BRILLIANT LIGHTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 749, 23 August 1929, Page 16

BRILLIANT LIGHTING

NEW CIVIC THEATRE QUESTION OF BY-LAWS Brilliant electric signs are a proposal for the adornment of the new Civic Theatre now in course of construction on the civic centre site. Permission to erect four signs was sought by the architects from the City Council last evening. The acting city engineer reported that two “Neon” electric signs on the parapets of the Queen and Wellesley Street frontages would each be 64 feet long and eight feet deep, and the proposed signs represented the latest form of electrical advertising, and the request might be granted under the by-laws. As, however, it. was proposed to use them as advertising mediums, the question of whether the usual license 'fees of Is 6d per square yard per annum should be paid, was one that should, in his opinion, be taken into consideration if the application were favourably considered. In regard to the two vertical angular signs above the main entrance to the theatre, this sign was to be 44 feet in height by seven feet wide, and would project six feet six inches beyond the face of the building, and this is contrary to the provisions cf the bylaw's both in respect to width and overhang, which latter was definitely fixed at 12 inches. Moreover, he inclined to the view that signs such as the ones proposed would not enhance the architectural features of the building, and he was unable to recommend that the application for these signs be granted. In regard to the suggested sign “Civic Theatre” behind the top of the perpendicular signs referred to, the by-laws restricted the width of such a sign to tvjo feet, whereas this was to be three feet deep. Seeing, however, that it was approximately 70 feet above the level of the pavement, the request might be favourably considered, but the sign should not project more than 12 inches beyond the face of the building. The question was referred to the Works Committee with power to act