OPHIR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19803, 31 May 1926, Page 3

OPHIR.

PEACE MEMORIAL HALL OPENED. (Feom Oub Own Correspondent.) OPHIR, May 27. ‘Tn my judgment there are two big redletter days in the history of Ophir during the last 46 years. The first was the opening of the Blacks bridge in the month ot May, 1880, and the second is the opening of this hall in May. 1926-” So said Mr John Clare (president of the Ophir Peace Memorial Hall) at the opening yesterday afternoon, 26th inst Ever since Ophir was founded, Mr Clare said, all local public functions and entertainments had been held in the public school; but some two years ago the young people decided that they must have a hall, and with the aid of their eiders some £250 had been raised. Mr John M’Knight undertook to erect a £7OO hall with only that sum in hand, the Hall Committee had a good secretary in Mr Austing, and the present bazaar was expected to result in considerably reducing the balance required. He called upon Mr James Horn, M.P., to address the gathering. For some days many anxious faces had looked in the directions of the surrounding mountain ranges. For 48 hours the meteorological signs were for another snowstorm or rough weather, but a smart shower before daybreak on the 25th temporarily “cleared the air,” the morning of the opening broke cloudless and calm, and the day kept so. The sun shone brightly upon some 250 people gathered outside in front of the hall and upon some 50 motor cars lining both sides of the street.

Mr Horn spoke briefly of the early days when he was storekeeping in Ophir, of his close association with the people, and of his often wondering that they did not get a hall built. Now they had got a hall. He had that morning inspected it inside and out and was very well pleased with it. Throughout it showed good workmanship, and it had a splendid floor. It was not quite finished yet, but when it would be so, the people of Ophir would have a fine hall for entertainments. He congratulated the committee who had done so well in having the hall built and the ladies who had succeeded in getting together such a display of goods, and had no doubt the effort to make up the balance would succeed.

Mr J. Ritchie (chairman of the Vincent County Council) stated that the council had that day been meeting in Clyde, and was discussing important business, but they had adjourned for a few hours in order that all might be present on the auspicious occasion- He congratulated the Ohpir people upon the erection of such a hall, built in the excellent manner in which Mr M'Knight always carried out his undertakings. He hoped that the sum required would soon be obtained. The hall flag was then unfurled and opened out above the audience as it sang a verse of the National Anthem. Mr Clare handed a key to Mr Horn. who. thanking the committee for giving him the opportunity, opened the front door. The gathering streamed inside at 3 o’clock and brisk business began, and was continued without intermission until 11.30 p.m. For two hours after 8 o’clock the available spaces between stalls and tables were crowded with fully 300 people, many of whom came from Ida Valley, Becks, Lauder, Alatakanui. Clyde, Omakau and Alexandra. A large number of the more valuable articles were raffled, and the collecting of entries for those kept about 30 young women busy moving to and 'fro. Nine stalls were under the care of ladies, while men supervised roulette and “race game” tables, Resides two imitations of “Chocolate Alley,” where roaring business was done. The excitement of stalls and games was heightened by the entry every half-hour or so of the secretary to read out the numbers and winners of several raffles which had concluded. It had been intended to close at 11 o clock, but it was 11.30 p.m. before the crowd perceptibly thinned, and at a few minutes before midnight Mr W. J. Crawford, of Dunedin, began selling by auction the articles that remained unsold. The auctioning went on merrily for over an hour, and concluded with the selling and reselling of one article no less than 19- times. At 1.30 a.m. Mr Clare thanked all who had helped in making the bazaar such a pronounced success, and specially mentioned the auctioneer. Cheers, with musical honours were given severally tor Mr Clare and Mr Crawford, and the greatest bazaar ever held in Ophir closed at a quarter to 2 o’clock. The takings for the day amounted to over £3OO and it is expected that the opening dance to-moi'row will add to this considerably. The stalls, etc., and the names of those in charge, are as followßefreshment room, Mrs J. M’Knight and Mrs Fraser; plain and fancy goods. Mrs S. Leask, and Airs Ansting, assisted by Mrs R. Craig and Mrs Holden; sweets and cakes (two stalls), Mrs D. M’Rao. Misses Pitchesand P. M'Knight: novelties (two stalls). Airs J. Craig, Alisses M. Whyte, M. List and Peak; jumble stall. Airs R.' Wadie am] Miss Eaton.; dips Airs List; raffles. Mrs Montgomery: “Susie Knows All,” Airs Guildford; fruit and produce. Constable Wroblenski; ‘Chocolate Aliev” competitions, Messrs R. Craig, J. Huddleston and 11. Morgan; roulettes, Messrs \V. Dundas and S. Berry The hall building has a frontage of 45 feet and a depth of 65 feet over all. Ihe foundations are concrete and the superstructure red pine and galvanised iron throughout, with the exception of the front, which is of poilite roughcast. The front elevation is an original design by Air APKriight. the roof ending in an ‘eaves verandah.” surmounted by a gable. Interiorly the building is lined with beaverboard above red pine dado. The main building has 14 feet walls and the ceiling is curved with a camber of 2ft 6in. so that in the centre it is 16ft 6in from the floor. Ten feet of the front is occupied bv the vestibule and a spacious committee room, succeeded by the entertainment hall. 40ft bv 27 feet, at the rear of which is a stage 14ft deep. 3 feel high, and 27 feet wide, the floor of which is very solidly supported bv five tiers of concrete a-ehes. On the east side an open alcove 7 feet in width runs the full lenglb of the building, the floor of which is raised 6 in eh o' above the hall floor, and at the stage end is the 'adie=’ dressing room. Similarly on th" west side, but not fuljv onen to the hall, is an annexe 10 feet in width rnnninc the full length, the front end of which is the men’s dressing room and the remainder the refreshment room, with seats and tables for 60 nersons Above the committee room G a room for the convenience of picture operators. The main hall i« lighted from the east by a row of clearstory nivot window', each 4 feet bv 3 feet. The night lighting is by a full complement of netrnl gas lights.