WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

New Zealand Mail, 30 December 1892, Page 29

WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

THE NEW BUILDING. LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Wellington Working Men's Club's new building, which is now being ereoted at the corner of Victoria and Meroer streets, took place on Wednesday week, and passed off with great auooees. There was a large attendance of members r,f the olub and others. Amongst those present, in addition to the officers of the olub, were Messrs J. Duthle, G. Fisher and Dr Ne vman, M.'sH.R , T. K. Maodonald, T. J. W. Gale, O. F. Worth and others. The President of the olub (Mr P. Hutson), having expressed hie pleasure at eeeing eo many presont, referred to the great prjgress the club.had made since its foundation, which was shown by the fait that they were now able to ereot a building of their own.

The Seoretary (Mr 0. T. Williams) then read an address from the committee to Mrs Hutson (wife of the president), which stated that the club had been in continuous operation for over 15 years, having been established in July, 1877, and was, the oommltee believed, the first to receive a charter, and although it has had its vicissitudes, it was now, and has been for many yean, in a healthy and prosperous condition. The club first ooramenoad operations in very humble premises in Taranaki place. These were soon found to be inadequate, and in 1878 they transferred their quarters to a building adjoining the Opera House, in Manners street, which had been specially built to suit their requirements at that time. To commemorate the opening of those premises, an Art and Industrial Exhibition was held on July Ist, 1878, in the club rooms, showing what could be aohievod by working men of the institution. To the gieat misfortune of the olub, it had orly oocupied these premises twelve months when the disastrous fire which ocourrcd in June, 1879, completely destroyed the building and almost the whole of the property belonging to it, a calamity which it took some years to reoover from. Since then .the club had occupied premises at the corner of Willis street and Lambton quay, and for the past seven years at the corner of Willis street and Manners itreet. At the last annual meeting it was determined, a» the olub had outgrown the present aooom. modation, to ereot new premises of its own, aod a committee was formed for the purpose of giving effect to the resolution, and it is through the efforts of that committee that they were now assembled to lay the foundation stone of an institution which would be a credit to its members, an ornament to the city and an institution whioh they were sure all working men would ore long be proud to be associated with. Mr A. Fraser (oontraotor for the building) then came forward aod presented Mrs Hutson with a silver trowel, whioh bore the fDllowing inscription :— * Presented to Mrs P. HutsoD, wife of the President of the Wellington Working Men's Club, on the occasion of her laying the foundation stone of the new building, Victoria street, December 21st, 1892.' The trowel was supplied by Mr T. A. Coltman, of Willis street. The President then plaoed in a cavity underneath the etoue, which wao suspended just above its future position, a prune bottle containing a record of the club, past presidents, list of the present offioers, with names of the architect of the building (Mr P. F. JaoobseD). and the oontraotor. Copies of the previous d»y'e Post and Press, and yesterd «y morning's New Zealand Times, ooples of the club's rules and the last halfyearly b.lanoe-sheot, and a member's oard. The stone—a piece of Timaru bine metalwas then lowered into position at a corner of the building facing Vlotoria street, and Mrs Hutson, tapping it with the trowel, deolared it duly laid. The stone was inscribed as follows : -' Working Men s Club and Literary Institute (established 1877). This stone was laid A. D. 1892. P. Hutson, President.' Mrs Hutson then in a few words thanked the members of the olub for tbe honour they had oonlerred upon her ia allowing her to perform Buch a pleassnt ceremony, and expressed a hope that the olub would be Bucoessful in all its future efforts. , , LU Mr S. Brown, as senior trustee of the building, said he felt sure that the building would refliot oredit on its architect and builder, and on the able and judioious management of the club's president and officers. Notwithstanding the vicissitudes the club bad gone through, they were now able to erect a building of their own, and every member would feel proud of that. (Applause.) Mr Brown ooncluded by referring to the sooial advantages of the olub. Mr Jaoobsen, in tendering his thanks for the kind remarks made in referenoe to himself, said that as the architect he was proud to belong to euch au institute. He added th»t the olub had been very fortunate in seouring the services of 6uoh an able builder as Mr Fraser, who, he was sure, would C3rry oat the design with oredit to himself.

The President then invited the members and their friends to adjourn to the club's premises in Willis street, • where/ he said, ' wc can commemorate tbe day with differ* eat r ait eahmoats.'

An adjournment was accordingly made to the olub, where refreshments were supplied ia the sooial hall, whioh was crowded with guests, amongst whom were a number of ladies. Mr Hutson presided. The toast of 1 Our Queen ' was proposed by the president, and drunk with musical honours Mr C. P. Worth proposed * The President and Mrs Hutson,' the President responding. The next toast was ' The Building Committee,' whioh was proposed by Mr J. Duthie, M.tf.R, who said the committee were especially deserving of the thanks of the members fcr the manner in which they had arranged the finances, and prepared the design for the new building, whioh, he thought, would provide all the necessary accommodation, and would in every way be a most attractive building, Tbe President responded to the toast. Other toasts honoured were : -' Tbe Architect and Builder,' proposed by Dr Newman, M.H.R., responded to by Messrs Jacobsen and Fraser ; • General Committee and Officers of the Club,' proposed by Mr G. Fisher, M.H.R., responded to by the President; 'Steward and Stewardess,' proposed by Mr J. Maodonald, responded to by the Steward (Mr R. Eeld) ; • Mr J. O. Goodfellow,' proposed ky the President and responded to by Mr Goodfellow. This toast was honoured with great enthusiasm, Mr Goodfellow havingadvanced tbe money for the ereotion of the new building. * The Ladies' and « The Press,' were also toasted. In the evening a ' social ' was held, several hours being spent very enjoyab'y by tho members aod thoir friends.

The building, which occupies the corner of Victoria and Mercer streets, almost immediately opposite the Free Public Library, will be constructed of briok,on the modern Italian design. The principal entrance is situated in Victoria (street, aud will lead to the main ba'l. Leading from this hall will be the refreshment room, 28ft by 20ft, and bar, 20ft by 10ft. There will also be provided a billiard room, 45ft by 2lft, two oard rooms, a visitors' room, eaoh 19ft by 12ft, a committee room 14ft by 12ft, and a toilet room, 12ft by Bft. Directly above the billiard room will be the social hall 55ft by 18ft Gin, which will contain a stage 28ft by 10ft. The reading room, and library will be opposite the hall, and behind these rooms will be the steward's and stewardess' apartments. All the rooms will be nicely fitted up and no effort will be spared to make the building as oomfortable as possible.