THE RAILWAY READING ROOM.
THE OPENING CEREMONY.
The familiar proverb that small beginnings have often great endings has been well exemplified by the success which has attended the efforts of a small number of gentlemen connected with the railway department, to erect a structure to be devoted to the purposes of a reading room for the railway employees, who can now claim the honour of establishing the first institution of the kind in Australia.
The necessity for such a reading room having for some time being a matter of comment, a meeting was held at the central station on September 20, 1887, Mr F. Calver acting as chairman, at which the desirability of establishing such an institute was unanimously agreed to, and the following officers appointed:-Mr G. Roberts chairman; Mr F. Calver, secretary; Mr W. Guildfoyle, treasurer, and a committee consisting of Messrs. T. D. Cockshott, M. Malone, Jno. King and G. Brown. These officers set to work with a will and by their indefatigable exertions, assisted by the voluntary services of a number of ladies and gentlemen were able by the proceeds of an amateur dramatic performance, and other sources in a comparatively short period to pay the handsome son of £454 17s. 4d. into the bank to the credit of the building fund, the principal items of this sum being as follows:
£16 7s. 4d - first Perth concert
£4 14s. 3d - first Fremantle concert
£9 18s. 9d - "Betsy"
£76 5s. 9d - first Boxing Day sports
£1317s - 2nd ditto
£13 - "Caste" at Guildford
£80 - "Professor," Perth, Fremantle andGuildford
£25 - Government Grant
£16 8s - Northam excursion
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
£5 5s - Tolley & Co, (per Mr Wilson)
£5 - Mr G. Glyde
£5 - Mr W. G. Hearman
£1 - Mrs Hearman
£5 - Courthope, Drummond & Co.
£3 - Hon J. G. H. Amherst
£3 3s - Bishop Gibney
£3 3s - Mr G. W. Leake
£3 15s 6d - MrDrake Brockman (collected)
£45 - Dr Scott, £7; Mr Neil McNeil,
£6 - Hon J. A. Wright,
£3 3s - Mr R. S. Burges, and
£5 - Mr R. Honey,
The necessary plans and specifications having been prepared, operations were commenced about February, 1888, and on March 1 of the same year the foundation stone was laid by Mrs Wright. Since then the work has been steadily progressing under the supervision of the architect, Mr J. D. Taylor, Mr D. Gray being the contractor. The edifice, which stands near the Western gate of the Central Station, is built of redbrick, and presents a plain but substantial appearance.
On the roof which is of corrugated galvanised iron, stands a small ornamental turret surmounted by a vane. A marble tablet, on the left-hand side of the entrance commemorates the laying of the foundation stone, and cancelled the following inscription:
"This foundation stone of the first railway employees' reading room in Australia was laid by Mrs Wright, wife of the Hon the Commissioner of Railways, March 1, 1888."
A small circular tablet inscribe,d "Railway Institute, 1888," is also placed in a prominent position in front of the building.
Entering by the principal door, which faces westward, the visitor finds himself in a hall 70 feet long by 30 ft wide and 26 ft 6in. in height, containing fifteen windows, seven being placed on the elevation to the station, and six on the elevation to the Wellington-street, and two at the entrance.
In the centre of the hall, on the right-hand side, is a fireplace, and a platform 22 ft x 20 ft. occupies the lower end. At the rear of the platform are two rooms, to be set apart as a library and smoking room, the dimensions of which are 14 ft x 11 ft., and 14 ft x18 ft respectively. Should occasion arise the latter will be used as a dressing room for theatrical purposes.
Ample provision has been made for lighting the reading room, smoking room, and library with gas. The smoking room and library are also provided with fire places. These rooms communicate with the platform by steps, and can be entered by side doors leading from the railway reserve.
