The Town Hall

Southland Times, Issue 18064, 6 February 1903, Page 2

The Town Hall

At last night's meeting of the Invercargill Borough Council the proposals for the new municipal offices and. theatre were discussed, and the following report was submitted by the special committee :

Your committee recommend (1) that the theatre seat from 1000 to 1200 persons (bui not to exceed 1200) ; (2) that the clause " offices and rooms" in the report already adopted be altered to " offices and' dressing rooms " ; (3) that there be embodied in the instructions to architects tho following directions :— (a) that in the construction of tho building everything in a reasonable way should be of fireproof material if possible ; (b) the structural arrangements to be such that the theatre shall have a brick wail dividing the front offices and rooms from the theatre, so as to imake each part fireproof by the use of double iron doors entering into the theatre from such front part ; (c) that while the Council wish a handsome and pleasing-looking building, they desire that there should be no unnecessary ornamentation or expensive upholstery, and would prefer a considerably less total • cost than £15,000, if possible, ; (4) that the town clerk, apply to the Otago and Southland Fire Underwriters' Association for an estimate of the rate of firo insurance on the new town hall, with movable or lighted scenery, as described in the classification of the Association as " public hall with movable or lighted scenery," intimating that the instruction to architects is to 6how a fireproof wall dividing such hall from the municipal offices ; the building being of brick, concrete and stone and detached at least ten feet on all sides ; ;(5) that the mayor telegraph to the mayor of Wanganui for a return of the receipts and expenditure of the Wanganui theatre and the chnrge per night."

On tho first clause Councillor Lillicrap moved that the words " not to exceed 1200 " be deleted. This was seconded, but after a short discussion was lost and tho motion carried.

Tho second clause was adopted without

discussion

On clause 3, Councillors Lillicrap and Stead objected to the words " considerably less total cost than £15,000," as no architect would know what was wanted. Tho Council should state definitely what they wanted.— Councillor Stead moved that £12,000 be substituted, but this was not seconded.— Councillor Cros-by-Smith said that the object of the clause was to prevent money being thrown away on useless ornamentation, They wanted a good handsome building, but did not desire that tho architect should design a building which would take the whole sum, when an equally good one could be secured for less. — Councillor Scandrett .aid that the architects would do their best to keep under that amount, and would have a better chance of acceptance.— Councillor McGruer said that the clause placed the Council in a peculiar position. They should say exactly what they wore prepared to spend, and let it go out to tlio architects,— Councillor Ott said that the clause was a very fair one. The architect who could give them a theatre on the terms laid down, at least cost, would have the best chance of success. — The motion was carried on the casting vote of the mayor.

The other two clauses were adopted, and the report as a whole received and adopted.

In reply to a telegram from the mayor, the Mayor of Wanganui wrote that he had boen informed by Sir Joseph Ward that it was proposed to erect a building to cost £18,000. He thought the Council would have some difficulty in paying interest and sinking fund on such a largp expenditure. The Wanganui theatre was admitted to bo one of the nicest houses in the colony. It was a handsomo wooden building on a concrete foundation, the whole of the interior plastered, and cost £5200. On this the Council pay interest at 4 per cent, and make a profit of £250 per year, after the caretaker's and manager's sallary is paid, but not Insurance. This risk the Council took themselves us the insurance companies asked a premium of £3 15s per cent. The Invercargill Council would probably have to pay something similar. Tho plans and specifications of the Wanganui theatre could be purchased. The minimum charge for the use of tho theatre was £5 per night, though higher charges were sometimes made. The manager was allowed 10 per cent, of the takings, and £30 per annum in addition, for cleaning. —The letter was referred to the special committee.