DUNEDIN TOWN HALL

Southland Times, Issue 19899, 18 June 1926, Page 7

DUNEDIN TOWN HALL

A BIG PROJECT. REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL. (Special to Times.) Dunedin, June 17. The Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin), submitted a report to the City Council last night on the proposal to build a new Town Hall for Dunedin. He suggested that half the surplus profit of the several trading departments should be appropriated for the purpose. He submitted the following figures:—Probable cost, architect’s estimate for building £60,000; architect’s fee 64 per cent, on £60,000, £3900; wages, clerk of works £800; seating, floor coverings and other furnishings £4500; organ (erected) and grand piano £12,300; extra for office accommodation, say £6000; contingencies, say £2500; total £90,000. The profits from the water, gas, electric and tramway departments this year totalled £114,112, this being an increase of £52,970 as compared with the previous year. The balance to the credit of renewal funds now stands at £292,319. Mr Lewin considers that there should be no difficulty in the Trading Departments being called on for half their profits. The only alternative to such a method of financing a town hall, states the report, is to raise a loan for the purpose. That would entail a yearly charge for interest and sinking fund of almost £6OOO a year which in turn would be a heavy drain on the income of the general account. The experience of Auckland and Wellington is that the revenue arising from lettings is just about sufficient to cover working costs, but provides little, if anything, towards interest and sinking fund. Mr Lewin estimated that it will take three years to erect the building. The report was adopted. A HANDSOME GIFT. HIGH CLASS PIANO FOR HALL. Dunedin, June 17. Right on the heels of the City Council’s decision to proceed with the erection of a town hall, the Bristol Piano Company has offered a gift of a full orchestral concert grand piano which was manufactured in England by Broadwood and Son and sent on loan for use at the Exhibition.