TEMPERANCE HALL, ALBERTSTREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3997, 3 September 1874, Page 3

TEMPERANCE HALL, ALBERTSTREET.

The re-opening of tliis hall was inaugurated, last evening by a concert and literary entertainment, which was in the highest degree successful. The interior of the building has undergone considerable alteration and renovation, which makes it especially adapted to lectures, concerts, and entertainments of various kinds. Strictly speaking the place -will be the permanent home of the total abstinence movement in Auckland. The alterations will be appreciated by tlioae who remember the old Congregational Chapel. The space formerly occupied by the pulpit, and a considerable space in addition is now occupied as an orchestra and choir. Its breadth runs the whole width of the building, and it will accommodate fifty performers. The wainscoting has been painted and varnished, and the vestibule immediately in front of the hall has undergone similar decoration. There were, last evening, nearly thirty voices in the choir. Colonel Haultain occupied the chair, and opened the proceedings with a statement of the objects of the entertainment. This was followed by several glees and part-songs. There were one or two features of the performance which possessed especial merit. One of these was a" series of instrumental duets (pianoforte and violin), which thoroughly deserved the applause it received. The literarypart of the entertainment was also very good. The readers were Messrs. Ewington, White, and Battley. The selections were so judicious as to create sympathy with the reader in each case, and the consequence was a really higher degree of success than is usually obtained by this kind of performance in the presence of a mixed audience. Mr. Coleman made a very sensible speech upon the claims of the temperance movement. It was a very calm exposition of the principles and claims of the cause. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. Mr. Turner and other gentlemen. Besides the spacious hall, which was filled last evening with interested and appreciative auditors, there is a large school-room available for a variety of purposes. We believe chat before long a spacious structure will be raised as indicative of the progress of this thoroughly social reform.