THE CANTERBURY HALL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12444, 6 March 1906, Page 5

THE CANTERBURY HALL.

TO THB EDITOR OW * I THB PB-SB." Sir, —Before tbo question of purchasing the Canterbury Hall is submitted to tho ratepayers on Thursday, I would like to emphasise as clearly as I am able tbe reasons that prompt mo to oppose the purchase. 1. Jn my judgment there does not appear to be tbe slightest justification for the directors of the Hall Company to desire to alter the hall into a theatre. I understand tbe hall i» realising the object for which it was intended, viz., a concert hall, and a place for public meetings for the citizens. If that is so, and if the prospect- of adding an organ to the hall is to be the means of additional revenue to the company, 'visatever oan be tne object of the uirector* m agreeing to part with the property .*■ it it i» to bo such a good investment for the city (plus the organ), wily will it not be an c-qually goco investment tor the company.' liiere w no fear of the organ not l)eing erected in the hall, 'ihat point is definitely settled—it is beyond dispute. Then, again, seeing that the proprietors or the Theatre Royalwbave already approved of the plans of a new and up-to-date theatre, which, when erected, will be tho best theatre in the colony, why, in tho name of business acumen, do the directors of the company desire to alter the halC and convert it into a second-rate theatre? 2. The building is absolutely unfitted for the purposes of — Town Hall, and a large ""majority of the .City Council aro opposed to purchasing it for that purpose. In my opinion the city can get along for 6ome years yet before it is called upon to provide a Town Hall, and when the time does arrive when a Town Hall becomes a necessity, {.Tie city can erect a building that wiil be a credit to tho place, and that, too, at _ cost rot very much in excess of tho 6iim we aro required to pay tor tho Canterbury Hall. Why, sir, if we were to purchase the property, and call it the "Town Hall," wo should deserve to bo tbe laughing .stock of the wliole colony. An important city like Christchurch to be content with a second-hand building for its Town Hall! Why, the proposition is ludicrous in the extreme! And what a building! Hear what the ex.ports have to say concerning the condition of the building, which has only been erected some tivo or six years, and for which we aro coolly asked to pay the large sum of £21,000/ plus cost of putting it .in repair:— "Tho building generally appears to bo suffering from neglect, more especially in. the roofs, which have been dan aged by being walked upon for the purposo of fixing flags or decorations. • In many places tho lead flushings axe loose, the roof iron requires to bo nailed down, and some of the ridging is damaged ■• beyond repair. Thero arc a few cracks in the brick walls, caused by ; settlements, but tliey arc not of sufficient size to be dangerous, and aro nothing more than might be found jn any large building. With reference to the roof trusses, they are of sufficient: strength, but in consequence of the short time, allowed for the erection of the building, it was impossible to obtain seasoned timber,- but when the timber had dried tho bolts and wedges should have been tightened up. The: plaster on all walls facing south sbowfi signs of dampness, and it will bo nocessary to coat the brick walls on that side wilh nome kind of water-proofing mixture. There appears to bo a weakness in the overhanging portions of the gallery of the Canterbury- Hall. These portions vibrate considerably when subjected to a shock, such as can be caused by a person jumping on tho floor. We do not consider that it is dangerous, but it is unpleasant, and could be remedied by extra cohinms underneath. , The floor of tho room under tho Alexandra Hall is carried on rolled steel joints,: which: span the full width of the room, it is our opinion that these steel joists have not sufficient depth to. give tho strength to carry, a "closely of rjeopioy, «od this additional strength could'bo obtained by fixing,other joists under them, , and then riveting the two joists together. The approximate cost of putting the building in good order, including strengthening gallery and floor, distempering _tl rooms not already done, repairing roofs, ' water-proofing walls, I and general repairs, will be from £800 to £1000. (Signed), Collins and Harman, Graham and Greig." And this is tho building the Musical Union is moving heaven and earth to induce the ratepayers to buy. 3. The statement. made by the advocates of purchase, that the hall will not cost