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Gowrie Colliery.
opening of a public
hall.
It is doubtful if there is a proprietary mine
in Queensland, employing labor to a similar
extent, where the relations between employers
and employees ero in a inoro satisfactory con-
llttlnn thnn nt (Tmvt-ln Onllinm. 'IMia t.iAn.lli.
relations subsisting between tho men em
ployed nt this colliery anil tho proprietary
(the Executors of tho lato Hon. Geo. King),
as represented by Mr. II. V. King, nro familiar
to readers of this journal, illustrated ns they
havo been on many publio occasions, such ns
tho very enthusiastic demonstration of wel-
como accorded to Major King oh' his return
from tho Jubilco . festivities in Eng.
land last year where ho wont in
command of tbo Queensland Military Con
tingent. When tho basis ot theso
pleasant relations comes to be oxamined ono
is not surprised, as tbo proprietary havo dono
everything within their power to provide for
tho comfort of their employees and their wives
and families. It is not too much to say thnt
tho men deservo every consideration in this
respect. They have rendered loyal service,
and an honcstcr, harder working body of
miners it would bo difficult to find. All this
has contributed to tho successful dovelopmant
of the Gowrio Colliery, but ono of tho principal
factors in that suoccss 1ms been tho most cap
able management of Mr. R. O. Jones. Mr, ;
Jones' excellent qualities as a niino mnnnger
arc too well known to need lengthy reference
nnd tho fact that not only has ho given satisfac
tion to tbo men under him and to the proprie
tary, but that he has been tho rcoipiont of tho
wannest encomiums from tho Government In
spector of Mines testifies clearly to tho satis
factory manner in which ho discliargcd the
duties of liis responsible and difficult
position. Certainly, tho difficulties of that
position have been materially lessened by the
satisfactory relations referred to, but to
wards tho establishment of tho latter Mr.
Jones, ns tho intermediary bctweon the pro
prietary nnd the employees, has contributed
largely. At the present timo thcro are forty
colliers employed in the underground opera
tions, oxclusivc of tho top men, and inclusive
of the wives and families thcro are ovor 100
souls maintained by tho working of tho mine.
Unliko many other mines in different portions
of the colony, tho dominant note at Gowrio
Colliery is ono of contentment, and, ns wo
havo said, ono is not surprised at this when
the treatment meted out by tho proprietary is
considered. Tlie latest ovidenco in this direc
tion has keen tho erection by tho proprietary,
at their own expense, of a Public Hall, for tho
solo benefit of the miners, whiah is to bo used
as a reading-room by night, and as a school for
tho children by dav, also for social gatherings,
and also to bo nt tho disposnl of any minister
of religion thnt may visit tho mine. Tho
hall in question, which has just been
finished, is a fino roomy building, -10ft. x
20ft. and lift, high . in studding, tho floor
being 18in. off the ground. It is substantially
built of bardwood, and was designed and
erected by Mr. Purccll from instructions
given to him by Mr. II. V. King. The build-
ing is well finished, nnd splendidly lit at
night by two magnificent lumps, tho gift of
Mrs. II. V. King. Tho hall has been placed
under the control of a committee of tho
the minors, who havo full power to mako
all arrangements in connection with its
mnnngemont.
On Saturday last tho hall was declared
formally opened, and the eventful oocasiou
was commemorated iu a suitable manner by
a pic-nic, afternoon ten, and concert and
danco at night. Tho committeo who took
charge of the ntrangoinents consisted ot
Evans (Secretary), W. Shields (Treasurer),
It. Stewart, M. Dwyor, Geo. Brown, and W.
Murphy. All theso spared no effort to mako
tho opening of tho Hall an ovont to bo re
membered at £ho Gowrio Colliory, and tlioir
efforts were crowned with complete success.
A number of invitations wero issued, to which
thcro was a very satisfactory rcsponso, with
the result ot a very large gatboring. The
pic-nic passed off pleasantly, and was tho
roughly enjoyed by those who participated in
it. Shortly after 4 o'clock Mr. H. V. King
nrrived, accompanied by Mrs. King, Miss E.
King, Mr, H. V. King, junr., Mr. G. King, nnd
Mr. Ghmvillo, and followed a llttlo later by a
party ot visitors from Toowoomba, skilfully
piloted by the genial member for Aubigny.
All wero received and cordially welcomed to
tho Colliery by tho manager, Mr. R. O.
Jones, and his good lady. On arrival ut the
Hall thoy were heartily welcomed on behalf
of the Committeo by the Chairman,
Mr. Williams, and tho Secretary, Mr.
