OPENING OF THE KAHANGA CLUB, OAMARU.

Otago Witness, Issue 1947, 18 June 1891, Page 28

OPENING OF THE KAHANGA CLUB, OAMARU.

A general meeting of the members of the Kahanga Olub was held in the club's rooms on Thursday, the 11th inst., at 8 p.m. ; the president (Mr F. W. Clayton) in the chair. An apology was read from Mr Stratford for unavoidable absence. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the meeting proceeded to the election of new members. Thirty-six names were added to the club roll, whioh now numbers 95. The newly elected members being admitted, The President addressed the meeting. It was a very great pleasure to him to have been elected the first president of the Kabanga Olub. It was a great day for Oamaru when the young men could come forward in their own name without outside pressure and form such an organisation. The club was a place where differences oould be forgotten ; where men could meet on the ground of common humanity alone. The Kahanga Club, though it included members of many club?, was distinot from all. Still it was right to give honour where honour was due. It all arose from an idea on the part of the Exoelsior Football Olub that it would be well to have a meeting place where old battles oould be fought again, teams selected, and the propensity for prophesying the results of future matches indulged in. — (Laughter.) At the early meeting very few had dreamt of the scheme's assuming suoh proportions as it sinoe had done ; and hence the name " Excelsior " was given to the infant olub, despite the fact that a few far-sighted members strongly urged the adoption of a more general title. Later on it was seen that the name militated against the success of the institution, and restricted its benefits, and at an enthusiastic meeting the name was changed to that of Kahanga Club. Kahanga waß the Maori word for strength— a very suitable one for suoh a sooiety as this. The doubling of the membership had folly justified the change, He would oonclude by urging upon members that the obaraoter of the olub was in the keeping of each individual— that it rested with them individually to maintain a lofty standard, He wished the olub a prolonged and ÜBeful existence. — (Applause.) Mr Illingworth then sang that touobing song, " The little hero," and was loudly aplauded. Mr Grumitt (vice-president) then addressed the meeting. He congratulated members on the formation of the olub. It was a great success, thanks to the unanimity, energy, and ardour of every member. The name "Kahanga " was peculiarly felicitous. It signified " strength, bravery, boldness." For strength just look about them— the olub would compare favourably with any club that bad ever existed in Oamaru ; for boldneaß— that was shown in the mere undertaking of a thing that had grown to such proportions as the present gathering evidenced. He had had an idea of floating a Savage Olub in Oamaru ; the Excelsiors bad taken the wind out of his sails, and he feared that his olub would now have to be called the Salvage Olub.— (Laughter,) He warned members of the difficulties to be encountered—especially of financial difficulties j and urged upon the exeoutive strict uncompromising economy, and on the members prompt payment of subscriptions. The club would have a fine, strong, bullying treasurer, who viouldgo for members straight when their payments were in arrears. — (Laughter.) The amusements provided would wile away the long winter evenings pleasantly. He hoped to Bee gloves and singlesticks added, so that men could work off their superfluous energy there. He had two suggestions to make, both derived from the practice of Savage clubs. Should there not be' a ladies' night once a year ?„ and should there not be fortnightly entertainments by members of the club, under command of a periodically appointed chairmaD, suoh as would bring 1 out all the latent talent of the different members. This idea wasaocepted, and Mr Baker was appointed dictator for the first entertainment. He would oonoladfcby expressing his appreciation of the honour conferred upon him, and asserting his readiness to do all in his power to forward the interests of the olub.— (Applause ) Mr D. W. M. Burn sang " Playing in tbe first fifteen."

Dr Da Lautour was the nexfc in speeo\ The president hasteaid that he had come at great inconvenience to himself. That waß an error ; it was no inconvenience to him to attend such a meeting. Nothing could have prevented him from being present.— (Applause.) Mr Grummitt had complained of the Excelsior J\C. taking the wind out of his sails ; well, Mr Grummitt had taken the wind out of his, and Mr Hinton was whispering that if the present speaker said much, when his turn came he would be beoalmed.— (Laughter.) As if a gathering of that kind did not in itself afford food for thought. Ha had had no idea of the formation of such a olub in Oamaru, and was quite overwhelmed when asked to be a patron and to address them that evening. It was the very thing wanted. If ho could holp the movement in any way only let him know. — (Applause.) It came with peculiar delight to him, since about a year ago he had predicted suoh an institution free from all nonsensical clasb distinctions, He thought that the club promised at fina, strong, healthy members as any in her Majesty's dominions.— (" Ob, oh !") It was th 9 natural outcome of their surroundi<i£?a. A littlo outside holp bad been afforded. Well and Rood, but ho would advise the club for the future to etick to "itself, and show what ift was made of — (A.pplauße.) Ho wished it God spead, and every Buooess. — (Appli«u?e.) Mr Grumitt sang " Our Jaok's coma honaa

from sea to-day," and Mr Geo. Procter followed with " The midsbipmite." The Hon. Mr Shrimski spoke shortly. He had only received his invitation some 20 minutes ago at the poit office,- and was quite taken by storm. He could only say that he was rejoiced to see the youth of Oamaru coming forward of their own accord, Elsewhere suoh amusements were initiated outside, and forced upon young men. This was better ; they had the pluck to fight their own battles. He referred to tbe present' eduoational system, and from the evidence afforded by the present meeting argued it a satisfactory one in spite of all detraction. He wished the club God speed. — (Applause.) Mr E. H. Hardy sang " Anchored " in capital style. The President in calling on Mr Hinton to speak on behalf of the exeoutive said that he thought it a fitting time to say that it was chiefly owing to that gentleman's indefatigable exertions that the olub stood where it did, had such a strong membership, and suoh well furnisbed rooms. — (Applause.) • .