tho .ratepayers a penny,- is a piece of poetic imagination. It will not only cost them c. penny, but many pounds. If we buy the hall, and get the'organ, we shall require a city organist, and a city organist will run ■«*» into another _000 a year, added to which will be the loss of revenue occasioned by the hall being let for •various ■purposes, either at a reduced rental, or, in tho case of charitable purposes, for nothing at all. There are other reasons why I believe it would bo " had business " for the city to purchase the property for a Town Hall, but as this letter already contains sufficient reasons, to convince anyone who is not incurably biassed in favour of the purchase, and as I have confidence in the judgment of the ratepayers leading them to reject the proposal to purchase, 1 will say no more.— Yours, etc., Q M . G RAY. TO Til!" EDITOR OF "THB PRESS." Sir I would impress upon those favourable to the purchase to use their best endeavours' to secure the attendance of voters at the polling booths. The other side may be relied upon to roll up in strong force, and it must be remembered that the friends of the i purchase movement havo strong opposing forces to contend against. Ist. The section headed by the Mayor, j who can give no valid reasons for then* objection to the proposal, nor can advance any valid arguments against it other than those associated with a cerI tain Dr. Fell, and who endeavour to damn the movement by the use of unworthy innuendoes, etc. 2nd. A section of the building community, who are opposed to the purchase from trade reasons—in other words, they want .another building erected. . , • _ 3rd The large army of voters who arc opposed to anything in the shape of civic progress, unices the movement affects the'i* own particular street or sectiou.-Yours, etc, gYDENHAM TD THE EDITOR OF "THE TRESS." Sir,—-I am an impartial citizen, with nothing to gain or lose by the purchase or otherwise of the Canterbury Hall, and would like, before voting for or against tho proposition, to get some definite information, free from the violence of those who would force the city to buy. accusing all who differ from them of narrow-mindednet*. and want of patriotism, free also from tbe insinuations of tha-0 who only scent a i°b. ... Ist. Is it. necessary to secure this particular hall? I« not the Provincial Council Chamber a much more beautiful ami dignified place in which to hold ceremonial meetings? 2nd. Is the Canterbury Hall such an ono as we would build as an ornament to the city, and as suitable for the purposes for which it is to be purchased? Is it suggested that the stucco facade in Manchester street is either ornamental or imposing/ Have we not an architect capable of something more like a public building? This

one -was, I think, designed as a revenueproducer only. ,3rd. If it it true that in" six yeans the hall is so much the worse for wear that it requires strengthening and repairingj what will be it 6 condition ten years hence? 4th. Is the general plan of the building 6uch as a competent architect, say, •whoever designed it, would design for ; a Town Hall? If not, is it not proi posed to make us buy a thine that is not fitted for its purpose, and then make shift to use it? o:h. Has anyone attempted to hold a business or other meeting there at the same time that an entertainment is going on in the main hall ? If so, what effect has the noise upon those deliberations? 6th. What earnings would be left wheii all the offices were in use by the various city officials, and tbe letting of the hall •Wis, as it wou.d have to.be, subordinate to the meetiiifc,. oi the Council and various committees? This might mean several evenings a week. Tha Councillors should make an experiment in the direction of holding meetings in the buikling during some entertainment. 7th. With an orgnu recital free or at popular puces once or twice :i week, how could the main hall be let at a profit except lor odd fixtures.? Bth. With £21,000 would it not be possible to build a Town Hall a credit to the town? if hot, surely it would be wi>er to incroa;=e the sum and build just what is wanted than buy a make-shift, if maLe-shift this on.c proves to be. What better place could there be for ■*■*,■ eh a building than Victoria Square? If that be objected to, why not get tho Government to allot a portion of the old Provincial Buildings site? Theso buildings are old, and ill-fitted for (heir purpose. Before long they must come down and be replaced by others. fA beautiful Town Hall, with the river flowing at n nice distance from it, would be one of the most admired features of our city.