Evans. Threfc rousing cheers wore thon
given for Mnjor King, followed by hearty
cheers for Mrs. and Miss King, and tho Too
woomba visitors were also welcomed in a
similar manner. Shortly afterwards tho
company entered tho now building and sat
down to n sumptuous repast provided by tho
Committeo. BenutifuUv decorated tables were
laid tho full length of the building, nnd theso
with the character of the viands, with which
they wero abundantly loaded, reflected the
utmost orcdit on tho catering capabilities of
tho Gowrio Colliery housewives, challenging
comparison as thoy did with the best efforts
of a professional caterer. The chair was oc
cupied by the mannger of tho mine. Mr. 11. O.
Jones, who was supported on his right by
Maior Kinp nnd Miss 12. Kinr?. nnd on his loft
by flfr. W. Thorn, M.L.A., nnd Mrs. King.
After ample justice biul been dono to tlie
repast the Chairman roso and acknowledged
tho honor which hud ' been con
ferred on him that day by tho Committeo
by electing . him to tho position of
Chairman. Ho felt deeply the responsibility
that and beon laid upon him, but as thoy all
know the work of a chairman was nn easy
ono nt an orderly gathering, nnd from what
lib knew of them ho had evory faith in the
miners thnt they would prcscrvo good order.
He (Mr. Jones) would like to say n word or
two on that occasion ' with rcforence
to tho object of tho gathering thnt day.
As thoy wero well aware their pro
vious mooting was to give Mr. II. V.
King a proper wolcomo homo from the
old country which Iboy did. By so doing
thoy wero illustrating to their employees
those feelings of respect they entertained for
thom and they were also showing that thoy
hail sufficient intelligence to know that their
employers had their interests nt heart. That
day thoy hiul further ovidenco before them of
the goou will of their employers. They had
practical proof of it hi Uic building thoy were as
sembled in, and the fnct that their employers
had their comfort nt heart, proving it
ns they did in this latest manner
by building thnt splendid hall to use as v
reading-room nnd to hold their meetings
therein as well. Not only that, but they had
a clear proof oftho interest which Mrs. H. V.
King took in them by the fnct that thnt lady had
presented them with those beautiful lamps,
so that very little was left for them to uo.
(Applause.) Ho felt sure that ail of them
would feel with him that they were under
very great obligations to Mrs. King for tier
gonerosity to them— (applauso)— and he be
lieved that she was tho first lady in Queens
land who took such nn nctivo interest in the
miners' welfare. (Applauso.) They wel
comed Mr. King's gift of n Hull, and in asking
him to declare it open he earnestly trusted
that tbo samo harmony would always exist
between them and their employers. (Ap
plause.)
Mr. Evans said thoy had agreed not to have
any intoxicating liquors on that occasion, and
therefore thoy could not toast their employer
in tho customary manner. But they could do
it in another, and, perhaps, a better manner,
cheers. lie therefore proposed that thoy ac
cord a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs.
.King for their generosity.
Tho vote of thnnks was duly seconded, nnd
accorded with threo rousing cheers.
Mr. King, who met with an enthusiastic
reception, thanked them very kindly for the
honor accorded to Mrs. King and himself, and
also for the invitation to bo prcront to open
tho nail. Tbo Hall was now ready for tbe
purpose for which it was built— namely, that
of a reading room by night for the adults nnd
to servo ns a school for children by day, also
to ennble them to hold their meetings and
sooial gatherings in, always subject to the
permission of the Committee, under whose
control it was placed. Ho also took it
that it would bo placed at tlie
disposal of any minister ot religion who
may coinc amongst them. For a long
timo tho proprietary had felt that a
ball was ncccssnry ; its desirability had keen
urged upon hitn long ago by their mannger,
Mr. Jones. But at tlie same time, although
ho pointed out suoh desirability even in the
first stage of the Colliery's existence, Mr.
Jonos was careful not to urgo tho realisation
of tho matter until they could provo beyond
doubt tho existenco of paynblo coal; till in
fact, tho future of the Colliery was placed be
yond any doubt. Tho proprietary agreed with
Mr. Jones thut it would bo wise to defer tho
matter until llio succoss of tho Colliery was
established. As they all knew tha Colliery
hnd its troubles, and thero was even a time
when its future was a matter of doubt. They
had tronblo with tho railway authorities, and
in other. ways, but he was pleased to say that
was all past and gone. Thoy bad lived their
troubles down, and they hnd reached a stngo
when thoj folt warranted in building, not only
a now house for the mnnnger, but tho now
hall for tbo benefit of ull their employers.
(Applause.) Mr. King then paid a well
deserved tribute to Mr. Jones' services, after
which ho feelingly uoknowlcdgcd tbo kiudly
relations existing between tho proprietary
and tho employeos. Ho was pleased to seo
ovidcnces of that good feeling, nnd ho
could assure them that feeling was
reciprocated not only by himself, but by nil
tho members of his family. (Applauso.) Ho
now formally declared the hall open for tho
use of the miners, nnd trusted that it would
long exist as an evidence nnd token of tho
good feeling subsisting between tho pro
prietary of Gowrio Colliery and thoso em
ployed in it. (Loud applause.)
