenders for this building were accepted. Had the building been erected' without making the necessary provision, it would have been impossible later on to have place! an organ to advantage, and very doubtful if accommodation could have been found for an instrument such as they had in the building to-day. When his letter was received by the Council they readily responded to the only con ditions made (1) that the requisite space for the organ as set out in the specifications should be provided, and (2) that a certain number of performances to be agreed upon raW should be given to the public free every year. The Mayor and Council also met his wishes by providing for the accommodation of a large chorus and orchestra, and in future the concerts which had been given for so m'anv years in Pvmor.ds street woild be held'in this building.

MOST UP-TO-DATE ORGAN IN AUSTRALASIA.

Immediately his offer was accepted by the Council, continued Mr. Brett, he commenced negotiations with Messrs. Xorman and Beard, a firm of eminent organ 'builders, and upon his arrival in England the contract was completed, and Mr. Lemare engaged to superintend the construction. This gentleman prevailed upon him to make some additions to the instrument which was contemplated in his original offer, and to-day they had an organ which he was assured by Mr. Lemare and the builaers—although not so large as the Sydney organ—was more up to date than any organ in Australasia. He believed "that Messrs. Norman and' Beard had carrlea out taetr undertaking faithfully, and that the instrument would do justice to their reputation. The passing of the organ in New Zealand was left In tne hands of Dr. Thomas, who was well satisfied with the work, an opinion which was endorsed by Mr. Barnett, who stated that it was a magnificent instrument. They were all indebted to .Mr. Tustin, representing the firm cf Sonaar. and Beard, and his able staff for having the organ ready for opening to-day. They had worked assiduously day and night to meet the wishes of the Mayor, who had done all in his power to push matters along, so that the building and organ srhould be opened simultaneously. He desired also to thank Messrs. Ferguysnn and Malcolm, the contractors tor the Town Hall, for the facilities given to Mr. Tustin. It had been a great effort to get the organ ready for opening that day, and but for the consideration shown by the builders and the determination of the Mayor, the instrument would not have been completed this year. This magnificent building and great assembly of citizens reminded him of the very modest, not to say dingy, room in. which the Auckland City Council assembled when he had the pleasure to preside over it as Mayor thirty-three years ago. Nevertheless the Corporation was then by no means devoid of enterprise, though not as progressive as he could have wished. During his term they opened the citv abattoirs, which had only recently given place to the larger premises necessitated by the growth of the city. Thev introduced a water 6trpply from the Western Springs, which satisfied all the requirements of the rapidly-growing population for more than twenty years, and still afforded a good reserve in times of special need. Tney also prepared the way for a permanent and progressive scheme of street construction by fixing the street levek. PROBLEMS OF THIRTY-THREE YEARS AGO.

He saad that the Council when he was Mayor was not as progressive as he could have wished. He was defeated in some important measures which it occurred to him should have been undertaken then, and which, if caxried out, would have saved the citizens thousands of pounds. One of his proposals, added Mr. Brett, was to purchase the old Auckland Hotel, in order to continue Wyndham-street right through to Chan-cery-lane—to have purchased all the land and buildings between 0"Connell-street and Hi#h-street, with the view of forming another wide street running parallel with Qaeen-street from Shortland-street to Victoria-street. This proposal was defeated in committee by two votes. He also proposed that the endowment on which the Victoria Arcade now stands should not he released; that we should offer the Government 40 feet frontage to Queen-street to extend the present Post Office, and retain the balance as a square for public functions. The suggestion ■was approved in committee, but was defeated by one vote when the matter came up at the regular Council meeting, some members voting against him on the ground that the city could, not aflord to lose the rents. Then, during his term, came the leasing of the reclaimed ground from the Thames Hotel to Quaystreet. The Harbour Board advertised the whole of this land to be leased by auction for a long term of years, without making any stipulation as to the class of buildings to be erected. At the time there wpre a few shanties erected, and some were in oourse of erection; and but for his a-ction on this occasion they would now have a large number ot wooden and corrugated iron shanties at the main entrance to Auckland. After consultation with the Town Clerk, Mr. P. A. Phillips, a gentleman who did excellent work fox the-citjitt-jthe,..earl v_

