THE INVERCARGILL TOWN HALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13206, 13 February 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE INVERCARGILL TOWN HALL.

(Feoii Our Own Correspondent.)

INVERCARGILL, February 1,

The people at Invcrcargill are to bo congratulated on the success which attended the ceremony of laying the foundation stono of the new Town Hall by his Excellency tho Govornor this afternoon. The weather was perfect, and the proceedings were successful in every detail. A prooossion started from the hospital at 2 o'clock, and marched up Dee and Tay streets, through the ranks of the Volunteers, who were posted at three yards intervals on caeh side of the street from the Club Hotel to the theatre. The procession was headed by the Invcrcargill Fire Brigade engine; then the ladder cart, reel cart, three waggonettes containing tho Mayor and councillors, Oddfellows, Municipal Baud, Foresters, Salvation Army Band, Pipe Band, and then the publio in numerous vehicles. Tho parade state of the Volunteers was as follows:—Stati—Colonels Robin, Hawkins, and Henderson, Major Boyne, Adjutants Murphy and Saunders, Quartermaster Hall, Sergeant-majors Knee, Grant, and Lonnie, Quartermaster-sergeant Ferguson,' Sergeant-bugler Sutherland,—total, 12; Battalion Band, 21 men; Bluff Guards, 24; Oropuki Rifles, 37; Colao Bay, 22; Gore, 27; Mercantile Rifles, 29; Oret.is, 51; City Guards, 45; "Winton Rifles, 37; Awarua, 30;— total, 323. Cadets: Park School, 27; South School, 62; Central No. 1, 16; No. 2, 31; Lumsden, 35; Invcrcargill Defence Cadets, 43; Bluff Defence Cadets,23;—total, 237. Southland Mounted Rifles, 62 men. Total strength of parade, 634. A large number of country visitors arrived in town by the morning trains, and tho townspeople turned out by thousands, with the result that long before the time fixed for the ceremony Tay street for a considerable distance east and west of the Town Hall site was densely packed with spectators, the dresses of the ladies and the uniforms of tho Volunteers, fire brigades, and friendly societies adding a dash of colour very agreeable to the eye. Lord Plunket is notably punctual, and close on the liour set. his Excellency, accompanied' by Sir Joseph Ward and his Excellency's aide-de-camp and private secretary, the Hon. H. Fcldwick, M.L.C., and J. A. Hanan, M.11.R., arrived at the platform, wherij they wero met by his Worship the Mayor (Mr W. B. Scandrctt), who. welcomed the Governor, and thanked him for coming so far to grace an occasion which must bo regarded as an epoch in the history of the town and district. Ho also rea<l a telegram from tho Premier regretting his inability to he present on such an important- occasion, and wishing Invereargill and Southland continued and increased prosperity. Tho Mayor then called upon the town clerk to read the scroll to be imbedded in the foundation stone. This document, which may be briefly described a-s a municipal history of Invercargill, laving been read, tho Mayor presented his Excellency tho Governor with a silver trowel, and requested him to lay the foundation stone. A slab of marble was then placed in its recess, which the Governor had lined with mortar, and scoured in its position, and Lord Plunket then declared it to bo well and truly laid. Returning to tho front of tho platform, his Excellency delivered a short congratulatory address. Brief addresses wore dolivered by Sir J. G. Ward, tho Hon. A. Feldwick, and Mr J. A. Hanan, M.H.R., the proceeding concluding with three hearty chcers for Lord Piunket.