OPENING OTIAKE CORONATION HALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 53

OPENING OTIAKE CORONATION HALL.

A stranger coming into the district on Tuesday evening, October 10, would have been impressed with the idea that something out of the ordinary was going to happen; and justly so, for was not this the occasion of the opening of the Otiake Coronation Hall? At 7.30 the people began to gather, and by 9 o'clock the hall was crowded to the doors. In addition to residents of the district, there were . visitors from Kurow, Hakataramea, Otekaike, Duntroon, and oven Oamaru was represented. The chairman of the Trust, Mr H. G. Deal, in his opening remarks, outlined the work which had been done in the endeavour to raise funds" to build this hall, and thanked the ladies who had worked so unsparingly to make the hall bazaar the great success that.it was, whereby the bulk of the money was obtained to carry on the work, and which enabled the trust to obtain the Government subsidy. Mr John Porter, representing the Waitaki County Council, then declared the hall open, and wished them an enjoyable evening. Apologies for absence were read from Sir W. J. Steward, the Hon. T. Y. Duncan, and Mr J. A. Macpherson. Dancing to music supplied by Messrs Graham (piano) and Stroud (violin), which left nothing to be dosired, was then commenced, and carried on with great spirit until the small hours of the morning. An excellent supper was suplied by Messrs Barclay Bros., which, I have no doubt, helped considerably to the good humour prevailing during the evening. During the course of the evening vocal items were rendered by Miss Delargy, Messrs Jones and Bulleid; a Highland fling was danced by Miss" Sissie Grant, and "a recitation was contributed by Mr A. C. Buist. All the items were very much appreciated, and the Trust wish to "thank very sincerely those who contributed to the pleasure of the evening. As it would be trespassing too much on vour valuable space to go into particulars' of the building, it will be sufficient to say that visitors were unanimous in the opinion that Otiake had got a very, up-to-date hall, which would be a credit to the district. The main building was erected bv Beswick Bros., of Oamaru. The supper room and other attached buildings were the work of Messrs Peevers and Thomas, of Dtekatfv©, , w ho also supplied tho furniture. A"l the work was carried out in a manner most creditable to the builders, j