THE TOWN HALL DOORS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 41, 21 May 1907, Page 4

THE TOWN HALL DOORS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— As a member of the public body responsible for accepting the plans of the Town Hall and Public Library now nearing completion, may I ask your correspondent “ Not a Fault-finder ” if he is aware that the front entrance doors—to which the visitor whom he quotes referred as a probable death-trap in the event of fire—open outwards, as required by law; that the open space of each of these doors is three feet six inches in width, giving a combined width of seven feet, as against the double doors of the old building with their combined width of but four feet ? Also, that there is a large side-door opening outwards; that all the windows open freely; that there is a door at each end of the cross-passage at the back of the stage (the said passage having a width of five feet); and that there is also a passage, five feet in width, into the Library, and two doors to allow of egress therefrom ? The whole matter was carefully considered before the plans were drawn, There are many arguments against the kind of double doors referred to by i your correspondent, not the least of which is that the audience would have to sit freezing, on a cold night, whilst the hall was filling, unless the doors w<.re kept closed, thereby precluding entrance at all. Personally I am of opinion that the Board’s architect, Mr Matthews, is to be congratulated on the whole design of the building; especially is thi.; .;j because he was limited to a certain sum which the Board did not feel justified in exceeding. —I am, etc., W. H. Smith.