Opening the Parish Hall, August 27, 1924

On 28 August 1924 the Wairarapa Daily Times reported:

"PARISH HALL OPENED BY VISCOUNTESS JELLICOE

There was a large attendance at the official opening of St Matthew's Parish Hall yesterday afternoon by Viscountess Jellicoe.

The ceremony opened with a hymn, "Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven," after which the vicar, with the clergymen assisting, recited a thanksgiving prayer.

The architect (Mr Raymond Lee) then approached Her Excellency, and, presenting her with a gold key, said:--"I have much pleasure in presenting you with this silver key with which to open the hall. I hope it will serve as a souvenir to remind you of what we trust will be a happy occasion."

Her Ladyship then unlocked the door, and declared the hall open.

The party on the stage comprised Her Ladyship (Viscountess Jellicoe), the Hon. Myrtle Jellicoe, Commander Dove, Mr and Mrs L.B. Maunsell, the vicar and Mrs Bullock, Mrs Archer Hosking, Mrs H.H. Beetham, Mrs E. Hale, and the members of the vestry, including Messrs F. Ball, R. Dunderdale, G. Hyde, E. Hale, J. T. Williams, T.A. Best, T. T. Denbee, W. Penistone and W. McArtney, the architect (Mr Raymond Lee), and the builder (Mr H. J. Byford.)

After the singing of the National Anthem, the vicar, in the course of addressing Viscountess Jellicoe, said:--"We extend to you our heartiest welcome, and also our thanks in appreciation for the way in which you have come to help us open the hall. We are sensible of the fact that you must be busy, having multifarious duties to engage your attention while gathering together many mementos to take back to England with you. We do not wish to detain you with long speeches, and though our words are few they are sincere. The hall you see before you is the result of a year of definite effort. We have a little conceit for ourselves, holding that we stand for light and freshness, morally and physically, so we felt that we were forced to make a change from the old parish hall."

The builder (Mr Byford) then presented Her Excellency with a greenstone paper weight bearing an engraved silver plate, and said: "Your Excellency, it gives me great pleasure in asking you to accept this greenstone paper-weight as a memento of our gratefulness to you in coming this afternoon to open St. Matthew's Parish Hall; the greenstone to remind you when you reach the Homeland of New Zealand, and the engraving to remind you of our thankfulness to you in coming to open this Hall."

Her Excellency, who was warmly greeted, said that she understood that she was only to open the hall and had no idea that she would have to make a speech. Her Ladyship expressed her great pleasure at being present to officiate, and stated that all those who had anything to do with the hall deserved to be congratulated. She said that she would never forget Masterton.

"We will all take back with us very pleasant memories of New Zealand," she said. "It has been a great pleasure to be with you, and we are grieved to leave you. I wish you every success and hope that this hall will be a source of instruction to old and young."

Dr Archer Hosking traced the origin of the building. The vestry had something handsome to show for their work, and looked forward to the time when practical results would be achieved. Dr Hosking said 

• the section had cost £450 (which amount had been paid by the Ladies' Guild) and 

• the building £3468, 

• the total bill to meet being £3900, and with the assistance of a loan they saw the money before them. 

• The Maunsell bequest returned them £540, and 

• the 20 weeks' campaign had tallied £997 to Tuesday night, £3 short of the amount aimed at.

• Sections belonging to the parish had been sold, which realised £267, 

• bringing the grand total receipts up to £2300, 

• and the loan of £1800 had completed the financial scheme.

A surplus of £230 had been held in hand and this used for furnishing the hall. 

He referred to the excellent work done by various persons concerned in regard to bringing into existence of the hall, especially Miss Vallance, Mr Herbert, Messrs Watson, Goode and Lee, Mr Byford, the Rev. Bullock, the Ladies' Guild and the working bees.

After the presentation to Her Excellency by little Nola Best of a handsome bouquet, the company adjourned to afternoon tea, which was served by members of the vestry, their wives and friends.

The hall was designed by Messrs Watson, Gooder and Lee, and erected by Mr H J Byford, at a contract price of £3341.

The sub-contractors were: Plastering, Messrs Masters and Wass; decorators, Messrs C E Daniell, Ltd; plumbers, Messrs Jones and Joyce; electricians, Messrs Turner and Evans.

A successful concert was held in the evening, which Viscountess Jellicoe attended..."

Wairarapa Daily Times, 24 August 1924, page 5

Further resources

Architectural plans for the Parish Hall, designed by Raymond Lee of Watson, Gooder and Lee, Architects, 1923.  Wairarapa Archive - 04-42/21-3