BLUFF TEMPERANCE HALL

Southland Times, Issue 14578, 19 November 1910, Page 2

BLUFF TEMPERANCE HALL

For some years past the ladies who comprise the Bluff branch ot the W.O.T.TJ. have been working energetically in the direction of prot filing a retu.ing room for the youths ot the town and also a hall which might lonn a cent c for temperance propaganda On \\ ednesday thev attained the fruition or then hopes and' efforts, and at their request the Mayor of Campbelltown (Air iv Xichol) performed the ceremony of opening the hall which lias been recently erected in Barrow street in a cenliai position in the town. There was a considerable attendance at 3 p.m., and the Mavor in his opening remarks narrated the history of the 'effort from the time when the branch, started in 1201, and with a capital of £l, borowed another £1 and paid a deposit on the section on, which they stood. Since that time the efforts of the ladies had been unremitting and Ihev had paid off the cost ot the section and arranged for the erection ot the handsome building which now stood upon it. . , , •The Mavor was presented bj Moodv, on*behalf of the branch, with a gold key and, unlocking the door, he declared the hall opened. Inside the building a short service ts as held in which the Revs. Dudley and Bal-hley took part, and Mrs Baird, 1 resident of the Invercargill branch of the W.C.T.V., gave an interesting address in which she reviewed the work of the organisation as a whole in the cause ot temperance and social uplifting. Afternoon tea was dispensed and at the close the Mavor tendered the thunks of the ladies to Mr James Walker who had acted its architect and to Mr Chas. McPherson, the contractor, for the exccdlent work they had produced. The building stands in a prominent position on a rising section close to the English Church. It contains in the front two free rooms, one of which is to be used as a reading-room and the oilier for friendly society meetings, and the work of the W.C.T.U. Through a commodious vestibule a l ar se hall is reached capable of seating* 200 people. There is a small stage and proscenium and two waiting rooms in the rear with kitchen attached. . In the evening a conversazione ttas held and the building was crowded, the Mayor again presiding. An excellent musical and spectacular programme was provided, songs being rendered by Meschunes Dudley and East and Messrs Richards and Strang (of Invercargill), belli of whom were re-called. A pianoforte ■-■olo was given by Miss Winifred Forest. V tableau entitled "The Congress ot Nations" was staged in which a number of young ladies attired in the costume of various nationalities foreshadowed the day when the whole world would he governed bv temperance principles. Addresses were given by Messrs J. J. Wesney, f S Baxter and A. Dewe, and at the cio-e the chairman in tendering thanks on behalf of the ladies to all who had assisted, especially those ladies and gentlemen who had come from Invercargill, intimated that the result, of the days’ effort bad been £l2, ami bespoke Ibc intercsl of the audience, in a bazaar to reduce the debt, which would be held early in December. Thanks lo the chairman concluded the proceedings.