THEATRES AND FIRE RISKS. SUPERINTENDENT HUGO'S REPORT.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1904, Page 5

THEATRES AND FIRE RISKS. SUPERINTENDENT HUGO'S REPORT.

The following aie extracts from the reports of Superintendent Hugo, of the Fire Brigade, on the loci thoulies, which documents wore read tit the meeting of thu City Council last evening: — THE OPERA. HOUSE. Reporting on 7th Jauuaiy, the Superintendent Bny»: — The Opera House bus an exit capacity 30ft 6in from tho auditorium for 1668 people, livit what makes thin very much worse, the family circle (536 people), dress circle (282), stalls (520), and hay only 80 peoplo from tho pit — ii total of 1408 people— all converge on tho two passages leading to Mannersbtroet, each passage only having a clear way of 6ft 6in ouch. I here beg to make (i number of suggestions for tho safety of the public in general. From the family circlo a doorway should be made in the eastern wall, with a staircase to tho ground 6ft in width. A similar door and staircase from tho dress circle. Should this not bo practicable from tho dress circle, an atleniative though not as good a plan would be a staircase from tho foyer direct to the street. Stalls : Tho present doorway and passage on the eastern sido of thu stalls should be increased to Sft in width. Pit: A passage down (he centre and one on each side 2ft 6iu wide, seala to bo provided with backs. No loose chairs or forms to be allowed in any part of tho auditorium ; corners of tho present staircases to be rounded oil ; all doors to bo fitted so that they swing clear of tho staircases ; external fire-escapes to bo provided from rear of dressing-rooms ; all exit» and doors for use by the public must be clearly indicated by words printed in letters not less than six inches in length, 'such doors to bo unfostenod during performance and open during intervals and at conclusion of performance ; all doors in prosoenium wall to bo iire-prool and self-closing ; curtains to be fire-proofed ; all gas pipes to bt> of brass or iron, gas brackets to luivo sufficient wire guards ; tomahawks to bo kept in flies, rugs to bo kept in wings, firemen in uniform to be on duty during all performances, all combustible and extra stage-light effects to be under tho control of the firemen ; before the doors aro opened for any performance the firemen to inspect all purls of the theatre, see that everything is in order, and report accordingly to peison in chargo of tho theatre ; doors not to be opened until such report is made ; fireufurm direct to fire-station ; smoking and striking matches on or about the stugo and auditorium to be strictly prohibited ; notices to this effect to be posted ; all fire-appliances, etc., to be tested every six months. I would further tuggest that it be made a misdemeanour on the part of tho person doiug so for any perhoii to sit on tUiy passage or on any Bcaircaao in the auditorium, of any theatre during tho performance." THEATRE ROYAL. Tho fire risk of this building as a. theatre is so bad that nothing short of rebuilding can render it safe. The exits provided for the audience in tho case of fire or panic aro reasonably fair. Dress circlet Seating capacity 164, standing 60; doorway 4ft 7in leading to vestibule; escape dooi 4ft wide, staircase to passage around side and back of theatre to Johnston-street. Stalls: Seating capacity 547, standing 30 ; two doors to vestibule, 4ft 9in and 7ft 6in respectively ; one escape door 4ft 9in wide into patrenge on north Bide ; there are four doors leading from vestibulo to Johnston street, ench 4ft sin wide. Pit: Seat ing capacity 150, standing 60 ; doorway sft rtide, leading on to staircase on right-of-way off' Johustou-strcet ; an exit capacity of 30ft 6in from the auditorium for 1011 people. For tho safely of tho public, and in some measure to reduce tho dtfngor of lire, I beg to make the following suggestions!— All seats to bo firmly fixed to Hie floor in stalls and pit; backs to be put on seats in pit ; gangways 2ft 6in wide to bo provided in stalls, on© in each half centre and one on north side of stalls j wicket between orchestra stalls and stalls on north side to be removed ; ventilating apparatus in gangways to bo .so covered that the public are not liable to bo tripped by them ; hydrant and, hose to be fixed in stalls ; same In dress circlo to bo put in order ; passage round side and rear of theatre to bo kept clear of all encumbrances except gas tanks. AH exits and doors for use by the public must be clearly indicated by words" printed in letters not less than six inches ,id length ; doors to be unfastened during performance, opon during interval and at conclusion of performance ; aH gas to bo removed from rhat portion of the theatre comprising the stage, flies, dress-ing-rooms, .etc., with the exception of three or four gas jots in caso of failure of the electric light, which should bo inntal.ed in lieu of tho gas ; all gas jets to havo efficient wire guards; no combustible stage effects to be allowed ; opening over proscenium wall to roof to bo boarded u,p (this will necessitate more ventilators or louvres in the stag© roof) : three gallon chemicals to be placed in ench dressing-room passage and one on p.p. Ride; doors in proscenium wall to bo made self-closing-, tomahawks to bo kept in flies, r iig3 to be kept in wings, curtain 1o bo firo proofed ; firemen in uniform to bo on duty during all performances, all extra stage light effects to bo nnder- control of firemen; before tho doors are openod for any performance tho iiremen should inspect all parts of the theatre, &co thufc everything is in order, and roport accordingly to The person in charge of the theatre, doors not j to be open until suoh report is made; fire-alarm direct to fire-station ; smoking ! or striking matches on or about the stage or auditorium to be strictly prohibited, notices lo that effect lo be posted; all lire appliances to be tested every siv months. J HIS MAJESTY'S. With regard to His Majesty's Theatre the Superintendent reported under date cist January : — "Total oxit capacity 39ft 6in /for an <?s.timntcd audience of 1100. I bug to make the further following suggestions : —All seats to be firmly fixed to the floor nnd to be provided wit* backs ; no loose seats of any description to be allowed in auditorium j a set vice of gas to be installed sufficient to light tho auditorium and stage should any accident happen to the electric light; curtain to be lire-proof (there are various ways of providing for this, and a good one, in my opinion, is that of a water curtain ; this consists of a perforated pipo carried completely around tho proscenium opening immediately behind the curtain proper. This pipo should be of brass to prevent corrosion). Hydrant and hose to bo placed in gallery; two three gallon chemicals to bo placed oil stage ; rugs to be kept on slage; no lime or cuknnn tanks to be allowed in the building ; no combustible light effects to bo allowed ; nil extra stago light effects to be under tho control of the liremen ; smoking or striking matches oi| or about the stage, or auditorium (o be prohibited ; notices to lhat effect lo bo posted ; all exits and doors for use of tho public to bo clout ly indicated by words printed in letters 6iu in length, such doors to bo unfastened during performajico and open at the conclusion of same ; a fireman to be on duty during performances ; all firo appliances to be tested every six months." REPORT OF COMMITTEE. Refoning to the above »port«, the By.