days, he took passage for Wellington, where he interviewed the then Premier, Sir George Grey, and urged him to proclaim the whole of the reclaimed area within the city. Sir George Grey realised the importance of the matter, and within 24 hours a "Gazette" was issued proclaiming the area within the city, and the Council brought it within the brick area. The auction sale was postponed, and when leased at a later period all buildings had to be erected in accordance with the city by-laws. As a result of this action, subtantial brick buildings were erected at once, and improvement bad continued until the streets on the land reclaimed along the city foreshore ranked among the finest commercial thorougttfa.res of New Zealand. The stopping cf this sale also enabled the Council, later on, to widen Lower Queen-street, where the new Post Office was being erected, by 33 feet. ** I always possessed a firm faith in the future of Auckland," added Mr. Brett, "and I thank God that it has been my jrood fortune to see some of my dreams realised. Looking to the future, I might be tempted to envy some of the young men and women who will live to see still greater achievements, and whose duty it will be to direct and control the affairs of a wider civic life. But there remains to the rapidly decreasing band of old colonists the satisfaction of knowing that they have done good pioneer work—that they have been permitted to take part in the founding of a great city—and though many mistakes have no doubt been made, they still may claim that they will bequeath to the people who come after them a poodly heritage, a record of work and striving I of which they need not be ashamed."

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL CIVIC FATHIOTTS2&-A REALISATION. IMPORTANCE OF TOWN" PLANNING.

Mr. A. M. Myers in the course of an interesting speech said that amongst the many important problems which engaged the attention of the members of the City Council, over which it was his privilege to preside for four years, was the question of selecting a site and the erection of a Town Hall, He did not need to remind his fellow-citizens that the battle of the sites was intermittently waged for nearly a quarter of a century, until they determined that the question was so pressing and important that it was necessary to finally deal "with it. The correspondence columns of the newspapers would bear eloquent testimony to the many opinions held in regard to this matter. Thanks, however, to having a progressive Council, and to the help of a live Town Hall Citizens' Committee —the foremost members of which -were Messrs. P. J. Nerheny and G. Higgins—they determined to put their whole energy into the question, with the result that, after a fierce battle, the present site was finally selected. After calling for competitive designs, and asking the Chairman of the Institute of Architects in Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland, together with Mr. Bush, their able City Engineer, to adjudicate, a selection was made, with the happy result they now saw. For some time afterwards a number of people were good enough to say that the present design would not produce satisfactory results from an architectural point of view, and many a heated argument he had to indulge in with those gentlemen who held this opinion. He need not <?well upon the fact that there was also a section of the people who believed that they ■were not -warranted in expending the large sum of money requisite to erect a Town Hall. That was fortunately past history! NECESSARY TO THE CITY.

