HASTINGS ORPHANS’ CLUB.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 113, 30 April 1926, Page 6

HASTINGS ORPHANS’ CLUB.

OPENING CEREMONY. The Hastings Orphans opened their season last night, at the Hastings Assembly Hall, with due pomp and ceremony, in the presence of a large gathering of members. including visitors from the Napier Orphans and Savage Clubs, numbering, in all, close on a hundred.

Chief Orphan Commin was master of ceremonies at the impressive initiation of the new Chief Orphan, Orphan H. C. Baird, who, after being put through a solemn oruOfd, was dul v invested with the new chain of office, presented to the club by the past Chief Orphans and worn for the first time as a badge of office. It consists of nine silver plates, about one and a half by one inch, connected by a silver chain, with one plate to represent the war period (during which operations were suspended) on which is inscribed “Pro Patria. the Great War 1914-18.” The chain terminates with a larger plate setting forth that the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) is the club patron. During the proceedings the new chief was attended bv a guard of honour from the local branch o f the Klu Klux Klan, and altogether the initiation was verv solemn. At the conclusion of the Chief’s instalment, a most entertaining programme was gone through, items being contributed by Orphans Rusbatch, Thomas, Lord. Sheriff, Tidy. Chief Savage Steele (Napier) and by the Orphans’ Orchestra, who played some verv enjoyable selections. A very happy evetnng was brought to a conclusion at 11 o'clock.