SOLDIERS' CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16020, 11 September 1915, Page 4

SOLDIERS' CLUB.

FURNISHING COMPLETED.

MONDAY'S OPENING CEREMONY. The energies of the committee entrusted , with the organisation of the Auckland j Soldiers* Club have been so well directed • that the rooms are now almost completely furnished. The appeal for assistance in establishing the club has resulted in cash donations being received amounting to 1 over £360, and from all quarters have ■ come welcome gifts, ranging in variety from billiard tables, presented by two private citizens, ' to" a doormat, purchased by the children of the Blind Institute with the pennies they had saved. : The opening ceremony on Monday at 3 j p.m. will not be open to the general - , j public. It has been recognised that the rooms are far too small to admit to the ceremony any but the members of the various patriotic committees, wounded and visiting soldiers, and a few representative citizens to whom special invitations have been sent. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, will perform the opening ceremony, and speeches will also be made by Mr. , George Elliot, chairman of the executive i of the Patriotic and War Relief Associaj tion, and by Colonel J. E. Hume, officer commanding the Auckland military district. The rooms will be open to the public at 4 p.m. until 10 p.m., and also on Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. At the opening function afternoon tea will bo provided by the Ladies' Committee. Subscriptions to the Soldiers' Club Fund not previously acknowledged are as fol- , lows Employees, Colonial Ammunition Company, £6 15s; .employees, Lion Brewery, Ltd.,' £4 8s; employees, Ley-. ! land-O'Brien, £3 5s j staff of A.M.P. > j Society, £2 10s 6d; staff Union Steam . | Ship Company and Miss E. Brown, each . J £2; collected by Mr. J. Cole, £1 4s 3d; j Colonial Ammunition Company, £1 Is; I employees, Kapai Corn Broom Company, ' J 16s; Auckland Rugby Referees' Associa 1 I tion, lis; H. I. Ellis, members of Waii , temata Hockey Club, H. D. Crump, and i' Allen Wainwright, each 10s; employees, , W. Handley, Bs. ' ATHENAEUM DEBATING CUP. The competition for the Athenaeum Cup, among debaters from the Ponsonby, Y.M.C.A., and University Clubs, was advanced another step on Thursday, when a debate was held at the University, be- - tween teams from the University and the Y.M.C.A. The subject was That this war will solve the problem of armaments." Y.M.C.A. spoke in the i affirmative, their team being as follows • Messrs. Aldridge, Brookbanks, and McConhell. University's speakers were Messrs. Matheson, W. M. Ryburn, and R. E. D. Kinloch. The judge, Dr. W. C. W. McDowell, awarded the debate to i University, with 284 marks, as against 271 | marks, won by Y.M.C.A- The highest , individual marks were gained by Mr. Kinloch, with Messrs. McConnell, Ryburn, and Aldridge close up- University now leads for the cup. The final contest will take place next Thursday, at the Y.M.C.A., when the prepared speech contest will be held. I ======