CARNIVAL HELD IN AID OF HALL FUND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18991, 10 February 1930, Page 5

CARNIVAL HELD IN AID OF HALL FUND.

MAIREHAU FUNCTION IS VERY SUCCESSFUL. A most successful carnival in aid of the Mairehau Hall fund was held at Mairehau on Saturday, on the grounds of Mr W. A. Beck, Hill's Road. The beautiful weather, no doubt, helped to make the attendance so large, and throughout the afternoon and evening tlxe scene was a very gay one. There was ample entertainment for all, and the children especially had a very enjoyable time. At the commencement of the afternoon the carnival was officially opened by Mr J. H. Rhodes. Mrs Hamilton Rhodes was also present. Mr AV. J. Walter (chairman of the Carnival Committee) read apologies for absence from Sir Heaton Rhodes, Mrs Hutton (after whom the district of Mairehau was named), the Hon D. Buddo, Mr J. A. Flesher, and others. Explaining the objects of the carni- : val, Mr Walter said it was to raise funds to enlarge the Mairehau Hall. The hall was built in 1916, but the district had grown so fast since then that the hall was not nearly big enough to hold the crowds who wanted to attend any function there. Mairehau was making progress by leaps and bounds and be--7-JL re i Ion ST would be the chief suburb of Christchurch. The Mairehau people were like one big family. No better workers than the women of Mairehau could be found anywhere in New Zealand. The money they were raising would be used for enlarging the hall, or, if there was sufficient, for • the erection of a new hall. The next thing, he said, would be a park. A syndicate of Mairehau residents had bought a ten-acre block for £IOOO for that purpose near the hall. An application for money to develop it had been made to the Government, but was held up meanwhile until more money was available. It was intended to approach the Minister of Education for a school site opposite the park. When that, was granted, hall, park and school would be together. Referring to the connection between the Rhodes family and Mairehau, Mr Walter said that the late Mr R. H. Rhodes bought up all the land in the vieinity about sixty years ago. It became known as Marshland, but when the speaker was a boy was called Rhodes’s swamp. Mairehau was named after Mrs Hutton, a daughter of Mr R. Rhodes. The land was drained and cultivated and to-day Mr Walter did not suppose any place in New Zealand produced as much as Marshland. It was an due to the Rhodes family and it was pleasing to know that they still took an interest m the district. .. ‘ °7 er sixt y years ago that the Rhodes family took up this place and with your help, made it what it is to-day,” said Mr J. H. Rhodes. The fact that he had been asked to open the function showed the good feeling that existed between the original landowners and the present occupiers of the district. The speaker referred to the work of Mr A. G. Rhodes in the district. Mr Rhodes congratulated IMairehau on having such people as Mr and Mrs Walter and Mr and Mrs Beck. Mr Rhodes declared the carnival open. Three cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Rhodes. The day's programme was then gone on with. Addington was not the only place in Christchurch where the followers of racing had a " run for their money, for one of the main events at Mairehau was the classic trotting race for the Mairehau Cup, presented by Mr W. A. Oborn. About twenty horses, ranging from three-quarter draughts to ponies, nominated and accepted on the spot, and the handicappers were faced with a formidable task. Two heats were run during the afternoon and one in the evening. The winner was C. Winter’s Mairehau, ridden by It. Simpson. T Jl® c “ p was Presented by Mr Oborn after the event. The course was in a large paddock near the carnival area and few of the many visitors missed the racing. There was also considerable interest in a cycle race of ten .miles consisting of four laps on a 2j mile course, passing the carnival gate. There were twentythree starters. The finish was splendid, the first three riders, covering the last half mile in a bunch. The winner was R. Weir, off Imin 4 ssec. An energetic women’s committee saw to it that the money-making portions of. the carnival—stalls, afternoon tea marquee, competitions and so on—were thoroughly attended to. Business at the stalls was brisk and the assistants in the afternoon tea booth were given no^ re 7 t ' Several guessing competitions ana decorative contests were held. The children were given an opportunity to display their ability in a decorated bicycle competition and the several entrants displayed clever work. - Music was supplied by the Mairehau Orchestra. Mr W. J. Walter, as chairman of the Carnival Committee, expressed the warmest praise of the many assistants who had undertaken the hard work necessary to ensure the carnival’s success. He made special mention of Mr and Mrs Beck for allowing the carnival to be held on their ground. To enable the carnival to be continued during the evening, a special electric lighting scheme was installed. The attendance was again very large. The complete figures are not available yeti but it is expected that the hall fund will benefit by between £l5O and £2OO, The results of the various events and competitions were as follows: MAIREHAU TROTTING CUP. One mile and a half. First Heat. C. Winter’s Mairehau, r-OOyds (R. Simpson) 1 J. Crozier's Desert Gold, 500yds . . 2 C. Arnst’s Peter Bingen. 600yds . . 3 A. Peters’s Bindle, 200yds ........ 4 Time—3min 51sec. Second Heat. A. Eden’s Teddy, 100yds (Owner) .. 1 H. Curtis’s Kohara, 300yds 2 H. Gobb’s Nancy, 200yds 3 C. Walker’s Harvester, 150yds .... 4 Time—4min 0 2-ssec. Final. Mairehau 1 Desert Gold 2 Bindle 3 CYCLE ROAD RACE. Ten Miles. R. Weir (Imin 45sec) 1 P. F. Saunders (Imin 15sec) 2 T. Lohrey (3min) 3 H. Gibson (3min) 4 A. J. Trevean (3min) 5 A. Medford (3mln) 6 Time—2smin 55sec. Fastest time (25min 36sec) was made by L. Pit her, off scratch. GUESSING COMPETITIONS. Doulton bowl, Mrs Morcroft; bicycle lamp, Mr Altoft; electric lamp, Mr J. Butcher; gentleman’s companion, Mr Risden: copper bowl, Mr Muggs; bottle of peas, Mr Wilkinson; box of chocolates, Miss B. Peters. OTHER COMPETITIONS, t Cake competition, Mesdames Stacey, Borgfeldt, A. Smith and Mr Eyles; d’oyley. Miss Beck; knitted dress, Mrs Moles; decorated bicycle, Mairehau Wilson 1, Lily Toon 2, Pattie Judd J - ; beaded spray, Mrs Blades; lolly strips, Miss V. Erickson.