PATEA CELEBRATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 447, 12 December 1930, Page 6

PATEA CELEBRATES

FIVE BUILDINGS OPENED HUNTER SHAW MEMORIALS. HOxV. STALLWORTHY OFFICIATES. (From Our Own Correspondent). PATEA, Dee. IL The Hunter Shaw Memorial Build ings (being the Plunkct Rooms and Library), Hunter Shaw Children’s Ward at the Public Hospital, Dental Clinic, and new Courthouse, were officially declared open at Patca yesterday by the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy (Minister of Health) in the presence of many residents of Patca and district. The ceremony was conducted on the porch of the Memorial Building. Among those on the official platform, besides the Mayor (Mr F. Ramsbottom) the Hon. A. M. Stallworthy and Mr H. G Dickie, M.P., were Mr A. T. Christensen (chairman of the Library Com mittee), Mr C. R. Honeyficld (chairman of the Hospital Board), Mrs T. E. Roberts (president of the Plunkct Society), the Mayoress (Mrs Ramsbottom), Mr T. E. Roberts (representative of Mr E. F. Warren, sole executor of the Hunter Shaw Estate), and Mr F W. Locker (chairman of the Dental Clinic).

The Mayor, in introducing the visitors, stated that it was indeed a redletter day for Patca, and citizens should be justly proml of the buildings. The foundations of the buildings were based, for the most part, on bequests from the estate of the late Mr Hunte*Shaw. Improvements at the Domain also were dm* to the generosity of th? executor of the estate. The speaker had known the late Mr Shaw, and knew it was through his thrift that Patca could boast such fine buildings. Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P., in introducing Mr Stallworthy, also spoke of the buildings in which Patca could take such pride. The hospital had become the fine institution it was through th<* generosity of three fine old batchelors, Messrs Mcßroom, Hall and Hunter Shaw. Was it only a coincidence that one of these was an Englishman, on* 1 a Scotsman, and one an Irishman? It only needed a New Zealander and a Welshman to make a full band! (Laughter).

Mr Stallworthy stated that before declaring these new buildings open, which was quite an impressive task, he would like to congratulate Patca citi zons. The buildings would prove of tremendous value in the lives of Patca citizens.

Tn referring to the Children’s Ward. Mr Stall worthy stated that one of his first duties as a Minister of the Crown was to settle the question of the building of this ward, and he had the greatest pleasure in congratulating the Hos pital Board on its very valuable addi tion to the hospital. Sick boys and girls would have every facility to get better in this ward, which was of excellent design.

The Memorial Building would be a thing of beauty and a joy for ever. It was well situated, and the people of Patea could not but view it with glowing pride day by day. He was glad t ) note that the Borough Council was sufficiently broadminded to have the Plunkct work associated as part of the civic work of the town. The Plunkct Society was the most broadly based corporation in the Dominion, which owned the society as its greatest asset. They hoard talk of great financial, commercial and international partnerships, but the greatest partnership in the world was that of man and wife. They lay the foundation of an Empire. Through Plunkct satisfies it was learned that New Zealand had both the ilnwest general and infant mortality in the world. A child born in New Zealand therefore had the largest expectation of life in the world. He congratulated the Plunket Society on its beautiful rooms, stating that he knew of no finer building in the Dominion. “And what could be better than to have the library connected with it?” said Mr Stallworthy. He hoficd that the children of Patea would avail themselves of this opportunity, and build up their minds, and that the people of Patca would also enjoy many hours there.

In regard to the dental clinic, Mr Stallworthy stated that ho was more than pleased to see this clinic established. At the .close of last year, Patea was the missing link of dental clinics in Taranaki. During the yexr 200 applications had been received, and Patea was one of the 19 recommondat;cns for the establishment of one. A survey of children in New Zcalnvd showed that only two per cent, had teeth in a good state, the other 98 per cent, being in urgent need of d m tai treatment. The words of the Plun|kct Society were quite true—“lt is better to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to support an ambulance below.’’ There would be no need of dental clinics if mothers would only feed their children properly. He was glad to see Patea citizens uniting so willingly *o help the future generation, both physically, mentally and spiritually. He complimented Patea on providing a clinic for the use of children attending either private or public schools. Ther»> was no reason at all why a child whe was of a different r? ligious denomination should not reccL’i* the same treatment as any other child. There were over 70,000 children being treated at dental clinics, but there was still a long way to go. In regard to the Courthouse, Mr Stallworthy stated that British justice was known all round the world for its high quality. It was a characteristic in every land under the Union Jack. He would rightly say that in Patea’s new Courthouse, justice—British justice —would be meted out irrespective of any man’s station in life. In conclusion, the Minister stated he was only too pleased to assist in a small way on such an occasion in the history of Taranaki’s oldest town. The Minister then declared the buildings open, and unveiled a brass tablet, in the entrance hall of the Memorial Building, to the memory of the late Mr Hunter Shaw.

