Bluff PUBLIC MEETING HELD

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 15

Bluff PUBLIC MEETING HELD

CELEBRATING THE CORONATION A public meeting was held in the Council Chambers for the purpose of discussing what form the Coronation celebrations would take. His Worship the Deputy-Mayor (Cr J. H. Doyle) presided and there were also present: Mesdames F. H. Pearce, R. V. Weir, A. C. McKillop; Crs A. E. Budd, W. P. Butler, H. W. Newman, O. F. Metzger; the town clerk (Mr H. A. Ferguson); the Rev. T. A. Speer; Messrs D. E. Mason, J. W. Lopdell, J. Miller, O. Johnstone, T. Finnerty, W. T. Walker, P. F. Bailey, C. West, R. N. Porter, J. Williamson, F. H. Pearce, D. Downes, W. Fanning, C. Hunter, D. Cameron, R. Sargeant. In extending a welcome, the chairman expressed pleasure at seeing such a representative gathering. At the last council meeting it had been suggested that some form of entertainment should be arranged for Coronation week, he said, and the present meeting had been convened to give those interested an opportunity to discuss the matter. As Cr Budd had been chairman at the council meeting mentioned, Cr Doyle asked him to give an outline of the proposal. Need For a Gymnasium

The matter of celebrations for carnival week had been discussed following a communication from the Prime Minister, Cr Budd said. The suggestion had come from Cr Newman that a carnival be held for acquiring funds to fit out a gymnasium. Personally, he (the speaker) thought the idea an excellent one in the interests of the young folk. It i had also been suggested that sideshows and other entertainments be arranged, if the idea met with public approval, and that the school committee be asked to house a gymnasium in part of the school building, provided sufficient funds accrued from the effort. Naturally the council did not wish to take full responsibility for a carnival. It was a matter for residents generally to decide. Cr Newman said that the need of a gymnasium had been long felt in Bluff. He had discussed the matter

with the school committee, but it was beyond the scope of the latter to provide" one. If one were fitted out, however, it would be of great benefit to the children.

Mr Bailey stated that the school committee had met the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) with the request that improvements be made in the school building. The Minister had promised the school would be remodelled. When this work was carried out there should be a suitable room for a gymnasium.

Mr Lopdell (head master of the Bluff school) said that an architect had recently inspected the building and had assured the speaker that improvements would be carried out. Few schools of the grade of Bluff were so lacking in facilities for the physical training of pupils, Mr Lopdell added. With the alterations which would be made, however, a suitable room should be available for the setting up of a gymnasium.

Mr Ferguson read the official communication dealing with the form the celebrations would take in Wellington and after further discussion, on the motion of Mr W. T. Walker, seconded by Mr W. Fanning, it was decided to hold a carnival extending over a week from May 12. Mr Ferguson was elected secretary and treasurer. Several of those present promised support on behalf of various local sporting and other bodies. The following were elected as a committee to work with the chairman and secretary in organizing the carnival: Messrs Budd, Walker, Finnerty, Newman, Butler, Miller, Hunter, Mason, West.

A letter was read from the Haere Tonu Party stating that although many members of the party were away at present those remaining in Bluff would individually assist in any effort made. Committee Meeting Immediately after the public meeting, the committee met to arrange a programme.

The official ceremony takes place at the Town Hall at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 12, and it was decided to have, a torchlight procession the same evening, beginning at 7 o’clock, from the corner of Liffey and Gore streets to the Town Hall, of sports bodies and others willing to help. The Waterside Workers’ Union, Harbour Board Picnic Committee and Railway Social Committee will be asked to co-operate in arranging a function for the children on either the same afternoon or the Saturday following. Each evening will be devoted to sideshows and the secretary was asked to write to the women of the Plunket Society and Croquet Club requesting them to assist by running a cafeteria nightly in conjunction with the sideshows.

It was left to Mr J. Miller to arrange for the necessary music during the week and to Mr W. P. Butler to confer with the Old Time Social Club as to the possibility of the latter holding a dance on Monday night, May 17. Messrs A. E. Budd, T. Finnerty, W. T. Walker, C. West and C. Hunter were appointed to take charge of the various sideshows. A meeting of the committee will take place on Tuesday, April 27, when progress reports will be received. Additional entertainments are to be arranged and as the town will be decorated with coloured lights and bunting through the celebrations Bluff should be a popular rendezvous during Coronation week. BAND OF HOPE There was a large attendance of children in Willard hall, Bluff, for the first meeting of the year of the Band of Hope. The Rev. T. A. Speer presided and after welcoming the children gave a short address on temperance. A feature of the evening was the presentation of the Band of Hope banner, Mrs Jack Walker handing it, on behalf of the Dominion executive, to the local superintendent, Mrs Speer. This banner is awarded annually to the band composed of the highest number of pledged children throughout New Zealand and was won by Bluff for 1936. It was announced that the May meeting will be mothers’ night and a programme of appropriate songs, etc., will be arranged for the occasion.

During the evening the following programme was given: Hymns, the

children; piano solos, Shirley Hart, Molly Dixon, Bertha Barnett; comet solos, Alex and Bernard Bulling; Maori songs, Isobel Cheyne, Joyce Lee, Betty Valentine, Fred Denny and Allan Lee; recitations, Gay Hannan, Grace Hart, Cecily Barton, Ada Jones, Judith Fogarty, Jean Vickery; vocal duet, Fred Denny and Allan Lee. After the roll call the meeting closed with a hymn and the benediction. W.C.T.U. The monthly meeting of the Bluff W.C.T.U. was held during last week in Willard hall. The president opened the meeting with a scripture reading and prayer, after which she introduced Miss V. Jamieson, of Invercargill (Southland district secretary) to the. gathering. Miss Jameison gave a full report of the recent W.C.T.U. Dominion conference, held in Christchurch and at the conclusion was given a vote of thanks. EUCHRE The weekly euchre tournament in aid of the funds of the Dominican Convent was well patronized on Saturday night in Willard Hall. Play was supervised by Mr L. Mortimer. The winners were: Women, Mrs W. Gilson 1, Mrs A. Plank 2; men, Mr W. Butler 1, Mr M. Kelly 2; lucky number, Mr C. Jackson. The aggregate prizes for games in the series played to date have been awarded to Mrs J. Miller and Mr W. Wills.