WHAKAKI HALL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17057, 11 June 1926, Page 5

WHAKAKI HALL.

1 NEW BUILDING OPENED. PAKEITA AND MAORI CO-OPERATE (Special tn the Herald.' WHAKAKI, tin's day. The native settlemnt at Whajcaki, near Wairo, was tJie scene of a large; anil enthusiastic gathering last evening, the occasion being the opening of. the new meeting house and public hall, recently completed. The attendance was large, and included, in addition to Sir James . Carroll and Chief Judge I!. N. Jones, a number of Gisborne visitors. The new building is situated on the Hereherelau 3 block, the extent of the j reserve being close to ten acres. Of this area, half has been laid out, at considerable effort, into a beautifully level sports ground, with facilities for football and tennis, and other team sports. Two and a-half acres of the reserve have been planned as a park, and the balance of the land will form the curtelage of the new hall. The formal opening ceremony was preceded by a banquet tendered to the visitors, at which Mr. "Dick" Single presided. The accommodation was severely taxed, and three sittings were served at the tables, but there was ample food for all. It was remarked that the table furnishings, with the exception of cutlery, were of native manufacture, even to the vases and fruit stands. Speeches at the opening of the hall were made by Sir James Carroll, the Chief Judge, and Dr. Collins, and enthusiastic reference was made to the great help given to the native committee by Mr. Single, who, with other pnkehns, including Mr. Stanton, had worked with the natives in organising the collection of the hall funds, and in arranging the function. Sir .lames commented that Mr. Single was himself born at Whakaki, and had shown himself ready to assist in every local movement. NOVEL DESIGN. The hail is capable of .sealing some £OO people, and is regarded as the consummation of the local eo-operat iom between the pakehfls and the Maoris. The natives have insisted that the white I people should regard the hall as always ■ open to them for their functions, in re cognition of the help given in erecting ;t. The design of the moetuig j house is rather novel, miving ueeti deemed on 6, the- natives, who departed from the traditional lines in its construction.' The feature of the building is a goflery running round the outside of the. hall, 12ft wide and roofed in.

The latter part, of the evening was given over to Die enjoyment of dancing •i.mt a sdjial programme, to winch thi'ei orchestras contributed.