Loxton Council Chamber foundation stone of 1937 / after years of the Council operating from a Chamber in the Institute building, Riverland South Australia
LOXTON COUNCIL CHAMBER
Chairman Gives Historical Survey
The recently erected Council Chamber at Loxton which is such a fine adjunct to the town, was opened last Friday by the Hon A P Blesing, Minister of Agriculture and Local Government.
The Minister was accompanied by Mr D V Fleming, Commissioner of Highways, who unveiled the Foundation Stone,
and Inspectors Messrs Ayling and Ellis, of the Local Government Department, were also present, together with representatives from Councils in the Murray Lands.
Unfortunately rain fell during the opening ceremony and marred the proceedings.
The chairman of the Loxton District Council, Mr F J Petch, in welcoming the Minister said the Loxton district had been proclaimed a district in 1910, and the first Council meeting was held on June 10 of that year.
The building of the council chamber had been found necessary by the Council, continued Mr Petch. Work had been carried on in the room at the Institute [hall] under difficulties. Mr Petch then paid a tribute to "the many old councillors present and thanked all for attending.
Mr. T C Stott MP, said that Mr Blesing had worked hard at Canberra in interests of the primary producer, and had only arrived by train at Adelaide that morning. The speaker referred to the good road motored over and said he had "gone to sleep" in the car coming from Adelaide.
The Minister declared the building open.
After the chambers had been opened the architect, Mr P R Claridge, asked Mr Petch to present the Minister with a cased gold pencil from him as a memento of an important occasion. Mr Petch did so, and the Minister said that such mementoes were treasured by him.
In the evening a complimentary dinner was given visitors in the Loxton Club Hotel. Mr Blesing, in proposing the toast of "The District," gave a brief review of the Council's history: The District Council of Loxton was brought into being by a proclamation of May 4th, 1910.
Cr H A Klingberg proposed, the toast of "The Architect" (Mr P R Claridge), and "The Contractor'' (Mr J B Traeger). The Council chamber, opened that day, was one of Mr. Claridge's first jobs at Loxton. He congratulated both Mr Claridge and Mr Traeger, and said that the town and district were "due for such a building."
Mr Claridge, replying, said that five years ago he had come up to Renmark, and since then had built buildings costing £100,000. He paid a tribute to Mr Traeger, and that gentleman suitably replied. [Ref: Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record 16-12-1937]
Loxton Council Chamber foundation stone of 1937 / after years of the Council operating from a Chamber in the Institute building, Riverland South Australia
LOXTON COUNCIL CHAMBER
Chairman Gives Historical Survey
The recently erected Council Chamber at Loxton which is such a fine adjunct to the town, was opened last Friday by the Hon A P Blesing, Minister of Agriculture and Local Government.
The Minister was accompanied by Mr D V Fleming, Commissioner of Highways, who unveiled the Foundation Stone,
and Inspectors Messrs Ayling and Ellis, of the Local Government Department, were also present, together with representatives from Councils in the Murray Lands.
Unfortunately rain fell during the opening ceremony and marred the proceedings.
The chairman of the Loxton District Council, Mr F J Petch, in welcoming the Minister said the Loxton district had been proclaimed a district in 1910, and the first Council meeting was held on June 10 of that year.
The building of the council chamber had been found necessary by the Council, continued Mr Petch. Work had been carried on in the room at the Institute [hall] under difficulties. Mr Petch then paid a tribute to "the many old councillors present and thanked all for attending.
Mr. T C Stott MP, said that Mr Blesing had worked hard at Canberra in interests of the primary producer, and had only arrived by train at Adelaide that morning. The speaker referred to the good road motored over and said he had "gone to sleep" in the car coming from Adelaide.
The Minister declared the building open.
After the chambers had been opened the architect, Mr P R Claridge, asked Mr Petch to present the Minister with a cased gold pencil from him as a memento of an important occasion. Mr Petch did so, and the Minister said that such mementoes were treasured by him.
In the evening a complimentary dinner was given visitors in the Loxton Club Hotel. Mr Blesing, in proposing the toast of "The District," gave a brief review of the Council's history: The District Council of Loxton was brought into being by a proclamation of May 4th, 1910.
Cr H A Klingberg proposed, the toast of "The Architect" (Mr P R Claridge), and "The Contractor'' (Mr J B Traeger). The Council chamber, opened that day, was one of Mr. Claridge's first jobs at Loxton. He congratulated both Mr Claridge and Mr Traeger, and said that the town and district were "due for such a building."
Mr Claridge, replying, said that five years ago he had come up to Renmark, and since then had built buildings costing £100,000. He paid a tribute to Mr Traeger, and that gentleman suitably replied. [Ref: Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record 16-12-1937]