CANTERBURY HALL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2018, 3 August 1920, Page 10

CANTERBURY HALL.

PROPOSED CITY OFFICE BLOCK. Tlic Town Hall scheme ami the Can- i terbury Hall reconstruction scheme were brought up at last evening's meet- 1 tug of the Christchurch City Council, when Or J. A. b'leshov presented an oral report on the proposals for erecting an administrative office block ou the Canterbury Hall site. The special committee, he said, had examined the draft plans that had been prepared. These provided for the utilisation of the existing front of the hall. The committee was awaiting sketches showing how the interior of the proposed building might be utilised by the council. They believed that, ' when a decision was reached, the work could be quickly started. It was desirable that a beginning should be made as soon as possible, because the council at present was losing £IOOO a year on the site. It, was suggested, said Cr Plesher, that a third story should be erected on the southern part of the building, and that this should be used to accommodate the council's officials and the council chamber. The floor below could be let at a profit, and good access could be given by a lift. The northern part of the building, it was suggested, could be given over to a City Hall, seating 2080 people, and suitable for functions of all kinds. The scheme could be carried through economically — for about £IOO,OOO, it was thought. Cr K. E. Langley: Have any arrangements been made for a poll of the ratepayers upon the erection of a Town Hall on the Victoria Square site? Cr Flesher replied that no arrangements had been made. The council could not get permission to build on that site. Before going on with such a scheme, it should finish what it had iu hand.

Cr Langley: The council resolved to take a poll. If the committee is blocking it, I can only say that someone is doing a tremendous shuffle. The committee ought, to be "shunted," and another put iu its place.

The Mayor: Do you move that a referendum of the ratepayers lie. taken? t'r Langley: The council has carried it already.

The matter then dropped

USE FOR OLD BUILDING.

MR FLESHER'S SUGGESTIONS. A further statement on the Canterbury Hail reconstruction scheme was made to-day by Mr .1. A. Flesher to a St.'iV representative. Mr Flesher said that, when the proposal for acquiring the site was put before the ratepayers, a part of the "prospectus" was that portions of th*» previous building, valued at £00(10 to £BOOO, would go with tbe property. The whole of the foundations were there, and the wall at the front was practically intact. The side walls could also be used to some extent. The basement under the old stage was also iit good order. The special committee was therefore getting a report from the City Engineer, which the committee would submit later, as to the best means of utilising the property as it stood. Mr Flesher went on to outline the scheme for the provision of municipal offices, council chambers, and offices for Jetting purposes, in conjunction witl) a hall. Plans had been prepared by the 01.l Canterbury Hall Co., Ltd., for the reconstruction of His Majesty's Theatre. An examination of these plans showed that a hall, capable of seating 2000 persons at least, coukl be constructed on the ground floor. This would be suitaide for balls, concerts, or public meetings. It would have one gallery. The (dd platform could be reconstructed, and shut off so as to provide a supper room. On these lines, generally, a plan and report would be submitted to the City Council, which, of course, would approve of the scheme or otherwise.

Mr Flesher was asked if tliis hall would take the place of the proposed Town Hall.

"Oh, no!" was the reply. "It is in no v%ay meant for that. If it were profited, it would mean that the property had been utilised to the best, advantage. Seeing that the old building was erected for hall purposes originally, and the frout and other portions are still there, it would lie waste of money not to make use of these. That is the proposal at present." "Don't you think the carrying out of this might react against the Town Hall scheme.'*' Mr Flesher was then asked.

Mr Flesher replied that this \vas a matter for the ratepayers. They could, agree to the scheme in connection with the Canterbury Hall site if they thought that the providing of a hail, as well as offices, was the best way of utilising the property. To a question whether the ratepayers would have the opportunity of considering the committee's proposal, Mr Flesher said that a proposal for a loan would have to be put before them. By that method, they would have an opportunity of deciding. He added that the city was losing £IOOO a year at present in connection with the property, this representing interest on the capital cost and loss of rates. The property should be made to produce revenue as soon as possible.