1 am eom-cious that this letter must nppoar hostile. Asking for information often has the appearance of destructive criticism, but truly the onus of proof is on t*dso who propose. After all, the main points for consideration are:— 1. Do wo want a Town Hall? 2. Is the building suitable for tho purpose? 3. Is its appearance sufficiently imposing? - A. Is it safe, and likely to remain so? ii. Will it earn the revenue at present cstima ted ?—You re, etc., ■ M CAUTION. TO TnE EDITOR' OF "THE FRESS " Sir, —I consider that Mr Gray is deserving of great praise for the straightforward manner in which he spoko up, on behalf of the ratepayers, against tho absurd proposal for the purchase of this building as a Town Hall. Although he is Mayor, that surely is no reason why he should bo deprived of his right, equally with the rest of the ratepayers, of expressing his opinion in public. One speaker at the late meeting made a great slip. He said that in twen.ty-fi.vo years there would bo a population of 100,000 in Christchurch, and then they could build a Town Hall worthy of the city, which clearly implies that this hall would not be worthy of tho city as a Town Hall. 1 quite agree with that view, and I have no doubt but that a majority of the ratepayers will view it in. the same light when they go to the poll.—Yours, etc., . * OBSERVER. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir, —The interested few will carry their fad unless the great.body of, com-mon-sense ratepayers wake up to tho situation and record their votes against tbe proposal to purchase.on Thursday next. lam in receipt of a, circular strenuously urging every member of tbt* interested union to secirre the promiso of six votes in favour of tho proposal, so that conveyances oan bo sent for them on tho* day of tho poll. I think it. well that the frantic efforts of i th&so interested parties. should, bo "known, and as a member of both the Musical Union and (-Industrial Association I protest agair_sfc>tho .tactics em- ! ployed to force through this, sale to tho city at the ratepayers' expense. i As to the plausible argument that the property is paying over %> Tpcv cent., if the proper yearly expenditure on upkeep had been, made, aggregating mauy hundreds of pounds ([see the-architect's report), what sort 'of a balance-sheet would the shareholders have to show? A member of tho Musical Union calmly informed mc that if tho city got the hall they would agitate for certain necessary alterations in construction to improve tho acoustic properties for their concerts. And this on tho top of Mr Frostick's eulogy on its perfection! • Tho ratepayers will indeed bo a collection of gulls if they are caught nap-, ping on polling day.—Yours, etc., MEMBER MUSICAL UNION AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION. TO THE EDITOR. OT "THE PRESS." Sir,—The letter from your correspondent "No Axe to Grind," would be hard to beat as a specimen of small mindednces and distortion of facts. For instance :— Ist. The ratepayers are not asked to pay £2G(OQO for the hall; the purchase price is £21,000, with a proposed expenditure of £2000 for the installation of the city organ.. 2nd. I trust the large {section of ratepayers referred to who are of opinion that a Town Hall should bo built on the market place, exists only in the imagination of your correspondent. I cannot conceive that, in these days of enlightenment, any 6ane person would dare to propose to cover one of the few* open spaces in this city, and one'of its greatest beauty spots, with bricks and mortar. Should such, an attempt be. made, I fancy the citizens would make their voices heard with no uncertain ■ t>ound. . ; It is useless going over and over the same ground. The citizens have a chance of acquiring a hall now, the receipts from which will more than cover the interest on the loan. If this is not done, a Town Hall will have to be built "at a cost of up to £80,000, while" a central site would cost another £25,000 at least. 1 am confident tha'average ratepayer will see the saving and benefit ot the Canterbury Hall puroha~e and vote ac-r oordingly.—Yours, etc., NO AXE TO GRIND EITHER. TO TnE EDITOR OF "THE TRESS." Sir.—lf tho ratepayers of Christchurch are not alive to their own interests they will wake up to find that they are landed with the Canterbury Hall, a building that witl never be suitable, and never can bo converted into oven the nucleus of a town hall. There is no doubt that very strenuous efforts have been made to stir up not only the Musical Union, but also the Industrial Association, Bishop Grimes, Dr. Russell, etc., for the purposo of forcing this scheme through. To this end the j secretary of the Industrial Association I and Musical Union has been instructed i to issue circulars (which he has done) i announcing the fact that cabs will be j in readiness to convey voters, at tho beck and call of all who may require: them, on March tho Bth. Before concluding I may add that if this hall is such a good speculation as Mr Frostick would hko to persuade .tho i public, how it was that it requires alter- ' ing at all, in order to make it pay (i.e., ! if it is already paying, as stated). Wo do not usually find business men aa a rule, running after either the Government or municipal bodies with a | real good thing. They generally manago to keep it to theinsarvcs or introduce a friend.—Yours, etc., PHILANTHROPY.