ONEHUNGA PROGRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 143, 7 September 1927, Page 13

ONEHUNGA PROGRESS

BRAY’S NEW BUILDING Buoyant confidence in the future of Onehunga was the dominant feature of the big gathering of representative citizens which assembled last night at the invitation of Messrs. H. Bray and Co., to celebrate the opening of their i fine new building in the main street of the western borough. I The firm, with generous hospitality, ’ invited a very largo number of guests from all quarters of the city and sub-; urbs. Among those present were Mr. H. Mackenzie, chairman of the Auck- ; land Harbour Board; Mr. Clark, chair-! I man of the One Tree Hill Road Board: ’Mr. K. H. Potter. Mayor of Mount | i Eden; Mr. Todd, Mayor of Otahuhu: iMr s. W. House, Manukau County j Council; Mr. W. Coldicutt. Mayor of, Onehunga; and many other men pro- | minent in the public life of the city! and suburbs. Mr. George 33aildon, j Mayor of Auckland, and Mr. W. Jordan, M.P., were both detained in Wellington, but sent ap' ’ogies for absence. The function J s held in the large clubroom occupying the upper storey of the building. With Mr. B. V. Sutherland in the ! chair, the programme went with a swing from the National Anthem to “Auld Lang Syne.” Some capital music was enjoyed between the toasts, both songs and instrumental selections being contributed. The toast of the firm of Messrs. H. Bray and Co. was entrusted to Mr. H. J. Davis, chairman of the Onehunga Chamber of Commerce, and he warmly stressed the point that the | firm, he declared, had helped to make : in the future of the borough by erect- ! ing a building costing £ 14,00ty. The! lrm. he declared, had helped to make Onehunga. Its wages bill ranged from £BOO to £I,OOO a week, and since its inception it had put down concrete roads involving an expenditure of £330,000. In his reply, Mr. Sutherland declared that although the erection of the new building had meant large expenditure, he had confidence that It would be justified in the future, and the same j opinion was' expressed by Messrs. H. ! and. L. Bray and A. Holdsworth, other j members of the firm. | Other toasts honoured were: The architect, Mr. J. Park: the builder. Mr. T. elements: local bodies. Mr. 11. Mac- ! kenzie Auckland Harbour Board) and | Mr. Todd (Mayor of Otahuhu). I Throughout the speeches endorsed ; the confidence shown by Messrs. Bray ! and Co. in the future of Onehunga. i The building contains five shops. 1 and the firm’s office, and the big club- | room upstairs.