CHRISTCHURCH WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7147, 11 July 1901, Page 1

CHRISTCHURCH WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

The, twenty -first anniversary, of ; the Cflristchurch WoriLng.MenVClub was celebrated ' last night Dy a' "Sam Weller Swarry." The social 'hall was draped with military ensigns, and the stage" was deco- ; rated with weapons presented by members of the ' returned contingents from South Africa, the whole making a : most appropriately decorative, scheme. » Tables .were laid for one hundred and .tihirty. guests, and every seat, was occupied at trie at>\ pointed time. The catering was efficiently , dose by-Mr, J. Buggey,. who 'had an. able staff o£ 'assistants,'' ~ At Jthe MQJjfciJipsa},^ By ~ihe; Chairman-^*' Harris, 1 'is the swarry ready?" "Yei." ' "Tit^. remove th> kivers " ; — a repast of •" legs rb' mutton and triminins" was "served 'up .and honoured: WBim. tho "churchwardens" had" been pro- . duced and lighted up, the President, Mr J. . M.- Thompson, proposed "The King and the Royal; Family," which was- loyally received. Hie- then -read apologies for uivavoidable absence from Mr -A» E. *G. Rhodes (Mayor of Christchurch,), Mr J. Edmonds (president: of the Petone Working. Men's Club), .Mr W. ,W. Collins, M.H.R., Mr W. Simpson (president of the Kaiapqi Working Men's Olub>, Right He& ] B. J. Seddon, Mr W. E. Samuels, and oflhers, who all complimented ; the ' club on its progress,' and wished it continued prosperity. .'•-:.•• In the absence of the Mayor, Mr. C. M. Gray proposed the healthL of the President, committee and officers of. the club,, con- j gratuJating them on the success wnich had i attended- the club's 'opera titans during the period. of its minority. He thought that they had .every reason to be proud of the Mayor of the city, and the' manner* in which he had entertained- tihe Royal-visi-tors^-and, in- addition, had -so successfully conducted -the business of the city during a phenomenal period". Likewise, -he thought that credit was due- to the members of the , Council, who, though changing from time to time, had well represented tfoe interests of the citizens. He alluded, briefly toj the progressive policy adopted- 'by the Council, and, amid a considerable amount of applause, enumerated the various scientific appliances now being provided for the improved sanitation of the city. /Mr J. M. Thompson , in reply to the toast of 'his health, gave a resume of the hosiery of the club from its inception, in which he had taken a part, and gave great creu. v to tfhosa who ihad assisted him and his colleagues in developing the progress of the club. He referred to the club's library, and- the social influences which it 4iad brought to bear on the : community. He disclaimed" any idea of self-pTaise, but, as other generations might . arise who knew not Joseph, he regarded with pleasure the criticisms wihich liad at first been levelled Against the club. * They had been stigmatised as beinsj the perpetuators of o •drinking club, of a. gambling fheU.' and of all sorts of evils. But the olub had survived twentyi-one years, and stood there now, in -tbe proud 1 position of -being- one of the leading clubs of the kind in th» colony. He held that the club had justified its establishment, and- concluded amid dheers by referring to the various members wth.t> had helped to make ifc a- success. The toast of "Our Boys at the .Front," proposed by Mr M. Davie, was cordially received, and was responded to by Troopers Wright and Barry, and Ser-geant-Major Berland, the latter of whom 1 gave some i-nteresting particulars of 'has South African experiences, both /under fire and as a prisoner of war. Mr G. R. Hart proposed "Success to the Olub a.nd its Founders," referrimg at | length to the difficulties which they had' to j surmount at the inception of tie olubV and the many financial and other troubles tfaat had succeeded it. Mr J. J. Anderson acknowledged the compliment on behalf of the founders, and references were made to Mr Plupps, who had done so much, in the interests of the club at its earliest stagies. Captain Marciel proposed "The Kindred Clubs," remarking that olub life was an extension of home life, and as a traveller be viewed with satisfaction the results that had attended membership of such a club as the Christchurch Working Men's Olub. Messr3 J. .Hooker (Sydenham) and C. E. A. Beazley (Richmond) responded. The toasts of "The Caterer and Custodian" and "The Chairman," with others, were given and honoured, and during the evening musical items were given.