When it -was his privilege to lay t!ie foundation stone of this new Town HflU,| continued Mr. Myers, he ventured to say j that ono of the* first essentials to the! true progress and. prosperity of a City was the existence among its inhabitants of a civic consciousness find a civic patriotism—a realisation of the fact that they were not merely a collection of in-j dividuals .with no duty in life but. tomind each one his own private business,, but a community with corporate inter-1 ests and a corporate life, and, springing', from this realisation, a reasonable pride in that community and devotion to its service. Therefore, it pave him very great pleasure to be able to congratulate his fellow-citizens on bain*? at lastj in the possession of a Town Hall that| would be both an architectural ornament j to the city, and a valuable accessory to! our civic life. From an administrative; point of view, the need of such a building j as this had been felt for a long time. The accommodation in the previous; municipal offices was quite inadequate j for the increased staff whose employment; had been necessitated by the progress j and development of the city—ao much: so, that some of the departments had: had to bf housed elsewhere. It was obvious that much greater economy and efficiency would be attainable now that all the officials could be accommodated in suitable quarters in one building, where. they would work under the direct super vision of the executive heads of departments. The want of some placa in which to hold large public gatherings had also been increasingly evident, so that the Town Hall might therefore be regarded as one of the necessaries of municipal life. The absence of such a building in the past had been their loss, and he was as convinced as ever that money laid out on the erection of this building had been well spent. "May I add that if a Town Hall is necessary to a city," said Mr. Mvers, "an orjran is necessary to a town hall? And Auckland owes a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Henry Brett for the generous manner in which he has come forward to supply this want by the gift of the magnificent instrument to whose strains we have just had the pleasure of listening. As regards my own small donation," abided Mr. Myers. "1 can only say, that, having had something to do with bringing this long-talked-of project out of the region of discussion into that of accomplished fact, I am glad to have had the privilege of making a personal contribution towards its completeness, as, having a tower with a place in it for a clock, it would be a pity not to fill it up." "LEADING CITY OF NEW ZEALAND." The rapidity with which Auckland waa expanding, said Mr. Myers, made it the more necessary that they should take prompt steps to regulate its development. Auckland was not going to remain within its present limits, but a Greater Auckland would, within a comparatively short time, expand till it covered the whole isthmus between the Mannkau and the Waitemata, and wo-ild continue to be. as it was at. present, the leading city of New Zealand. They all felt a legitimate pride in the rapid progress that their city had made, and now they weTe in possession of a new Town Hall, he trusted that they would fully -ecognise the importance of town planning resulting in the slums being swept

away, and that many of them might live to see all their citizens housed in dwellings and amid surroundings fit for the homes of self-respecting human beings, and their city clean and beautiful throughout, with wide streets, with a dignified architecture, adorned with flowers and trees, blessed by fresh air and sunshine, and in all things fitly matching the glorious setting in which Nature had placed it. (Applause.)

SOUVENIRS FOR EX-MAYORS. PRESENTATION' OF BADGES.

An interesting ceremony was the presentation of the Mayor's badges, or jewel of office, to tbe surviving ex-Mayors"~of the city. The recipients, together with the respective terms of office, axe as follows:—Mr. P. A. Philips, 1872 to 1874; Mr. F. L. Phime, 1874 to 1875; Mr H. Brett, 1877 to 1878; Mr. T. Peacock, 1878 to 1880; Mr. A. E. T. Devore, 1886 to 1889; Mr. J. H. Upton, 1889 to 1891; Mr. J. J. Holland, 1893 to 1896; Mr. P. Dignan, 1897 to 1898; Mr. D. Goldie, 1898 to 1901 ; Sir J. L. Campbell, 1901; Mr. Alt Kidd, 1901 to 1903; Mr. E. Mitchelson, 1903 to 1905; Mr. A. M. Mvers, 1905 to 190 i); Mr. C. P. Grey, 1909-1910; Mr. JU J. Bagnall. 1910 to 1911. Mr. J. H. Upton, on behalf of the recipients responded. Mr. J. Maughan Barnett, Wellington city organist, played an inspiring selection upon the grand organ, and the Choral Society sang "The Heavens are Telling," from " The Creation." A vote of thanks was passed the Governor, after which the procession reformed, and retired to the strains of the National Anthem. The keys and gold badges for the Mayors were made by A. Kobn and Co. THE TOWN HALL ORGAN. FIWEST raSTRTTMEITT rw AUSTRAL AST A. A MAGNIFCENT GUT.

