ALTERATIONS TO THE OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 5

ALTERATIONS TO THE OPERA HOUSE.

The extensive alterations being made to the Opera House will practically rearrange, the entrances. A new exit is being made, from the vestibule of the dross circle by a six-foot brick and cement staircase that descends through the office formerly occupied by Messrs Jamieson Bros., to Manners street. This staircase will bo in two flights, the higher one being at right angles to the lower, with a landing connecting the two. After tho Paderewski season, the pit is to bo done away with altogether, and the back stalls will be extended to tho roar wall -of the auditorium. Simultaneously a four-foot aisle will be provided, dividing the stalls equally from the present pit entrance to the orchestra barrier. This entrance will then be the only one to the stalls; tho present one will bo reserved as a fire-escape. 'The existing entrance to the stalls and family circle will be reserved entirely for patrons of the latter part of the louse, who will also have an untrammelled exit in the corresponding staircase on the other sido of the theatre, wee the dress circle people get used to tho new exit. With a fine central aisle and three large exits into Hammers street, it is estimated that tho stalls will bo easily cleared in less than two minutes, while patrons upstairs will descend by a _ fire-proof staircase area equal to any in Australasia,