POHANGINA HALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 117, 17 April 1934, Page 8

POHANGINA HALL

NEW BUILDING OPENED. ADDRESS BY HON. J. G. COBBE. Not for many years has Pohangina seen as large a gathering as that of last evening when the new hall was opened in the township. The entertainment took tlie form of a social and dance, and although tho hall is by no means small it was crowded to capacity. Dunce music by a professional orchestra was interspersed with vocal and instrumental items, and the entertainment, which continued until late, sel a standard of enjoyment for the now building that should be hard to maintain. Feeling the need for a hall to serve the district, residents took action in approaching the Pohangina County Council, and, through that body, a special rating area was formed. The hall was expected to cost £6OO, but as matters eventuated its cost was just over £4OO. Even so, with its dimensions, 66 feet by 44 feet over all, the best of material was used throughout, and it stands now as a credit to tho district and its designer and builder. Heart of riniu and heart of matai were used with the best of effect. A heart of matai floor showed last night that in a short time it will be exceptionally fine as a dance floor, and the walls and ceiling are carried out in expert blending of colour that has brought about a particularly lmppy result. The walls are lined to above head height with riniu. A green lining then leads into a white ceiling. The stage is permanently fitted with wings and a supper room 50 feet long and 10 feot wide, with open fireplace, copper and kitchen appointments, leaves nothing to bo desired in that direction. Both dress-ing-rooms are ample in size and dose to the main door, while the general finish of the hall is carried out in a neat style which will obviously stand the test of many long years. In introducing Hon. J. G. Cobbe, member for tlie district, who declared the hall officially open, Mr S. J. Strahan, the chairman of the Pohangina County Council, heartily congratulated the ratepayers who had formed the special rating area so willingly to provide tho funds. Their decision had been, he believed, a unanimous one. Their action had been a fine gesture for the council and bad made tfio building of tho hall very much easier. There had been some settlers further from the immediate proximity who had not been so much interested, but all had readily given their consent to tho special loan. The county engineer (Air D. Watson) deserved credit for the design of the building, and the builder for his fine workmanship. A particularly fine ball had been erected when the amount of money at Mr Watson’s disposal was considered. Everything used in the construction had been of the very best. First thanking the County Council heartily for extending him the invitation to open the building, Mr Cobbe congratulated all who had been associated in the building of such a fine hall. He congratulated the designer, and the builder. The chairman of the County Council had said that certain settlers had rated their land to provide the necessary funds. The Government appreciated that spirit very much indeed, and all the more so at the present time when it had not much money at its disposal. It was gratifying to see the settlers stand shoulder to shoulder and assume the responsibility, when in nine cases out of ten others were asking for money—either from an art union or else in the form of a straight-out grant. The speaker recalled a former occasion when lie had spoken at Pohangina and said that the hall on that occasion had not been as big as the new one, nor had it approached it in appointments. The new hall would form an excellent meeting place and would be put to many uses. Mr Cobbe then declared the ball open and congratulated the settlers who had taken the responsibility of raising the money on their independent spirit, and said that everybody in the district could now say, “That is the hall we built.”

Under the capable direction of Messrs J. D. Galvin, A. Balmer and G. Wagstaff the gathering was kept going at a merry swing until late. Those who contributed items were Mr E. R. Chapman (songs), Mr A. Sundborn (guitar numbers), Misses Edwards (tap ballets in costume), Mr F. Gedson (xylophone solos) and Mr J. Jones.