CANTERBURY HALL COMPANY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16268, 19 July 1918, Page 2

CANTERBURY HALL COMPANY.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The, seventh annual meeting of the Canterbury nail Coiupauy was holu yesterday. Mr VV. W. Charters occupied tne chair. Xhe annual report and balance-sheet was submit ted, and on the motion oi tne cnannian was adopted. The balance-sneet suowed that on Juno 30til, 1917, the balance to credit of profit and loss account was £2146 bs, or, less dividend (.£748), £li>9B 3s. On June 30th, 1918, tue balance to credit of profit.and loss,was £21(53 15s 3d.Tne chairman ndide a statement of the company's present position with regard to the proposed reinstatement oi the buildings, which, had been practically destroyed by fire, and moved:— "That the action of tho directors in having obtained plans and specifications for rebuilding of tho theatre and concert hall is hereby approved, and that this meeting of shareholders do authorise to take whatever stops tney may deem necessary to carry out the rebuilding proposals, or any other scheme which appears to them to bo in the best intorests of tho company." Mr A. W. Jamieson (president of the Industrial Association) seconded the motion. . . After a lengthy discussion, in which tho Hon. H. F. Wigram, Messrs W. Reece, J. A. Frostick, A. Kaye, A. W. Beaven, R. Hill Fisher, and Dr. E. G. Levinge, took part, Are motion was carried unanimously. Mr J. A. Frostick, the retiring director, was re-eloctod, and Mr\ W. H. Cbeesman was re-electcd auditor. The meeting closed with a vote of I thanks to the directors, movod by Mr A. AV. Boaven.

PLANS FOR NEW BUILDINGS. The final plans for the new Canterbury Hall, to replace the building largely destroyed bv fire, have been approved by the directors and shareholders of the Canterbury Hall Company and the City Council. The plans, which have been prepared bv Mr H. E. White, of Auckland, Wellington, • and Sydney, the well-known theatrical architect, provide for a handsome building which should be a great improvement upon the old one. The facado with its two towers will be left standing, but there will be a dome in middle. Slight alterations only will be made to the towers. The result will be to give a better balance to the front of the building than before. The doorway to the Alexandra Hall will be the same as the doorway to His Majesty's Theatre, each possessing a large portico. There will be a wide entrance to H.M. Theatre, giving a Bide-opening into the stalls, which will be entered by three doorways. H.M. Theatre >vill hold about 2000 people. It will comprise in addition to the ground floor, two galleries, a dress circle, and an upper circle similar to His Majesr.y s Theatre, Wellington. Access to ibe dress circle will be by means of a flight of stairs, and then by a double landing on to a foyer. The dress circle will be a very fine appurtenance to the theatre. No matter where a person is sitting he will have a full view of the stage, and the same applies to the upper circle. There vill lbe pis boxes on each side of the stage. The theatre will possess more exits than the ordinary. x The new Alexandra Hall will also be a very place. e<iual to any of its-

kind in the Dominion. , It will possess ; a dancing floor of greater dimensions than the old hall, with a gallery above and two boxes on each side or its stage. It will hold over 1000 people, and will be used, for concerts and other performances. The stage will be ntt-jc. up in the same way as' H.M. Theatre, s'cenerv, etc., being provided. As m the caso of the main hall, ample means of exit are provided.