OLD HOTEL BUILDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 214, 10 September 1934, Page 8

OLD HOTEL BUILDING.

REMOVAL AT TAUMARUNUI. THEATRE TO BE ERECTED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) TAUMARUNUI, Saturday. The work of removing the Midlands Hotel, formerly known as the Cluh Hotel, was begun last week, and next week a start will be made with the erection of a modern picture theatre for the Imperial Picture Company. The Midlands was built for Mr. T. Hill, and has been used as a boardinghouse for nearly 30 years. One of the first proprietors was Mr. Miek Burke, who was well known as the champion shoveller on the Main Trunk when the line was being constructed. Mr, Gabriel Elliott, of Te Kuiti. was the overseer of the work, and a portion of the building was brought from Ongarue. When a "Star" reporter inspected the building to-day he noticed a fair amount; of Oregon pine had been removed and was informed by an old resident that in the early days a large amount of Oregon was used for building purposes. f he timber, delivered at Taumarunui, being about 10/ cheaper per 100 ft than timber purchased from the Manunui mill four miles away. The contract for the new picture theatre has been let to Mr. W. H. Wliittaker, of Auckland, and the price is about £0000. The building will be 115 ft long and 52ft wide, and will have seating accommodation for 700 people. There will be two shops in the front of the building.