A BIG VENTURE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 16 July 1910, Page 4

A BIG VENTURE.

PROPOSED NEW SKATING RINK , assu Pit'lUlUi SHoW. Hr..'Alfred Linley, of the firm,.of Messrs. .Limey alio. i)oitovan and .West'a Picture anon;, leit by tae Unmaroa tor Syuuey last evening, witn tne intention ot investigating lac latest improvements in' sKaang nuns in Australia, particularly tue new process of floor which inaKes roiler skatiug as easy as ice skating. It is a special compound with polished surface with a sond loimda. tion, aud is noiseless. Messrs. Liniey and Donovan have secured tho option from Messrs. Dwan Bros, of a large block, of iaud in the centre of the city, upon which they propose to erect an up-to-date skating rink and picture show. Mr. J. Bennio, architect, .has drawn the plans which provide for a skating surface of 83ft. x 200 ft. The proposed structure' also carries a gallery or dress circle capable ol accommodating 800 people. The premises are suitable for a theatre or picture show when not used for skating. The total seating capacity of. the building, inc'.nd-i-og v the ground floor and gallery, is 2GOO. Provision is made in the plans to enablo the proprietors to convert it into an up-to-date opera house if necessary at a later date, with a stage space of GOft. x 83ft., with a seating capacity of 2200. The proposed building has been planned on most modern lir.es. with twelve fire escapes on tho ground floor and dress circle, which will enable the premises to be emptied in the' short space of three minutes. The structure will. have the advantage of frontages to two streets, and being in a central position should prove a pleasant addition to the places of amusement in the city. To give an idea of the size of the building it may bo mentioned that the seating accommodation of the Opera House is 1300, King's Theatre 1300. and Town Hall 3000.Mr. Linley will be away about a month inquiring into all details necessary for an up-to-date ti'ace of amusement. The firm will probacy, we are informed, arrange for the construction of similar buildings in Auckland. Christchuroh, and Dunedin, as well as Wellington. .