KAKARAMEA.

Patea Mail, 9 March 1936, Page 3

KAKARAMEA.

NEW ADDITIONS ;TO HALL. AN ENJOYABLE EVENING. Last Tuesday was a red letter day ia the history of Kakaramea, when the residents had. the pleasure of witnessing the opening of the new supper room and additions to their popular hall. The supper room and the new dressing room for tho gentlemen and the additions to the ladies’ dressing room will fill a long-felt want, as the building, although deemed amply large enough when it was built, has proved to be too small on many occasions. 1 The popularity of the new additions was evidenced on 'Tuesday by the large number that attended the opening function, the hall being filled to its utmost capacity, over 400 people being present, the sum of £45 being taken at the door. Thanks to the generosity of the ladies who provided supper, there will bo a handsome margin for the hall fad’d when dll expenses have been paid.* The residents of Kakaramea are to bo heartily congratulated on the result of their united efforts, .which have made their hall second to .none among country halls between Wanganui and New Plymouth. The music for the dance, which was held after the opening ceremony had taken place, was in tho capable hands of Hooker ’s Orchestra, and left nothing to be desired. The playing of S. Gordon, a blind musician and a member of the orchestra, was a feature of tho evening and was greatly admired. ‘The hall and stage were tastefully decorated with streamers of red and white, the colours of Kakaran mca, and these harmonised well with the uniforms of the orchestra and gave the hall a very gay appearance. The Hall Committee are greatly indebted to the local Sports and Agricultural Association for very generous assistance in connection with the financing Of tho new work, without which help the much-needed improvements could not have been carried into effect. In the early part of the ovning Mr. Pope called upon Mr. and Mrs. Tong, now of Okaiawa, and formerly of Kakaramea, to declare the additions opea, Mr .Tong, in a brief and happy speech, said as the oldest chairman of the Kakaramea Hall Committee, ho felt it a great honour to be asked to perform the opening ceremony. Ho had pleasure in congratulating tho residents most heartily on the success of their efforts in effecting the muchneeded additions to the hall, and incidentally remarked that on the following day it would bo exactly’ 12 years since tlio hall was opened by tho late Mr. James •Gibbs, tho opening ceremony being performed on March 4, 1924. Mr. Tong then asked Mrs. Tong to turn the key in the lock of the doors of the new supper room and declare it open. This Mrs. Tong did amid applause. Tho beautiful display of ladies’ dresses lent a touch of colour to tho very largo number of dancers in the hall, amongst whom were Mr. and Mrs. 'Tong and Mrs. Chadwick, of Hawera. The local ladies arc to bo congratulated on their wonderful effort in catering for so large a number, the bountiful supper being a feature of the evening’s enjoyment. The various Ms.C, carried out their duties right royally, and saw to it that every one of those present had an enjoyable timfc.