RANGITATA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 7672, 19 January 1918, Page 3

RANGITATA.

riITLAUTKS’ MHMUKTU. HALL. Oi’ILNINCi CLUBMUMTS. On Thursday evening, Hth Humarv, the iioldiers’ Ale,modal Hall at Uanigsitala was formally opened. H is iC splendid brick, building, and stands in a central position in the township, dose to the railway station, and facing north. Uis built on a concrete foundation, and lias a total length, including loau-to, feet, vdh a width of Tl feet. .Ihe main hall measures alt feel by dd feel, and the leau-lo -0 Ee e ,t x ‘-L feet. A dado of T. and <l. lining, ■' feel high, runs round Ihe interior of the Hall, and above (hat the walls are plastered. Tim ceiling is of Tf and G. lining. Thu floor is of heart of f.otara. Light is admitted by 0 large easement, windows, with (fanlights. There is (l nice stage. 18H. x Bft., and 2ft. high- At night light is provided by a number of largo Rochester kerosene lamps, but it is hoped later on lo instal ft ga» system of lighting. All the wood work

has been well oiledi Then; is comfortable seating for fully 2(M pcisons, and there is room for more when it is rotjuired. The lean-to is divided into a ladies room) (on the west side), loft, x Tift., gentlemen’s room von east side) lioft. x 10ft and ladies' eloak-rcom (at the icai) ISft. x Ift. In both the ladies’ and gentlemen’s rooms there are open ((replaces, that in the ladies' room being the larger one, to enable it to bo used for the boiling of hotwatei for social gatherings. At (he trout- is a neat porch, oil. x sft., and above this is painted t-ho name of.tte Hall • “Rangitata Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. The roof is a gable one. The section is three-eighths of an acre, and was purchased from the Laud Board. It has been well fenced. There arc two

entrance gates, a small one—opposite iha entrance—and a large one to the oast for the admittance of cars. A concrete path leads from the gateway to (he front entrance. The Hall wall be an ideal one for social gatherings, and it will also supply a much-felt want by providing the Minialuio Rilio Club with a 70ft, range. This is provided for by a trap door being made in the wall separating the ladies' room from the main hall, and provision, being made,for tha removal of a section of the stage for tho purpose. The Miniature, Hide (dub will how have an ideal range, and bo able to practice in comfort, and this .should materially strengthen the membership. The Hall Commit' too consists of Messrs D. G. Cain (chairman), K. R. McDonald (secretary), W. M. Yates, H. 11. Cain, A. Louden, C. R. Ellis, C. H. Moss, and If. Walts, and the district is greatly indebted to thorn for their energy

mid perseverance. On Thursday evening the weather iwas ideal, and when the opening hour arrived there must have been fully 200 people present, vi«tor* coming ifrom all parts of the district. Among those present were. Mr D. Grant (Chairman) and Mr J. JEllis (member), representing the (IV lnuka Eoad Board, and Messrs Ashley- and Wilkinson (members of the Geraldine Road Board). The honour of opening the Hail was very properly conferred on the Chairman of the Temuka Road Board, that, body having, as trustees of the Temuka portion of the Hobson Trust, provided the greater part of the money required for the building of it. In calling upon Mr Grant to open the Hall, Mr W. M. Yatesi who acted as chairman for the evening (in the absence of the chairman, Mr U. Q. Cain, who had sustained a said «iouieatic bereavement) 'salid they 'hsald gathered together to open the Itangiiata Soldiers' Momorial Hall. Kangitatu was a rather isolat'M place, but it could now boast of a fine hall, •that would do credit to any district.

Mr Grant said it gave bim great pleasure to perform the ceremony of opening such a lino building. For its erection there was no doubt much credit was duo to the, late Thomas Hobson, from whose estate much oftbe money needed for the erection of the Hall had come. 'Probably very few of those present knew the late Mr Hobson. Ho was a neighbour of the speaker’s, and ho was sure there, was

no bardic worker or more honourahihi mail' in New Zealand. 11c bad a dairy farm near Temuka, and had to ■work hard, but busy as he was ho look groat interest in football, and always attended the local matches. At the time be (’the speaker) was playing, lie never knew Mr Hobson to miss a match. When he died ho loft the whole of his money to bonoDl recreation purposes. In the way of music, libraries, halls, parks, and so on. When the Bangilala Committee approached the Tctuuka Road. Hoard for a grant from the Trust they were met sympathetically, the only stipulation made being that the building should be in brick. This was the first Hall for which a grant had boon made before erection, and the Boa-cl thought it right that it should be a substantial one. The Board had helped with other .buildings, but they had been erected before this fund was available. 'lbis Hall was a credit to Rangitata, and he hoped there would soon bo many move in the township to equal it.—

