TARANAKI AMUSEMENTS. LIMITED.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144783, 13 September 1915, Page 2

TARANAKI AMUSEMENTS. LIMITED.

VERY SUCCESSFUL FLOTATION. The Taranaki Amusements Company, Ltd., went to allotment on Saturday, nearly the whole of the 27,000 shares being allotted. The successful flotation of the company in a comparatively brief time is no mean achievement, everything considered, and shows the public confidence in the town as much as in the proposition itself. No brokerage was paid, and no prospectus was issued. The company is taking over the Theatre Royal freehold property and the Empire Picture Company’s interests in the Empire Theatre and at Waitora. It is purchasing the valuable freehold block between Avery’s and the Criterion Hotel, and the section immediately behind, facing Powderham Street. .At the rear of tho present buildings a modem picture theatre, to be known as “Everybody’s,” is to be erected, with an entrance through one of the present shops. The plans are almost completed, and tenders will be called for the work almost immediately. The architects (Messrs. Grierson and Aimes, of Auckland; have instructions to make the theatre equal to the best in New Zealand. 4 fe at, ix© of the theatre will be the lighting (which is to be on the latest American principle), the ventilation, and the fire safeguards. It will have a commodious and luxuriously appointed lounge, the appointments including the latest American soda fountain. The seating, too, will be a distinctive feature, the chairs being spacious and comfortable. The company proposes rebuilding the whole of the front as soon as the present shop leases expire. It will be either a three or four story building, which should considerably improve tho appearance of tfiis portion of Devon Street. Tho company is also purchasing the corner site near the Red Post, whereon it is intended to build at a later date. The company will extend the present theatrical operations in Waitara, and is already negotiating for tho building of a new theatre in keeping with the importance of the river town. The provisional directors of the company comprise: Messrs. T. C. List (chairman), G. H. Saundars, E. P. Webster, James M’Leod, James Clarke, H. Collier and R. Neville Renaud. The solicitors are Messrs. Roy and Nicholson, the bankers the Union Bank of Australia, and the interim secretary Mr. J. Clarke. The services of Mr. G. H. Saunders, who lias managed the local theatres with eonsiderable success for some years, have been retained for the first year as manager. “Everybody’s” Theatre will he ready for opening early in the hew year. The Empire Theatre is to be altered and brightened up, and the Theatre Royal will be sot aside for travelling companies. Under the new arrangements it is expected that most of the travelling companies will later include Waitara in their- itineraries. The promoters of tho company are to be congratulated upon its signally successful flotation, and it is hoped they will meet with the success their enterprise and opportunity warrant them in anticipating. . •

The Dunedin Flower Bay .on Saturdays for leather waistcoats and the Italian Red Cross Fund, resulted in £450 being netted. Thirty of the Samoan garrison returned by the Kama on Sunday night. The Navua reported everything quiet at Samoa, and the health of the men good. —Press Association. The chairman of fibe Taranaki Hospital Board has been notified that three early cases of phthisis ex the Tahiti and one other case are being sent forward to the New Plymouth Hospital. ' A special train arrived in New Plymouth on Sunday evening at 8.20, but none of the local men who arrived by the Tahiti on Saturday were on board. The only passenger for New Plymouth was a Wellington man. Private Barney, of the Wellington Mounted Rifles, who came to New Plymouth to stay with friends. There was a fairly large orowd at the railway station. Some days ago a petition was presented, to the House of Representatives from certain of the inmates of Rotoroa Inebriates’ Home. Their prayer was that they should be given their liberty in order that they might serve the Empire in various ways at this time of war. The Petitions Committee reported to the House on Friday that it had “no recommendation to make on the petition.’’ The sum of over £ls was realised at the Red Cross Mart on Saturday for the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. The committee wish to record their thanks to Mr. Webster for the use of the room, to Hr. Bellringer for painting the Red Cross sign, and to all who donated goods, etc., for sale. The mart will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the success of the opening day indicates that the venture will prove an excellent medium fer collecting funds for wounded soldiers.