Other apologies for absence received by the Mayor were from Sir Truby King, Mr E. F. Warren, Mr Saunders (secretary to the Minister of Health), Messrs Gummer and Ford (the architests of the building), and Mr A. J. Gibbs, Mr H. Middleton, Mr F. Naismith, and Mr W. F. Shcild. Afternoon tea was served to over 200 people in the supper room of the Town Hall, which was gay with beautiful bowls of roses and shirley poppies. A very happy time was spent in chatting over the teacups, while Miss Marion Hammerton gave the assembled company great pleasure with a song. Those lat the official table included Hon. Stallworthy, the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr H. G. Dickie, Mr anil Mrs C. R. Honeyfield, Mr and Mrs T. E. Roberts, Mrs Honey field, Air A. T. Christensen, Dr.

and Mrs Simmons. Mr and Mrs F W Locker, and Miss Kell*. Additional speeches 'wore made st the conclusion of afternoon tea. the Mayor (Mr F. Ramsbottom) presiding, Plunket Appreciation. Mrs T. E. Roberts, president of the Plunkct Society, voiced the appreciy. tion of the society of the district for the very great financial assistance that Mr Warren, as executor of the Hunter Shaw Estate, had given to the Plu-. ( ket Society. The work of the Plunket •Society was of national importance, and as such had been recognise*] hj

every Government and Governor General from Lord Plunket down. The society had as its motto the words, “Tho nation marches to success on the feet of little children.” When people sai I the society were always before tho public, they say they had every right to be. They workedVor the public and for the nation. Mr Warren had realised what the Plunket Society stood for and he had given more to the Plunket Society (14 branches had benefitted from his generosity) than to any other institution in New Zealand. The speaker stated that on behalf of the Patea Plunket Society she wished to express how much they appreciated all he has done for the society, and to express tho regret that he was not present that dav.

Mr C. R. Honeyficld, on behalf cf the Hospital Board, stated that the hospital was now one of the finest for its size in the Dominion. Ho wished to extend to Air Warren the thanks of the whole district for the financial benefit he has given the Board. Air A. T. Christensen, chairman of the Library Committee, stated that Mr Warren, as executor of the late Hunter Shaw’s estate, had no restriction on tho distribution of the estate, except as to eductional or religious enterprise* He stated that he, with his commit!”•*>>was very proud of tho new library, hoped that Air Warres would soon visit Patea to see the concrete fulfilment of his gifts. The town as a whole had every reason to be entirely grateful to Mr Warren, as the bequests to Patea alone amounted to nearly £lO,OOO. Wisdom m Selection.

“I honestly record my eulogy of his extreme conscientiousncs- and wisdom in the selection of the institutions and purposes of his grants as perfectly carrying out the wishes of the man whose memory we honour to-day,” said the solicitor for the administration. Mr T. E. Roberts, speaking of Mr E. F. Warren, sole executor of the estate of the late Mr Hunter Shaw, at the afternoon tea in connection with the official opening of five Patea buildings by tho Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Alinister of Health.

“Patea gifts,” continued Mr Roberts. “have absorbed £B7OO. Fourteen Plunket societies throughout the Dominion (excluding Patea) have received £2400, St. John Ambulance societies £ll5O, various homes for the aged £875, orphanages £1275, charitable societies for the relief of the poor £1175, hospitals (other than Patea) £575, Nurses’ Superannuation Fund £750, prisoners’ a ; d societies £450, Jubilee Institute for the Blind £2OO, Girl Guidos £2OO, and Seamen’s Rest £5O. The total is £17,600, and you will observe thaly Patea has received half. “The late Air Shaw and his family were Mr Warren’s friends in the early days of Wellington. Being sole executor of Mr Shaw’s will and empowered to distribute the residuary estate for charitable purposes, Air Warren thought it fitting that there should be some memorial of a permanent character to Mr Shaw’s memory In Patea. which had been his homo town for 60 years, and to which he was deeply attached. “Mr Warren’s stay in Patea during Air Shaw’s last illness afforded him opportun : tv for considering what would be the most suitable ard beneficial form for such a memorial to take. In assisting towards the building of the children’s ward, in providing a children’s playground and other improvements in the domain and in providing the for the permanent docent upkeep of the domain grounds, and in erecting the memorial building to house the library and the Plunket rooms, Afr Warren did what he considered was due to the memory of a worthy and honourable man and due also to the district in which he had spent the greater part of his life and in the advancement and prosperity of which he was deeply interested

* “One might have expected criticism of Air Warren’s choice of uses, criticism of the expenditure as not being charitable in’ its narrow meaning of gifts for the poor,” concluded Mr Roberts. “No such criticisms have been, heard. Afr Warren may rightly pride in the general appreciation of’ his beneficence and. in the resultant utility and beauty.”

The decorations in the Town Hall were very ably carried out, and reflected great credit on Alias B. Gibson. Tho catering also was well done by Mr Nansett, with the help of the Plunket committee.