Yesterday we gave a splendid VHiustration of the big building opened to-day by the Governor, and some description of its features. Below is an account of the organ which ia a prominent feature of the large hall. A Town Hail without an organ would be incomplete, and as in deciding to erect the building, the City Council left over for future consideration the o.ue»tion of providing an organ, the opportunity was taken advantage of by Mr. Henry Brett to give tangible evidence of the great interest he tak>s in the progress and welfare of the city, over which he presided as Mayor in 1877-8, and of bis desire to improve the standard of music in our city, by offering to present an organ for the Town Hall on condition (1) that the requisite space for the organ as set out in the specifications should be provided, arid (2) that a certain number of performances, to 'be hereafter agreed upon, be given to the public free every your. The offer was gladly accepted by the Council in the following terms:—'"That this Council accepts with feelings of exceeding great pleasure and satisfaction Mr. Henry Brett's mag-niaunt gift of an organ for the new Town Hall lor the City of Auckland. Mr. Brett, has always shown a practical interest in any movement in relation to music in this city, and this last gift further proves his devotion to the city in which he has lived for so mauy years, and his sincere desire to add to the enjoyment and education of the citizens, and this Council fee-Is that 't cannot allow tills occasion to pass witbout expressing its sincere and heartfelt thanks for sufh a generous gift." The organ, which was built by Messrs. Norman and Beard, Thornton an-) Norsrich, at a cost of £(5,500, is the largest in New Zealand, and m ;st modern in Australasia. It is situated at the level of the uppermost tier of the ehoir platform, and i» set in a special chamber. 48ft. bv 22ft., provided in the Town Hall for its reception. It has four manuals and pedal keyboards, and tli" following is a detailed description of the various stops and pipes:— Pedal Organ (compass CCC to G. S'2 notes). —1, Double open Diapason, 32ft., wood. 12 pipes (20 derived from No. 3): 2, double open Diapason, 32ft., metal, 12 pipes (20 derived from No. 4) ; 3, Open Diapason, 16ft., wood, 52 pipes; 4, Open Diapason, 16ft., metal. 3'2 pipes; 5, Violone, 16ft., wood, 32 pipes: 6. Bonndon, 16ft., wood, 32 pipes: 7. Echo Bass, 16ft., wood (derived from No. 39) ; 8, Octave Diapason, Bft., wood, 12 pipes (20 derived from No. 3) ; 9, Principal, Bft., metal. 12 pipes (20 derived from No. 4) : 10, Bass Flute, Bft., wood. 12 pipes (20 derived from No. 61; 11. Contra Posaune, 32ft., met-tl. 12 pipes (20 derived from No. 12) ; 12, Trombone, 16ft.. metal, 32 pipes; 13, Trumpet, Bft, metal, 12 pipes (20 derived from No. 12). Choir Organ (compass CC to C, 61 pipes).—l 4, Lieblich Gedackt, Bft., (food and metal, 61 pipes; 15, Echo Dulciana, Bft., metal, 61 pipes: 16, Dolce, Bft., wood and metal, 61 pipes; 17, Viola Orchestra, Bft., metal, 61 pipes; 18, Voix Celeste (2 ranks), Bft.. metal, 110 pipes; 10, Tnda Mafia. Bft, metal, 61 pipes; 20, Flauto Traverso, 4ft., wood, 61 pipes; 21, Harmonic Piccolo, 2ft., wood. 61 pipes; 22, Schalmei. 16ft, metal, 01 pipes; 23, Orchestra! Clarinet, Bft.. metal, 61 pipes: 24, Orchestral Oboe, Bft, metal, 61 pipes; rremulant