The nucleus of a library has already been collected, the following being a list of the donors:-
"Science for All" (four volumes), Mr Joseph Rogers;
"Year Book of Facts" (twelve volumes), Mrs Bullen;
"Wonders of the World," Mr G. Serymgour;
"Technical Educator" (four volumes), Mr T. Hunt;
"The Law and the Lady," Mr T. Hunt;
"Picturesque Atlas of Australia" (complete), Mr G. Roberts;
"Wellington'sDespatches," J. G. Drake Brockman.
Mr G. Throssell has given £5 towards a library fund, and Mr Benson has forwarded a large quantity of instructive and amusing literature for the reading room. The committee hope to inaugurate an ambulance class in connection with the institute, and efforts will be made to establish a technical class with lectures, as early as possible.
The Hon the Commissioner of Railways and Mrs Wright arrived at 6:30 pm, and were received at the entrance by Mr G. Roberts, who said that twelve months ago Mrs Wright had kindly performed the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the building, and he had now the honour to ask her to formally open the reading room. He concluded by expressing a hope that it would always remain open in the cause of mercy, education, and recreation. He then handed Mrs Wright the silver key which had been specially made for the occasion by Mr A. Fouchard.
The key which is six inches in length, weighs about 3 1/2 ounces, and is beautifully designed. The following inscription was engraved on the key "Opened by Mrs J. A. Wright, Oct 23, 1889," and inside the border of the handle are the words "Railway Reading Room, Perth, WA."
Mrs WRIGHT having opened the door, the Commissioner of Railways called for three cheers to celebrate the opening, which were heartily given.
The interior of the building presented a very brilliant and attractive spectacle. In the hall twelve tables were laid, affording accommodation for about 300 visitors, and a short time after the opening were well occupied. Four tables were also provided on the platform at which about 50 were seated. The following ladies presided at the tables: Lady Fraser, Mrs Wright, Mrs Scott, Mrs Burt, Mrs Rason, Mrs Pether, Mrs Pearce, Mrs Benson, Mrs Mason, Mrs Bolton, Mrs Roberts, Miss Roberts, Mrs Marfleet, Mrs Hallern, Mrs Hope, Mrs Healy, Mrs Dale, Mrs Annear, Miss Bearteaux, Mrs Stirling, Mrs Broadhurst, Mrs Cockshott, Miss M. Brown, and Miss Ranford.
The floral decoration of the tables was very effective, the display of flowers being remarkable. Mr G. Roberts presided, and had on his right the Mayor of Perth (Dr Scott, M.L.C.), Mr R. Fairbairn, R.M., and Mr J. Hurst, and on his left Mr C. H. Rason, M.L.C., and Mr R. F. Sholl, M.L.C. The Rev B.T. Dunstan said grace.
Tea having been finished, Mr G. ROBERTS read letters of apology from Mr Holman, Mr E. Solomon (Mayor of Fremantle), and Mr G. Randell, M.L.C. The announcement that the latter had enclosed a sovereign as a contribution in aid of the reading room was received with applause. Mr Roberts then referred to the motto "the thorough " given by their worthy chief the Commissioner of Railways to the railway servants shortly after his taking office. They would agree with
him that the architect, contractor, and committee had all endeavoured to be thorough in the work of erecting that building, and their friends in Perth, Fremantle, and Guildford, and throughout the colony has been thorough in coming forward to their support. (Applause.)
The ladies also had been as thorough as the gentleman in that respect, and he would take the opportunity of thanking them for their thorough exertions during the last two or three days, to make their opening ceremony a success. (Applause.)
Mr Roberts then gave the resume of circumstances which led to the erection of the reading room. In particular, he mentioned that the beginning of the fund was some money subscribed on behalf of a man who had had his hand injured, and who preferred to give the sun as the nucleus of a fund for providing a reading room for the railway employees.
In concluding his remarks, he thanked the Governor, the members of the Legislature, and the press of the colony for the assistance they had given in various ways, and finished by calling upon all the railway employees present to give three cheers for their worthy chief, the Commissioner of Railways, which were heartily responded to. Mr Roberts having called upon the Commissioner to take the chair, resumed his seat amid applause.
