BALCAIRN HALL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18670, 20 April 1926, Page 3

BALCAIRN HALL.

; OFFICIAL OPENING. A largo and representative gathering of people from all parts of the district attended tho opening of the Balcairn Public Hall on' Friday night. On behalf of the Hall Committee, Mr J. Fitzpatrick'^ chairman) formally welcomed'.'the visitors; present, and then called on Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., to open; the hall. • ~.,,< Mr Forbes said that a public-hall was very necessary in all country, districts, as it was usually the centre of all social activity, and was the-means of preventing the young people from growing tired of the life in the country and seeking fresh interests, in the towns. It had taken a- great.deal of energy, to get-things going. Mr O Smith greatly helped by giving a site. One-half, of the money had been raised by issuing debentures, and the ladies had greatly assisted in finding the other half. They .had organised a garden fete, which had been a bumper success, and had finished paying for the hall, and had also provided funds towards a piano. The Balcairn people were fortunate in securing the services of Messrs Hales Bros., who were to be praised for the. very excellent job they had made of the building. The ;timber was of the best, and they had put up a first-class building at a very low price. He congratulated the people of Balcairn on having erected such a handsome building, which no doubt would supply the needs of the district for some years, and. in conclusion had much pleasure in declaring the hall open for social purposes. . Mr J. D. Wylie,. chairman of the Kowai' County Council, . was then called upon to address the gathering. He. had attended the garden fete at Bingley, and he felt that the ladies deserved special praise for their efforts in raising such a large sum of money. He thought the hall a very fine one, and should meet all the requirements of the district.

The following programme was then provided:—Waltz, Sefton Jazz Orchestra; song, Miss Morrison; lancers, Sertoli Jazz. Orchestra; so'hg, Miss G. -Baillie (Rangiora); schottische, Sefton Orchestra; song, Mr North "(Kaiapoi); Boston two-step;. Highland step dance, Miss.Buseh (Ainberley); schottische (extra), played by Mr and Mrs Sangster; recitation, Mi6s Baird (Sefton);' Do Alberts, Sefton Jazz Orchestra; one-step (extra), Miss G. Hibbard; song, Mr McAiilay (Kaiapoi); lancers, Sefton Orchestra; recitation, Miss Chamberlain (Sefton); velett'a; Sefton Orchestra; one-step (extra), Miss Freeman (Christchurch); waltz, Sefton Orchestra;'"Boston two-step, ..Sefton Orchestra \, De Alberts, Sefton .Orchestra; ,imp. waltz, Sefton Orchestra; waltz. The. .accompaniments for. -the vocal items ■w'ere played by Mesdamcfi AVimsett and Wylie (Kaiapoi)',' and , Miss Bailee (Rangiora). Th'e'iakings at the door amounted to £26 15s6d.