THEATRE FIRE ESCAPES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 98, 7 April 1911, Page 7

THEATRE FIRE ESCAPES

INSPECTOR’S ADVERSE RE-

PORT. At last night’s meeting of the Hastings Borough Council, the Inspector of Buildings ‘reported as follows :—

I beg to submit my report on the present condition of the Princess Theatre situated in Heretaunga street.

The structure is composed of wood with roofing of iron and has every appearance of requiring a thorough overhauling as regards both the interior and exterior. The steps from ground floor of main building are I consider inadequate to allow of easy exi from the pit, the corners of the same are open and should be returned on the ends and filled in with a wall to prevent persons overstepping the side. The front doors of the pit should be provided with suitable fasteners for holding them open. The fire escape leading from the dress circle on the west side of the building should be reconstructed, and a landing 6 feet square fixed in should be constructed at same level as dress circle floor and from this the fire escape steps, 5 feet wide should be properly secured with hand railings on each side. The. space between railings and treads of steps should be filled in with boarding to prevent any person falling through. The rise of these steps should not exceed 6 inches in height and should be brought out in line with buildings fronting Heretaunga street. Double doors each 2 feet 6 inches wide should be fixed at the. top of said fire escape and should open outwards. The present ledged door is only 2 feet 5 inches in width and quite unsuitable for the purpose intended.; f The fire escape step's on eastern side of main building leading from dress circle should be replaced with similar ones to those Herein before described and a new landing 6 feet square. These steps should also lead towaids Heretaunga street, and the present exit door from circle replaced with two doors 2 feet 6 inches wide, hung to open outwards. The archways from dress circle to fire escapes should be at least 5 feet wide instead of at present, viz., 2 feet 10 inches wide. New steps are required to be fixed at back part of building leading to conveniences. Both W.C.’s in building should be properly ventilated, and the closet pans thoroughly cleansed. It is necessary that properly constructed sanitary conveniences should be erected for the use of the public, at present there are none whatever.

The whole of the spouting and down pipe around the building is broken and requires overhauling. I would suggest that the whole of the timber and pieces of scenery and a lot of other material generally, at present strewn about all round the building, should be removed and placed some distance away in order that more easy access could be gained to the various passages connected with the structure. Also a thorough clean up of the rubbish round and under the building, nd there should be a proper rubbish bin fixed to deposit rubbish in. The Mayor : That’s a very strong report, gentlemen. Cr. Hart: It is a very strong report. It would be just as well to recommend them to re-build.

It was decided to forward the report to the proprietors of the building, and if the alterations recommended by the Inspector were not carried out, the Council take action.