Mr Hinton wished to draw attention to the olub library. It was a presentation library, and numbered already some 40 volumes. They bad one set of shelves, and oould easily extend them all round the room. He hoped members would bring at least one book eaoh to the library, to increase its usefulness. Mr Shrimeki had offered to help them. Would he get them a subsidy I— (Laughter — in which Mr Shrimski's reply was drowned.) He trusted that every member would help the executive— they were strong, but not all-powerful — to enforce rules and maintain (he high onaraoter of the olub. Mr Clayton bad spoken of his efforts on behalf of the olub. He had worked heart and soul for it, and bad earned the soubriquet of the " best beggar in town " ; but it was not his doing— it was the good men of the cause that had achieved success. He referred to the two football banners on the wall. There was a blank space — room for the third. He thought it a pity that offence had been taken by a whole football olub because a member happened to be blackballed. He thought that a motion should be passed assuring that olub that there was no ill-feeling whatever against it as a club ; and he honed the other banner would soon hang there beside its mates. He was a better worker than speaker ; be could work like a nigger, but the words would not come. He had meant to add more, but would leave it as it waß. — (Applause.) The President then expressed on behalf of the club his thanks to all the donors and workers of the past three weeks, and especially to Mrs D. W. M. Burn, who had done much for them that they oould not have done for themselves.— (Applause.) This closed the formal ceremony, and members proceeded to enjoy themselves at billiards, cards, ohess. &0., while a large group gathered round the piano and made things lively with songs and ohorusea. Among the Bongs sung were the following :—

THE GREAT KAHANGA OLUB. (Wr— "Killaloe.") I. (There's a olub in Oamaru called the Great Kahanga OlubYou may see it at the corner of the street ; If it is not quite a palace, it's better than a pub, When a fellow wants his fellow men to meet. You may play a game of billiards, you may play a game of draughts ; You may play a game of cards, a game of ohets ; You may see our brilliant wit* here shoot his oorus-

eating shafts, And a hearty laugh none ever need tuppren.

Ohobvs: You may go to other races. And see their meeting places, And seek the world all over from this town to Timbuotoo; But no one oan deny, sir— No honest man will try, sir— Of all tbe clubs we've got the best right herein Oamaru.

n. Over yonder there's the [man t who first conceived Che plan ; You'll all agree he well deserves our thanks. Next worthy I proclaim the inventor of the name That hat won so large a number to our ranks. Then the buslnets men in town, who have planked their money down, Deserve a passing tribute from your bard ; Most liberal they've been, far beyond the golden

mean, Despite tbe fact that times have been so bard.

(Ohorus.) in.

Here Yellows, Beds, and Blues? may interchange their views .On running, dribbling, taokling, screwing, scrums ; While the novice takes bis seat at the old footballer's feet. All eager to pick up bis learned crumbs. Old feuds may buried be, for in intercourse so free Oar common manhood's all we recognise : And hearts go out to hearts, free from Mrs Grundv's ' arts. While their kindly message flashes through our eyes.

(Chorus.)

Tbe club possesses two fine rooms in the A.M.P. Buildings, corner of Itchen street and Tees street. One (the smoking room) ie provided with billiard table and chesa tables, the other with card and ohese tables, piano and baokshelves. Several newspapers are to be Been, among them the Ot»go Witness ; and the presentation library is growing daily. The windows of both rooms are hung with curtains, the mantlepieces are gracefully draped and ornamented with fans, &o ; the walls are hung with pictures, while the floors are covered with linoleum of tasteful pattern. The fees are, for town members — entrance, 3s ; subscription, 6d per week, payable fortnightly ; for country members, £1 Is per annum, payable in advance ; members five miles or more from town, 10a 64. The olub, too, has made arrapgements permitting committees of football, orioket, and other olubs to hold meetings in the olubrooms free of charge, provided such clubs have 10 members on the roll of the Kahanga Olub ; and the oavdroom may be hired, on due notice, for general meetings, for the reasonable fee of ss. It iB intended to entertain visiting teams at the clubrooms in future instead of at hotels, and we believe the change will be a welcome one. Altogether the new club Batisfieß a real want in Oamaru, and promises to be an extremely ureful institution.

* E. A. H. t The singer mercifully epared his blushes. t Oamaru F. 0., Athletic P. 0., Excelsior F. O.

"ILebaau " Champagne, a superior dry vine.

At the Hokitika School Committee meeting Mr Thomas H. GilJ, Dunedin, M.A., of New Zealand University, was appointed rector of the Hokitika High School, vice Mr John F. Gammell, promoted to the inspectorship.

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