LOBURN HALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15920, 4 May 1912, Page 7

LOBURN HALL.

SUCCESSFUL OPENING FUNCTION. Tho Coronation Hall, erected between North and South Loburn to mark tho Coronation of King George, was formally opened on Thursday evening at a well-attended gathering' of folk from all parts of the district. Mr R. Bailey presided, and tho opening ceremony was performed by Mr George Forbes, membar for tho district. The chairman said that the hall was an important adjunct to tho social life of the district. It had been erected by a generous response to the appeal for subscriptions. Tho Government had given n grant of £75. and the Road Board £2O, while the people of tho district had subscribed £lll, a total of £2C(i. Tho contract prico had been £193 10s, excluding extras amounting to £S. Tliis left a balance of £4 10s. Tho furnishing of the hall would probably run to £SO or £GO, and the committee had borrowed tho money on personal .security at 6 per cent. He desired to thank the subscribers for their munificence, and he was suro that their generous support would bear fruit. (Applause.) Mr Bailey then called on Mr Forbes to officially open tho hall. Mr Forbes said that he was particularly pleased to bo present at so important a function to the district, and no was certain that the hall would bocome a social centre for young and old folic. It was of primo importance that such buildings ■should bo erected throughout the country a 3 they tended to keep the young folk from drifting to the towns. Personally, he thought very little- of a country district that had no facilities for dancing, and ho congratulated tho district on its enterprise in erecting so fnio a building. He wished success to tho hall and tho people of Loburn, and ho regarded it as a privilege to declare the hall open for business and pleasure. (Applause). A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the member for his attendance, and Mr Forbes briefly replied. A musical programmo was contributed by Misses Humphreys and Edith Hodges, Mrs Visor, tho Rev H. E. East and Messrs Chin, Taylor and Smith, Miss Humphreys playing tho accompaniments. Dancing was then kept up till an early hour in the morning.