HAVELOCK.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 70, 23 March 1907, Page 2

HAVELOCK.

THE NEW TOWN HALL

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

STONE.

(Own Correspondent.)

In a previous letter I related the speedy demolition of the eld Town Hall, and the new one is now going up apace,: so much so that Thursday afternoon was the date selected for laying the new foundation stone. In spite of unpropitious weather a very considerable number of people attended the ceremony, which was begun by the school children singing the New Zealand National Anthem. Mr Price, the Chairman of the Town Board, then, got to work, and deposited in,a receptacle under the stone the usual bottle, containing the usual coins, -a copy of The Maryborough Express and some other local papers, and in addition a history, compiled by Mr Matthews, of the site and its former occupants, and the inception, erection, etc., of the old Town Hall, together with the dimensions and seating capacity of the new Town Hall in course of erection. This done, the stone was then lowered to its place, declared well and truly laid, amid the shouts of the school children and others present. The stone bore the following inscription: "Havelock Town Board, erected 1907. Members: W. Price (Chairman), W. H. Smith, W. P. Simmonds, W. H. Orsman, T. D. Taylor,.W. K. Matthews (Town Clerk)." A number of | other speeches followed that of the Chairman, anticipating and prophesying success to the district in general and the town of Havelock in particular, and dwelling upon the increased means of social intercourse that the hew building provided; the better housing of the Library, of which it was hoped a more extended use would be made, and the facilities afforded for the increased amusement and instruction of the inhabitants generally. After the ceremony, Mrs Perry kindly handed round to the school children two large bowls of sweets. Then the notaj bilities following precedent adjourned |to the Board office and toasted " Suci cess to the new building." The test of the history compiled by I the Town Clerk is as follows. It was signed by all the members of the Board , and the Town Clerk previous to being put under the stone:—

" On the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the new Town Hall and Library this 21st day of March, 1907, the Chairman and members of the Havelock Town Board desire to deposit on record the following information relating thereto:—

"The land on which the buildings are being erected is part Section 78 of the town of Havelock, and was conveyed, as a free grant, under ' The Charitable Trusts Act, 1867,' by-William Henry Eyes, then Superintendent of the Province of Marlborough, to Georg© Edward Levien, William Dous-

BIT OF ALL RIGHT. " While out shooting the other day," says R.- London, merchant, Maldon (Vie), "I strained the calf of my leg jso badly that I was unable to walk, i and had to be assisted into my gig' jOn reaching home I had Chamberf lam s Pam Balm rubbed in. It certainly warmed up that part of my body, but it did the work, and, to my great relief and pleasure, all the soreness was gone by the next day, and I ! was able to walk. Cha> -Iwlai'n'p Pain I Balm is a bit of all rie'^ and T now : Bpeak from personal experience, as we ]j as a storekeeper who l ;-^ soM it for yeara." For sale by J, i>w .»,.. *

lin, and John Edward Weld, in trust, as a sit^ for a Library Institute. " In August, 1873, there was a proposal to build a Public Hall, and the premises then on the site, occupied by Mr Thomas Gwillim and family as a baker's and confectioner's shop, were removed for this purpose. The building of the hall was eA^entually entrusted to Mr Richard Jones. The main hall was completed in the year 1875, and proved a very creditable building, even up to the time of its demolition.

" On the 31st day of August, 1882, the Trustees executed a deed vesting the land and premises in the Board of Works of the Town of Havelock, and the Board (now the Town Board) assumed contrbl. Various extensions and improvements were made to the hall, notably the purchase of the old schoolhouse and its removal by Mr Charles Horton in February, 1883, from the site of the present public school to the rear of the hall, and forming that portion of the hall used as a Library and as the Board's meeting room. There was also, at a later date, th© setting-up of the stage and scenery, in which work Messrs V. C. Venimore,, W. H. Smith, G. Wakelin, the late Louis Brinck, and other took an active part. " The old hall becoming much decayed the Board advocated the erection of new buildings, and this meeting with the approval of the ratepayers at a public meeting held on 9th March, 1906, the necessary action was taken by the Board, and at a statutory public meeting held on 20th April, 1906, a resolution was passed requesting the Chairman of the Board to take a poll of the ratepayers upon a proposal of erecting a Town H&U, Library, and Town Board office. The poll was taken on 10th May, 1906, and resulted in the proposal being carried by 21 votes against 3 votes.

■ " The plans of the new hall were prepared by Mr W. KF. Matthews, Clerk of the Board, and provided for a building in rimu and matai, on a concrete foundation. The total length of the structure is 119 feet, by 33 feet in width, and a height of stud of 16 feet and 13 feet. The inside measurements are: Portico 20 by 9, main hall 52.6 by 32, stage 17 by 32, corridor 32 by 5, passage 12 by 5, two dressing rooms each 11 by 13, library, etc., 32 by 18.4. Tho floor area of the new building, inside, is 3328 square feet, and is 1014 square feet larger than that of the old building. The auditorium is estimated to seat 450 persons. " The tender of Messrs Robertson Brothers, of Nelson, at £840 18s was, accepted on 6th December, 1907, and* a start was made with the contract on sth March, 1907, the old hall being first demolished. There is every prospect of the building being completed in contract time.

"The Board heartily congratulate the ratepayers upon the progressive spirit shown in undertaking the renewal of these public buildings, and trust that the laying of this foundation stone will mark a new era in the progress and prosperity of Havelock and its inhabitants."