NEW HALL AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19971, 4 July 1930, Page 5

NEW HALL AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY. The new Town Hall at Southbridge, built in ferro-concrete by the Town Board, at a coat of £3140, was officially opened yesterday afternoon by Mr A. J. Inwood, the son of a pioneer Southbridge settler. Some hundreds of people gathered iu front of the building tot the eeremony. Commissioner J. Griffin (chairman of the Town Board) said that the new hall would meet a long-felt want. The original hall had been in existence for fifty or sixty years, and had outlived its usefulness. The ratepayers had given practically unanimous sanction to the raising of a loan to pay for the new building, and it had been agreed that the cost of furnishing should be met .with money raised voluntarily. The floor space was almost double that in the old* building, and was seating for a hundred persons in the gallery. The greater comfort would be an inducement for the public to patronise gatherings held in the ball. Cr. John Heslop (chairman of the "Ellesmere County Council), and Cra J. P. McEvedy, and A. Anderson (members) congratulated the Board upon its enterprise. Commissioner E. J. McConuell (chairman of the Leeston Town Board) conveyed the felicitations of the residents of Leeston. Mr Inwood thanked the members of the Town Board for the honour done him in asking him to open the hall. He felt they had done so, not for any virtue that he possessed, but on account of the fact that he was the son of an old Canterbury pilgtim and a pioneer settler iu the Southbridge district. Ho felt that, in thus honouring him, the Town Board was really honouring the pioneer settlors of the district. I'or 57 or 58 year? the old Town Hall had served its purpose well, but age had at length got the upper hand. The Town Board had wisely decided not to repair it, but to replace it with the present up-to-date building. During the last few months he had watched the building operations closely, and he felt that the Board was getting wonderful value for its money. Only the best of materials had been used, and only the best of workmanship had been put into The contractor (Mr JF. Musgrove) said it would please him to mark the occasion by asking Mrs Musgrove to present a golden key to Mr Inwood. The key was presented, and Mr Inwood unlocked the door, declaring the hall officially open. The public streamed into the hall, where a bazaar was held in the interests of the furnishing fund. The luxurious appointments were admired, and people spent readily at the stalls. Mr Griffin referred to the preparatory work expended upon the bazaar, and appealed for generous patronage by the residents. He expressed appreciation of the liberality of those who had given farm produce and other materia] for sale, and thanked those who had undertaken the duties of conducting the stalls. Following is a list of those in charge of the stalls:—Home produce: Mrs R. J. Parkin and Miss H. Lewis; jumble: Mesdames McClure and Spicer; flowers: Misses G. Hill and T. Lilley; cakes: Mesdames W. G. Hill and T. H. Bennett; work and variety: Mesdames G. B. Couch and J. A. Mackie; sweets: Mrs H. G. Hubbard and Miss T. Thoroughgood; bran tub and Christmas tree: Misses Howson; fruit salad: Mesdames M. Maw and A. J. Beaoisley; refreshment room, Mrs M. Horne. Many others assisted at the stalls. Mr G. Hannaford gave a lamb for the live weight judging competition, and Mr S. W. Worner, a lamb for the dressedweight judging. Last night a large quantity of farm produce was auctioned by Mr G. Leahy, of the Farmers' Co-operative Association. The hall has an attractive frontage The pannelling and finishing generally inside has been done in figured heart of rimu. The main hall has a seating capacity of about 400 persons, and the dress circle, of 100. The main hall measures 36ft by 60ft, the supper room 44ft by 24ft, the lounge and smokeroom 10ft by 24ft, the ladies' cloakroom 24ft by lift, and the men's cloakroom 13ft by 12ft. There are two dressing rooms, one on either side of the stage. The dress circle is 36ft by 22ft, and the Town Board meeting room, 13ft by 12ft. The main entrance is 9ft by 13ft, and a pillar on either side of the door gives a pleasing effect. A kitchen of ample dimensions has been provided. The stage floor measures 26ft Cin by 14ft, and has a circular front, near the edge of which footlights aro provided. There is a cellar beneath the stage. The front entrance and stairway leading to the gallery have been pannelled in rimu, and at the I'-ack of the dress circle is a fireproof concrete picture operating box. The interior is plastered throughout, *ll the windows are In steel frames, and the main dance floor is of 3 * lin heart of rimu. The hall is finished outside in a light buff shade# The architect was Mr G. "W. Haines, of Chriatclmrcb, and t!io contractor, Mr F, Musgrove.