Mr. W. Thorn, M.L.A., who was well
received, also by special request of tho Chair
man, addressed a few words to tlio gathering.
After thanking tho Committeo for their kind
invitation " to bo present ho expressed
in fitting terms the pleasure it gnvo
him to visit that part of tho dis
trict. 1:1 o had watched tho growth of
of Gowrio Colliery from its very infancy, and
ho was pleased to leurn thnt they had now
reached n .stngo when its successful future
was assured. Ho wan delighted that day to
noto tho ovidouco of tho harmonious relations
existing between tho men and tho proprietors
of Gowrio, nnd thoy could not have a better
oxnmplo of thoso relations than the hall thoy
wero gathered in. That hall was a credit,
not only to Gowrio Colliory but to tho district,
and ho was very doubtful if there was any
hall in tho district illuminated by such mag
nificent lamps which they owed to Mrs. King's
commcndnblo generosity, Most of tho
couutry halls ho was acquainted with hnd to
depend on common candles for their illumina
ting power — (laughter) — but they were ulicnd
of this at tho Gowrio Colliery. Although, in
accordanco with bis well known character
istic modesty of demeanour, he did not wish' to
iutrodnco politics or anything appertaining
to solf, still when Mr. King had specified
tho uses to which tho hall would
bo devoted, he (Mr. .Thorn) could not help
thinking what an oxcellent pinco it would
mnke for addressing a meeting of tho electors
of that portion of Aubigny during his next
electioneering tour. (Laughtor nnd applause.)
No better hall could no found for listening to
a political address— (laughter)— and while on
this subject ho would remind them that about
Friday afternoon next tho Minister for Rail
ways wouTd bo in that vicinity, ami would bo
happy to receive any deputation concerning
their wants in connection with railway
matters, such as a station, trucking
accommodation, mail matters, etc. In
conclusion, Mr. Thorn again alludod
to tho lmppy relations between Kir. King and
tbo miners,, anil paid a high compliment to
Mr. King's merits, remarking thnt no person
ally had never experienced aught but great
kindness from tho King family, and that, ho be
lioved, was tbo experience of all who camo in
contact with them. (Loud npplaueo.)
Tho afternoon's proceedings termina
ted with a hearty vote of tbanks to tho Press,
which was duly acknowledged by a represen
tative of this journal.
The hull was then cleared and arrange
ments mado for tho concert, which com--
raonccd at 7.30 p.m., tho building being so
dcuBoly packed that many were unnblo to
obtain admission. At tho request of tbo
Committeo Mr. H. V. King presided, nnd In
a few well chosen words opened tho concert.
An ndmiruble programme of songs nnd reci
tations was then given, caoh item boing well
received. Miss Euith King, by special request,
gave A very sweet rendering of " liobin
Adair." Miss Kelch contributed two num
bers, her first song, a humorous skit on tho
increasing influenco of tho Chinese, was ren
dered with suoh vivacity as to elicit a well de
served encore, to which she responded by
another humorous song. Later on she gavo
anexcellent rendering ot" I will take you homo
again, Kathleen," which was also much ap
preciated. Mr. Maguiro also contributed two
: items, " Isio of tho Sea," and a humorous
"medley," both of which were admirably
rendered and loudly applauded. Ono of tho
best items of tbo eveniog was the duct " Lar
board Watch," given by Messrs. Price and
Williams, which was encored. Mr. R. Stewart
was applauded for his singing of "The
Fishmernn nnd his Child," nnd also for his
rendoriug of " The Poor Cbinco " ; and in tho
latter instance ho hnd to respond to an unde
niable encore. Mr. Davis gave a good render
ing of " Tho Midnight Express," and tho ever
popular "Nancy Lec" hud proper homage
paid to her by Mr. Williams.' Mr. Brown
evoked much hilarity by bis comic song,
"Where did you get that hat?" Mr. W.
-Thorn gavo two of his choicest recitations in
his best stylo, and Mr. Connorty also gavo
two excellent recitations, ono ot wbich was
an original ono appropriate to tho opening of
thchnli. Thoconcorttcrminatedwith a hearty
vote of thanks to tho Chairman proposed by
Mr. Jones, after which tho room was cleared
for dnncing, which was entered into with zest
and kopt np until midnight bctokoncd the
arrival of Sunday morning.
Womust notomit to mention that apologies
for unavoidable non-attendance were received
from Miss King, Mr. A. L. King, Mr. A. B.
Marlny, and a number of others. Altogether
tho proceedings passed off most enjoyably, and
every credit is due to tho Committee, particu
larly thoir energetic Chairman nnd Secretary,
not forgetting the gonial manager of the
mino, Mr. Jones, for tho manner in which
tboy carried out matter to sucb a successful
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