Great Organ (compass CO to C, 61 notes*.—2s, Double Open Diapason, 16 ft, metal, 61 pipes; 26, Open Diapason (large), Bft., metal, 61 pipes; 27, Open Diapason (medium). Bft, metal, 61 pipes; 28, Open Diapason (small), Bft., metal, 61 pipes; 2!i, Claribel Flute (wood), Bft., wood, 61 pipes; 30, Corno Flute (metal), Bft., metal, 61 pipes; 31, Principal, 4ft., metal, 61 pipes; 32, Harmonic Flute, 4ft., metal, 61 pipes; 33, Pwelfth, 22-3 ft., metal, 61 pipes; 34, Fifteenth, 2ft., metal, 61 pipes; 35, Mixture (4 ranks), metal, 244 pipes; 36, Trombone, 16ft., metal, 61 pipes; Swell Organ (compass CC to C, 61 notes).—39, Bourdon, 16ft, wood, 61 37, Tromba, Bft., metal, 61 pipes; 38, Harmonic Clarion, 4ft., metal, 61 pipes, pipes; 40, Diaphjnic Diapason, Bft,, metal and wood, 61 pipes; 41, Geigen Principal, metal, 61 pipes; 42, Lieblich Gedackt, Bft., wood and metal, 61 pipes; 43, Salieional. Bft, metal, 61 pipes; 44, Vox Angelica, Bft, metal, 61 pipes; 45, Principal, 4ft, metal, 61 pipes; 4ft, Lieblich Flute, 4ft, metal, 61 pipes; 47, Fifteenth, 2ft, metal, 61 pipes; 4S, Mixture (3 ranks), metal, 13.1 pipes; 49, Contra Posaune, 16ft., metal, 61 pipes; 50. Horn, Bft, metal, 61 pipes; SI, Oboe, Bft., metal, 61 pipes; 52, Vox Humana, Bft., metal, 61 pipes; 53, Harmonic Posaune, 4ft, metal, 61 pipes; Tremulant

Solo Organ (oompaes CC to C, 61 jtotesj_.—s4, Barwosic. glaribel, Sft.,

wood and metal, 61 pipes; 55, Concert Flute, 4ft., metal, 61 pipes; 56, Orcheß tral Trumpet, Bft, metal, 61 pipes; 57, Bombarde, 16ft*, metal, 61 pipes; 58, Tuba Mirabillis, Bft., metal, 61 pipes; 59, Tuba Clarion, 4ft., metal, 61 pipes; Tremulant.

Couplers. — Swell Octave, Swell Sub Octave, Swell Unison Off, Swell to Great, Swell to Choir, Choir Octave, Choir Sub Octave, Choir Unison Off, Choir to Great, Solo to Great, Solo to Choir, Solo Octave, Choir to Pedal, Great to Pedal, Swell to Pedal, Solo to Pedal, Great Pistons to Pedal Composition. Accessories for Stop-Control.—s Combination Pistons to Choir Organ, 5 Combination Pistons to Great Organ, 5 Combination Pistons to Swell Organ, 4 Combination Pistons to Solo Organ, 6 Combinations Pedal Pistons to Swell Organ, 6 Combinations Pedal Pistons to Pedal Organ (also acting on Great Organ when Great Combination Pistons to Pedal is drawn), 1 double-acting Pedal for Great to Pedal, 1 double acting Pedal for Solo to Great, 1 balanced Pedal to Swell Organ, 1 balanced Pedal to Choir Organ, 1 balanced Pedal to Solo Organ. The tonal structure i 3 designed to give great variety of tone colour, and such dignity, power, and brilliancy, together with depth of expression, as is required for the size of the hall. The great and swell organs each contain stops best suited to give a proper balance of tone without having recourse to the octave and sorb-octave couplers, the latter being intended to produce certain combination effects only. The special features of the instrument are the magnificent pedal organ containing 13 stops, of which no less than three are 32 feet pitch, one being the largest wood pipe made south of the Line, its dimensions being: Length, 32 ft.; depth, 2 ft. 2 in.; width, 1 ft. 11 in.; weight, approximately, 12 cwt. It was made in the makers' New Zealand factory. Features of interest other than the tone-pro-ducing part are the novel rocking tablets, '"swell unison off" and "choir unison off," placed on the left key cheek, and the foot combination pistons, instead of the usual combination pedals. The action of the organ is tubular pneumatic throughout on an entirely new system, the connections 'between the keys and the pipes •being made with compo tubing, the amount of tubing used in the whole of the organ being approximately seven miles in length. The blowing installation is also an entirely new system, consisting of three' fan blowers driven by three electric motors of a total of 16 B.P. The blowers generate wind pressures of 0 inch, 10 inch, and 17 inch, which are distributed into 15 wind reservoirs inside the organ, the wind being distributed to the pipes at the pressure given as under: Pedal organ, 4in., 6in., 12in.; choir organ, 4in.; great organ, 4in. and Bin-: swell orpran, 4in. and Bin.; solo organ, Sin. and loin. There are no less than three swell boxes, which are controlled 'by a like number of balanced swell pedals, placed immediately over the centre of the pedalboard. The swell shutters open vertically. Tbe largest swell box measures 13ft. 9in. by 10ft., and is 12ft. in height inside. The accessories have been arranged to give perfect control in the simplest form, without unduly taxing the memory of the performer. The swell and choir organ stops and couplers are grouped on the left-hand side of the organist, the great pedal and solo stopa and octave couplers are grouped on the right-hand side of the organist. By an ingenious device one drawstop combines the great organ pistons with the pedal foot pistons, which, in effect, give a suitable bass to each great combination. The voicing of pipes has been carried out to suit the requirements of the building. The pitch of the organ is 522 vibrations per second in a temperature of 60 deg. Fahr. The total number of pipes in the organ is 3455. The external case of the organ was designed by the architects for the building, Messrs. J. J. and E. J. Clark, and was made of oak in the English workshops of the *>rgan builders. Tho specification of the organ was drawn up by Mr. Edwin H. Lemare, who supervised the erection of the parts that were made at the firm's English factory. The erection of the organ has been carried out on behalf of tho builders by their Xew Zealand manager, Mr. H. A. Tustin, and has been supervised on behalf of the donor by Dr. W. E. Thomas, Mus. Doc.