The COMMISSIONER, on taking the chair, said:
"Ladies and gentlemen, as Mr Roberts, our traffic manager, has just said, our time for speaking is limited. There are a great many speeches to be made, and I hope a great many songs in addition, and I have myself to be very brief in my remarks for the reason that I'm suffering at present from a severe cold. I must, however, express the sincere pleasure at being present at the opening of this railway reading-room, in which I have taken so much interest. I believe that it will not only be a great benefit for the railway staff, but also to the colony at large. We in Western Australia have often been twitted for being the inhabitants of the Cinderella of Australia. But when I consider I am called upon to-night to preside at this gathering for the purpose of celebrating the opening of the first railway reading-room in Australia - the more so as at the present moment this colony can be congratulated in possessing, in proportion to its inhabitants, more miles of railway and telegraphs than in any other part of the world and, I think I may safely prophesy that it will not be long before she perceives that glass slipper which the prince has promised her. (Applause).
Mr Roberts has referred to the motto I put before my employees on my first acquaintance with them. Now, I firmly believe that the railway servants of this colony are thorough in the performance of their duties and they have shown themselves to be so by the way in which they have worked to raise the money for this building, and they have been most successful in the entertainments given in aid of this reading room. I wish, in the name of the railway department to thank most heartily all those who have shown such kindness, consideration and regard. I hope this room will remain a useful institution for many years until it becomes a portion of the Perth Railway Station; I think it would make a very good waiting-room. (Laughter.) therefore I have no objection of it being erected on Government property. (Laughter.)
I will conclude by expressing a hope that the building will long remain a benefit not only to the railway servants of the colony, but also to the whole community. I will now ask our worthy Mayor, Dr Scott, to say a few words.
Dr SCOTT, who was received with cheers, expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing such a building devoted to use of the railway servants. From the support they had received from all quarters they must be very popular, especially with the ladies (laughter). Mr Roberts, especially, must be popular with them, judging from the large number of ladies that come forward and given their services on that occasion (laughter). From what he knew of the railway servants they would make good use it. He will conclude by again expressing how very glad he was to be present on that auspicious occasion.
Mr DAVID GRAY said that although the building was not entirely finished, he hoped they would soon get the money to pay off the whole of the debt. He also referred to the successful way in which the committee had worked with him during the erection of the building.
Mr H. WOODWARD said that if technical classes were started in connection with the reading room, he would be happy to give the benefit of his experience gained in England.
After the speeches had concluded, a number of recitations and songs were given, the recitations of Messrs. J. C. H. James, and Ritchie (the former kindly contributed twice) being very highly appreciated. Messrs. Roberts and Taylor's comic songs caused great amusement, as did also a very clever ventriloquial exhibition by the last named. Among the other singers were Mrs Cockshott, and Messrs. Bennion, Lapsley, King, Gray, and Wallis. Mr Harrison presided at the piano.
Before the meeting closed the chairman remarked: We have had an opportunity to-night, of testing the acoustic properties of the room, and I think we can congratulated the architect who designed, and the builder who erected it, on its qualification in this respect, and I think from all that I have seen to-night, those at the rear have been at an equal advantage with those who were seated in close proximity to the performers.
On behalf of the committee I have now to thank those ladies and gentlemen who have kindly given their assistance and especially the ladies who have presided over the tables this evening. I have to announce the proceeds of the concert will go to help the widow of poor Mansell, who was recently killed on the railway, and also that what is left on the tables will be equally divided amongst the orphanages. (Applause.)
I will now ask you to give three cheers for Mr Roberts and the committee, and I think they deserve our most hearty thanks for the way they have worked. I trust the hopes expressed for the success of the reading room will be fully realised. Will now give three cheers for Mr Roberts and the committee, and than, as in duty bound, as loyal Englishmen and Australians, sing God Save the Queen.
Three hearty cheers were being given, and the singing of the National Anthem brought the ceremony to a close.
It may be mentioned that about £400 still remains due on the building, which it is hoped, will soon be cleared off.
