MAIREHAU.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15774, 15 December 1916, Page 9

MAIREHAU.

A NETT DISTBICT

PUBLIC HALL OPENED,

Tho district of Mairchau, an f»Tea of country of about four square miles in extent-, situated bet-ween St. Albans and Marshland, which camc into existonce as a separate entity about ten months :vgo, could bo said to have received its christening yesterday afternoon, ■when tho Mairchau Hall -was formally opened by Mrs S. A. Staples, ■wife of the chairman of the Waimairi County Council, in tho presence of a largo gathering of residents and visitors, ittuong the latter being Mr and Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes, Major and Mrs G. F. Hutton. Mr S. A. Staples (chairman of tho Waimairi County Council), —Mairchau being a portion of Waimairi County—Mr F. Sisson. a member of the Waimairi County Council; Mr J. A. Fiesher (Mayor of New Brighton raid ex-chairman of tho Christchurch Tramway Board), Mr J. Bosomworth (who was secretary of the old Avon Road Board), Mr W. T. Ward (Chief Postmaster at Christchurch), and others.

The Mairchau Hall comprises tho old Avon Road Board office and a 20-foot addition, added thereto, by the Waimairi County Council. 'Wie result is a handy litt-16 hall, adjoining which is to be placed a slot telephone by the Telegr-ph Department.

How Mairehau came to receive its namo is interesting. When the residents constituted theii' district they looked round for a suitable name to confer on it. ' They preferred a Maori one, and an inspiration camc to thcui when thoy read the account of the marriage t>i Miss Mrnrehau Rhodes to Major Hutton, 33.5.0. Tho name .struck them a* an euphonious one. and being graceful for the many favours received by the district from Mr and Mrs

A. E, 0 ' Ithodes, they docided to pay them a pretty complimcnt by naming the district after their daughter. After Mrs Staples had formally declared the .hall open yesterday, the company partook of afternoon tea in the buiiding and a tairly lengthy toast list was gone through. Air W. J. Walter presided, and read apologies for absence from Colonel the Hon. 11. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., the Hon. D. Buddo, M.P., Mr L M. lsitt, M.P., and others

.Mr S. A. Staples proposed the toast of the "'New Zealand Parliament." In doing so he criticised the way Parliament dealt Avith local government bills. He coupled the toast with the name of Mr A. K. G. Rhodes, an ex-member of Parliament.

In responding, Mr Rhodes, who was received -with applause, said it was over 23 years since he had responded to tho toast, therefore he could not plead guilty to being one of those responsible for not putting through tho County Bill. It was, however, very hard to please everyone in these respects. In any case, Mr Staples would bo the h;st one to criticise the members of Parliament for devoting their whole attention to winning the war and lookng after our boys, to the exclusion of other matters.

The chairman proposed the toast of "Tho AVaimairi County Council, and Local Bodies." Ho considered local bodies -should take over control of rjl halls in their districts, so that any deficiency could be made good out of rates, all, therefore, bearing their share of the cost. The residents of the Mairehau district had to thank I the member* of the "Waimairi County Council for what they hsd done in improving the hall. Mr Walter, in conclusion,, urged an extension of Jbhe tramways system towards Mairehau. In responding, Mr Staples stated that the alterations to the hall constituted a great improvement, and the cost was small. Ho claimed that- the district was in a much bet'ter condition since the inception of the AVaimairi County than in the old days of the Avon Road Board. The Riccartor people were in the same position. Mr J. A. Fleshcr, whose name was also coupled with the toast, said lit felt it an honour to belong t 0 tlu C'hristchurch Tramway Board, whicl was considered to be the best loca { body in Christchurch. In regard t<. I the chairman's hint- that he wanted 1 thirty-chains tramway extension, lie (Mr Elesher) would 'ny: "Everything comes to him who waits" : but the | Board's finances were coming to thai stage that no extension would be granted in the future without the closest scrutiny. He claimed that the Christchurch tramway system was the second largest in Australasia. Sydnt-v ' being the largest, and yet the system ]i.-id managed to pay its way, due to the splendid staff', and tho low cost of working. , The present system was able to cope with a population of a quarter of a million. The population was extending northwards, and in course of time; must come Mairehau way. Air E. Baker proposed the toast oi "Our Boys at the Front," coupling it with the name of Major Hutton, D.S.O Major Hutton, in responding, stated that, perhaps it might not Be very long now before they would be welcoming their bovs back. He had the honoui t-o serve" with a Canterbury regiment, and he could testify to the excellence of the men, and considered an; other officer could back }iim up in his statement. Everybody at _ Home realised and appreciated the calibre ol the New Zealanders, and thanked the Dominion for its Expeditionary Force At tho beginning the Germans had spread some very wild stories about the jMew Zealanders, but they had now learnt to respect them. On behalf ol His wife, he thanked them for the greal compliment they had paid her ir naming the district after her. Mr J. Haughey proposed the toafii of "The Visitors," coupling the toa-si with the names of Mr and Mrs A. E G. Rhodes, and Mr AY. T. Ward. Mi Haughey, on behalf of tho residents thanked Mr and Mrs Rhodes for whai they had done for the district. Thcii latest act had been to present the hal with a beautiful piano out of then own home, which, was greatly apprc ciated by the residents of Mairehau