(Applause.) Air Grant (hen unlocked th? doors, and declared the Hall opened, and i't •was not long beforn It was filled. Thu programme was commenced with the singing of the National Anthem-

SYMPATHY. Tim chairman (Mr Yutea) said> b«foi\i thoy wont, o.u with the iin>gnuuin« Lliei-Q mis a duty to perform that (hey must noi omit. Must of them uiTo a'.varc that two well-known ami highly respected ic.sideuLs had recently died. One, Mr Henry MeCdelland, had reached the allotted tipan of lil". and his work was accomplished. 'l'll'.' other, Mrs I). 0. Cain, had ion «>n»' inscrutable, reason been called ivlion it might have, been reasonably expected that sh.i hail many more years of uselujuess imfore her. Shu was a (rue wife, a yood mother, a staunch friend, ami a noieh'nonr. Slu.! had been ill for a very time, l.ml her last months had 'ne.'ii [months of nsyom . Her troubles were. now mill', and the «■,,■< at rjal. lb: asked those present to pay a tribute to the. dead, and show their sympathy, with Ihe 11 viiii,' by standing in sill nee with bowed he.il<. OPKNINC; KKMXKKS.

Mr Vales then gave a hearty welcome to all present, especially men tioning the members of the Hoad Hoards. He thanked the performers, and those outside the Hall Commit - ice who had assiseed in the, erection

of the Hall. This was a “red letter day’’ for Rangitata ; there was nothing approaching il hitherto in its annals. Tin; huddle - was an excellent one. It was designed and creeled by Air Troll, and was a .-iglitly and solid structure, that would ho a valuable legacy 'to, South Canterbury. Lot- them think for a moment (hat in the building they were now seated in others would be sea tell IHO years hence. The contractor was Air 'lrott, and the subcontractors AH' IT Berry ( 1 env.ika) j.rick work, Mr Berry (Timaru) plaster work, and Mr I’eelv (Gerald it>-.;) plumbing. Ho could not let the op-

portuiiily pass for giving nnstiukii praise- to th:>ii- secretary, .Mr I’- «• McDonald. But for him Llie Hall would never have been erected. No dilliculties daunted him. (Applause.) Mr Vales said ho had wondered why their secretary wanted so particularly that the lierakline Road Hoard ,-hotdd ’no represented, but at last the reason had dawned on him. and it was simply “oot.” ‘So he would advise them to keep an eye on Mac, who no doubt would be after then' to unloose their pursc-stpings. He read a telegram from Mr D. G. Gain, stating that lie- was eNceediugly sorry he would not bo able to bo present at the opening. '.I ho Chairman of the (Icraldinc County Council (Colonel Mackenzie) was to have unveiled the. Roll of Honour, but unfortunately ho was unable lo come-, and Mr -I. J. Kills had kindly consented to take take his place. Mr 0. Smart, a member of the I’emuka Road Board, had sent an apology. 'He took occasion. to thank the Rev. C. -I. dot. ker (Geraldine) and Miss Bates (-Tomnka), who, at very short notice, had wry kindly brought performers lo Hangitata. The program-mo for the evening was arranged by Mi; Troll. (Applause.) The Secretary, Mr hi. R. McDonald, read a statement showing the receipts and expenditure/ in connection with the Hall Dr. : Contract price for hall, £533 ; sect ion, ;C8 lbs ; charges, for, registration of Hall Commillee, lis; fencing ma'lerial and furniture, £2l PSs (id ; interest, £l-3 ills ; total, £609 9s (id. Cr. : ('ash donations. £ 125 Os (id ; -grant by Temuka Road Board from the Hobson Trust, £l5O ; cash to bd earned from revenue for the next *teu years, £9-1 9s ; total, ,£6-09 9s (jd, Mr McDonald said the Hall had been

