A FEILDING OPERA HOUSE

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 198, 22 February 1907, Page 2

A FEILDING OPERA HOUSE

A syndicate has been formed for 1 the purpose of erecting an up-to-date i Opera House in Feilding. A cen--5 tial site has been secured, most suit- » able for shops, and convenient in- • every way. The plans of the build--1 ing provide for a thoroughly efficient ! two-storey Opera House, with two • shops as well, and will include a ■ proper dress circle, large stage, and > commodious dressing rooms. The i tact that Mr J. C. Williamson has 5 iromised to assist the syndicate, ■ both financially and by his advice, is ' a guarantee that everything will be carried out in firat-class style, and i that the building may reasonably be ; expected to have Mr Williamson's [ patronage. In order to arrange for . v smaller room for local meetings, , etc., provision will be made for par- ■ titioning off the stage and orchestra . stalls. Amongst other things* the L erection of such an Opera House" will ' raise the theatrical and dramatic tone ; of Feilding. Entertainment com- . panics recognise that Feilding is a ■ good show town, but with the con- ; ven fences they have had here in the , past, they have been averse to ask- [ ing their actors to appear, and have consequently left Feilding out of their itinerary. As there had been some talk' of i a Municipal Opera House being erect- . od here, the syndicate asked Mr F. F. Haggitt to wait on the Council last night, and Jay the matter before them. This was done, and we publish a report of the proceedings at . the meeting. ; Mr Haggitt said he thought one of tho chief wants in Feilding was ■:n Opera House. During his term i of office as Mayor he had done what be could to try and arrange for a Municipal Opera House, because the Council should have the first opportunity to erect it; but there were difficulties in the way, chiefly in the way of getting a section. A position which would not carry shops would not do, because the earnings of the Opera 'House by itself would not pay interest 'on the cost. Again, at the time, there were other matters of .more urgent importance before the Council. He did not know whether the proposal had been seriously discussed by tho Council since. He considered the Council would not be in a position to raise the money at the present time. He came before the Council at the request of a syndicate who were prepared to build an Opera House in Feilding. It was proposed to build one quite up-to-date the plans having been prepared; and he would have had them with him. to show to the Council but for the fact that they had been sent to Palmerston to be examined by Mr J. C. Williamson. The syndicate had been formed, with a capital of £10,000, and a suitable section had been secured. Over £2000 had already been subscribed, and they anticipated no difficulty whatever in obtaining the balance of the capital. The syndicate recognised that tlie Council had the prior right to erect an Opera House, and he had come to ask if they had any intention of building a Municipal Opera House. If the Council could see their way to do it in a reasonable time, then nothing more would be heard of the syndicate. The private enterprise concern could work raster than the Council, and they were prepared to go straight ahead, but they wished to consult with the Council before doing anything. The manner in which the proposal had been taken up, showed the desirability of having an up-to-date opera house in Feilding. They did not wish to compete with the Council in the matter, any more than tTie Council would wish to compete with them, and he had laid the scheme before them to get an expression of opinion. ' The Mayor said that he did not think there was any prospect of the Council erecting an opera house in this town — the ratepayers would not agree to a loan for that purpose. He realised that such a building was a necessity, and if the syndicate were prepared to go on with it, they had no fear of opposition from the Council. He had no idea up to that night that a syndicate was being formed. He thought the Council should allow them to go on with the building. Cr Harford said that the Council could not stop the syndicate if they wanted to build an opera house, but. there was no chance of building a municipal one. He would like to know what was required of the Council?

Mr Haggitt said that he had heard a good deal from ratepayers about an opera house, and in some quarters the idea was for municipaliza- j tion. They were quite prepared to give the Council the first right, but he did not think they could go on with the work at the present time. He wanted the Council's opinion on that point. Cr West said the syndicate had taken a very public-spirited action in laying the scheme before the Council. It was courtesy on their part, and the Council ought to support them. Cr Burne thought the syndicate ought to be complimented on .their enterprise. The Council had no hope of borrowing £10,000, and the syndicate would get no opposition from them. Cr P. Thomson said that he never knew one of those things to pay yet, and if the syndicate wanted to erect on«. lot them do so, and the Connoil should assist them all they could. A Cr. : Give them a bonus! Mr Hngiritt said thov did not want any bonus. He thanked the Council, for their reception of the proposal.