Thcv also •wished t-o thank Mr Ward for tho postal facilities lie had provided.

Mr Rhodes, in responding, gav'O so mo intcrestin«x rominisconceft of his oarjy connexion with tho d'striet. Tho first cloction ho had over fo"Rhfc was in tho Mairchau. During tho p:ist thirty-fivo years ho had seen a Rood deal of the district, and done his bestto help it- forward. N"o help was, howover. roquirod, for the. settlors were of the rifrht sort, and tho land of the right- quality. As a small l>ov Jic had gone picnic-king in tho district, and over sinco then he had on, many occasions lieen the puest of tho residents in tho old schoolroom and in tho Marshland Hall. They had worked together in the past, anil ho was of opinion that they would work together in tlip interests of the district in the future. He always felt great pleasure in motoring round Mairehnu, but as Mr Flesher said, it would in course of timo bt-como n part of Cliristclnm-li. "When that time arrived, the residents would require a bigger hall. Mr Rhodes, in conclusion, stated that his family considered it a great compliment that tho residents had chosen "Mairchnu" as the uamo of their district.

Mr "Ward said the postal facilities in Mairchau, so far. ivero not groat, but tho district would not stand still. Postal facilities -were not easy t-o obtain just now owing to the great demand made upon. Lhe postal funds. The ltev. C. Stringer also responded.

Mr F. Sisson proposed tho toast of "Tho Old Avon Road Board ivnd Old Identities," coupled with tho names of Messrs C. Waiter, McFadden. and I. Parish.

-Mr c. 'Walter responded. Mr Staples proposed the toast- of "The District of Mairehau.'' The name "Mairehau," he said, -was an euphonious one, and a. pretty one. He thought it denoted a pretty shrub, and he fplt sure it denoted a pretty lady. Looking around the room they saw smiling faces, and there was not one hut looked healthy, which demonstrated the feet that Maircliau was a healthy district to live in. He knew of the days when the place was a swamp, which made him realise the heavy amount of work -which must have been put in by the. pioneer settlers in bringing' the district to its present prosperity.

The eha'rman, in responding, described how Mairchau crone, into being as a separate district. About ten months before, lie said, they had some hoys leaving for the front, and'it was desired to farewell them. None of the outside district,;, however, recognised this part: it was not Marshland, it w«s not St. Albans: in fact, itvwat "No Man's Land.'' The residents decided to give the boys a social, at whieh tho people enjoyed themselves. Thai lL was decided to give the district a name—for choice a Maori one. Three or four Maori names were suggested. Just at that time Miss Rhodes wivs married, and residents thought her Christian name, "Mairchau." would be a very pretty one. Mr Walter went on to dcscribc what Mr Rhodes had done for Mairehau and Marshland. He had found the school ground, ho had found the church ground and practically built the church, he had subscribed largely to the Marshland Hall, and liberally helped picnic*, sport, etc. Therefore it was decided by tho residents to cali the district "Mairchau." They all swore by it, liec&nse it was the: prettiest name under the sun. Mr Walter went on to stato that when Mr and Mrs Rhodes found the hall had not a piano, they had provided one out of their own house. For this the residents were greatly indebted to them. In conclusion, ho stated that instead of Mairchau. in course cf time, joining Greater Christchurch. Greater. Christchurcli would join Mairehau. Other toasts Qroposed were '-The Ladies," "The Press." and "The Chairman and Mrs "Walter."