insured for Clod, and Hip furniture for £2'), the preimiums amounting to C2 2s. fld per annum, which of course would also have to be found in addition to tho interest. The subscribers to the building fund lived in all parts of the district, from the sea to the hills, and they had even got help fro tin Christehurch. The Committed hud been greatly assisted by restdent*, who did fill the carting fret) of charge. This was a groat help, for the. bricks weighed 70 tons, and llu> shingle, and. sand 50 tons, and besides this there was the timber ami iron. He took the opportunity of thanking all who had helped in any way iu the erection of the Hall. (Ap-

pi a use. I ROLL OF KONOC'K. At the back of the stage is a "Roll of Honour," about, 4ft. x 2i.ft., L'ivi'ii by the local Patriotic Committee It is of neat design. At the liead are the words, '-'Roll of Ilcniour. In. memory of "Uangitata soldiers who fell iu the. grout, war," Then follow the following mimes in let(rrs of sold : Trivnte V. <•■ Yates. Callipoli,

•J5/1/I'.-,. Private A. Talke, . l'rivato K. ' ,o'Neill, ' t^UipoH, i-./8/10. l'rivato L. W. Hill, Franco, •il./'.'/10. l'rivato .f. T. licarn, Franco, 15/0/17. l'rivato ■'. A. 'l'atoi. J'Yanco, L'l/B'l7. I'IV place and ilalo of l'rivato Talk's death will bo lillcd in lator.) The Uoll of Honour wn» voibxl witli a Now Zealand Ensign.

Mr Mllis said his task was not a very pleasant one, though he felt it to he a great honour. Colonel Mackenzie wa* to have pcrSormod it, but n[.fortunately could not bo present. He, (Mr Mills) was acquainted with nil the young men whose names appeared ~n the roll, six in number, and it ,was lilting that their names should be written ill letters of gold, for they had (lone their duty well. He than referred in brief but foaling term? to the young men who had given their lives for their country, and said they

[had died in n noble cause. lift sinjeeroly hoped that (hr war would (toon, ho over, and limb no morn names would haw lo bo added to jI he list. lie. was glad Ihal (hoy had ( tilled Ihr building liny with la the Soldim s’ Memorial Hall, and ha hoped they would soon have the i.lipoid iMi.il \ of wel ei) 111 iny in it I hoi r iiii'n who wiTr now al lluv war. Il j was a substantial Hall, and should last for hundreds of years. He impel ihal. for many yours returned soldiers Would meet, in it, ami mingle with tludr friends. (.Applause.) Air Kllis then unveiled (ho Roll tiinkl deep silence.

Till'. Cl)\f lilt T. liio programme was one of the best e’er given at Rangitata. Most of the 'performers came from Temnka and i.ierukliiio and the audience were *leliglitod. AH tastes were ealc-red for -■ the sentimental, serious, and huniomr oils—-and the result was u great success, almost, every item being encored. The following were the items : 1 Pianoforte solo, Mrs Morgan; song, ‘■.Shipmates,'’ Air Tiiotl (encore, “Khaki Tads'’); song, “Homeland,’’ Miss Bates ; song, “Cornish Floral Hanee,’’ Air Kniib’hi (encore “Moantains of Alorne”); duet, “Vo Banks and Braes,” Airs Cameron and AUss Rogers (encore “iieho”) ; humorous song, in character, “Polly,” Mr Sainfoin (encore “Under the Circumstance's”) ; songi .Miss Chapman (encore "Mother lAlaeliree’') ; song, “My Old Shako,” Air Morgan ; song - , Miss Rogers, (“The Girl in Alaori i .and” (encore “The Great Red Hawn”) ; clever exhibition of club swinging, Air AT Camcipn (encore, display) of axe swinging given) ; song, ‘‘Love is meant lo make us glad,” Airs Cameron (encore “The 1 ilae-eoloiired Gown”) ; song, “New /calami will bo there,” Air Kiv'dib (encore “i’lio Hepartment a I Store”) ; ■song, “Hoses,” Aliss Rogers ; humourous song, “The Goose Step”’ Air Salmon (-encore, musical monologue, “Tf did go.”).

I'he chairman then thanked Ih > performers for the treat they had given the audience, and hoped they ’.could all l;o back at Rangitata before long. lie also thanked the anti fence, ami all who had contribute! in any Way lo I lie success of the function. The accompaniments were, tastefully played by Mrs Salmon, Mrs Morgan, Mrs Knibb, and Miss Rogers. ’Hie seats were then re-arranged, and all were given a nice supper, and this being over a short dance was held.