"THE MESSIAH."

BIGGEST PRODUCTION IX XEW ZEALAND. "The Messiah," to be presented in the new Town Hall next Tuesday evening, is the biggest concert the Choral Society has ever attempted. It is certainly the biggest production of the "Messiah" ever attempted in New Zealand. The society has brought over three soloists from Australia. Mis* Zara Wolinski, soprano, and Mr. Joseph Wolittskl, tenor, have appeared with the Philharmonic Society in Sydney, and are regarced as two of the best oratorical artists in Australia to-day, while Miss Adelaide Bruce, of Melbourne, is one of t&z most popular contraltos in Victoria. The society recognises that as they are in future to have the use of the Town Hall they will need to induce more public patronage. In the past the accommodation of the Choral Hall only proved sufficient to cope with the actual membership oi the society. In next Tuesday's performance there will he an augmented chorus of 300 voices, and an orchestra of 60 members. It is the intention of the society that at each of the concerts throughout the seaSon they will engage 6oloists from, either Australia or other parts of New Zealand. Subscribers of the society have had the benefit of reserving their seats for two days prior to the opening of the plan* to the general public, bat to-morrow the plan will be open for all, and it is expected that the greater portion of the seats in the big hall will be reserved.

BOWING ChKS CONCERT. The Auckland Rowing Club Is tn need ot a new boathoose. and a concert has fceen oriramsed by Mr P. S. Gardner to raise funds for this purpose. A tine collection of artists have been engaged, and among the performers will he gold medallists and prise-winners at the recent competitloofi. There are only a limited number of reserved seats left, and day sales will soon hare to be stopped. The following are the artists who are assisting:—Mrs H. Cooke, Miss Lffltttia Gardner, Miss B. Carter, Miss B. Purdom, Messrs O. E. Farrow, Alan McElwain, W. Asptnall. J. Ryan, A. Elakelev E. f. Brombie, F. S. Moodie, Egerton"' Pecfr," Tjen WWttnker, T. Harris, and We fonr. The concert -win be held in the Choral Hall to-morrow evening.