laws and Eire Brigade Committee (Chairman, Councillor Fzaid) leported that it had endorsed the Mayor's action in. his notices to the o'vnerß of the Opeia House and Theultc Royal. The report of Uie Committee adds: — "The Opeia House have replied making alternative suggestions. Ihe Committee, however, recommend that the proposals of the Superintendent, as already conveyed to the directois of the Opera, House Company, be adheted to, and "That a reply be sent accordingly. With regard to tho Theatre Royal, no further action has been taken, inasmuch as the matter is at present before tho Courts. A further report has been ieceivcd from the (Superintendent with loguid to His Majesty's Theatre. The Committee recommend that these reports and tho action already taken thereon, bo adopted." DISCUSSION IN COUNCIL. Considerable dihcupsion ensued on the reading of the repot Ui. Councillor Izard said the Superintendent of tho Firo Brigade had reported to him that, with regard .to the providing of a second exit from the family circle at tho Opera Hou&e, ho lanv no alternative to a btaircose on one sido or the other; and that perhaps the- Opera House. Company's iuchitecl could make a suggestion. Councillor Nathan, who mentioned that ho had a slight interest in the Theatre Royal (of which tho Council was tho ground -owner), considered that it was strange that a license^ previously granted had been refused because of a firo somewhere else. Had there been any previous j reports of the Superintendent on tho theutrce, and were they available? Councillor Izard, Chairman of the Committee, stated in reply to Councillor Nathan, that when Mr. Dix took the Tli3atro Royal ho made certain alterations,and thero was groat hesitation on the part of tho Council and the committee at the time whether a liceiise should be granted. A great many things were asked for, and wero promised, that- were not carried out. The Council at. that lime debated at length whether it should insist on a- fire-proof curtain, and a majority decidpd not to insist. Tho Superintendent always reported firmly in favour of a fire-proof curtain, and of other precautions separating the stago from the auditorium. Councillor Nathan asked if the Mayor would answer his questiou. Tho flavor coij'sidered the Chairman of the committee bad answered it. Councillor Nathan said ho had not answered the question whether Uie Superintendent, had made previous reports, whether the committco had considered them, and whether they were. available. Councillor Luke, who insisted that dollars must be entirely eliminated from such a question, regretted that the directors of the Opera House had not conferred at once in a businesslike way with the Mayor, so that they might havo mado. ample provision for the precautions required. He- went as far as did the- Superintendent aa regards the requirements fai public safety. Becayse a paicc was passed two years ago, that aid not bind tho Superintendent to continue to think it top to requirements. He asked if any report had been before the committee as to the state of churches in Wellington? Councillor Izard replied in tho affirmative, and said the matter was being dealt with. Councillor Luke considered that some of the chiirchca were a bigger menace to miblip safety than somo of the. theatres, lie would not pcisonally go to evening servico in some of them in their present state. Councillor Devino warned against panic action, and thought the Council should go slowly. If tho danger was so pressing, the officers could surely have reported it before. Tho Mayor said he was sure no Councillor would accuse Superintendent Hugo of bring his head. 'Ihe Superintendent was tho coolest man ih the city, and the most iw>lf-po.«ae.*sSed. He- (His Worship) considered tho Superintendent one of tno most capablo men wo could possibly have in the position he held. Several Councillors said they would speak at length but fof sub judico resttictions. Councillor Izard said there were previous reports by the Superintendent, and their wevo also uvail.il>l«>. 'Iho report w«* adopted. THEATRE ROYAL LICENSE REFUSED. Tho Council, after going into committco, decided to refuse Mr. Dixs application for renewal |of license, on tho ground of tho Superintendent's report.