OUR TOWN HALL’S 100 WHO WANTS TO CELEBRATE IT’S BIRTHDAY ON 17th SEPTEMBER?

The Hall’s foundation stone was laid on 17 September 1912 and with no word yet of an official celebration of the event, citizens of the town and district are giving consideration to the landmark occasion. Descendents of pioneer families were disappointed when there was no celebration to mark the centennial of the opening of the Waihenga Bridge (SH53 over the Ruamahunga River) in January and don’t want to repeat that oversight for the Town Hall.
The first name on the foundation stone is J Martin, John of Puruatanga and the Centennial Steering Group includes a great-grandson, Martin Lawrence, and a great-great-grandaughter Lucy Lawrence. Descendents of other early families and people newer to the area are on the list:
Josie Bidwill, Jim Clark, James Doyle, Roger Gaaskell, Mate Higgins on, Dave Kershaw, Brian Lawrence, Angus McLeod, George Marshall (RSA), Mary Smith, Graeme Thomson, Jonty Wall, Lesley Wilson.
Anyone interested should make contact with an existing member, or give their name to reception at the District Council.
A number of ideas have been put forward for the occasion.
To open the celebrations on Saturday 15 September, Rebecca Mills, Leah Hawkins and Amanda Savage are organising a Centennial Cabaret in the Hall. On Sunday the 16th, a variety show might feature the 150-year sheep industry with an onstage shearing demonstration and of course the increasingly successful grape/wine industry. Other items could involve the Maori people, children from Martinborough School and a power-point display of early Martinborough.
On Monday 17 September, 100 years after W C (later Sir Walter) Buchanan laid the foundation stone, there could be an official lunch in the Hall with the Mayor of South Wairarapa and other dignitaries, a descendent of the Buchanan family and invited guests.
The Centennial will no doubt be on the agenda of the next meeting of the Martinborough Town Hall Committee, scheduled 7 June.