THEATRE REQUIREMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13657, 28 July 1908, Page 6

THEATRE REQUIREMENTS

i'RAG'JLTCAUA" COMPLKTEIJ

At the Borough Council meeting last night some- little time wae» occupied with a discussion over the improvements demanded by the Council in the Theatre Royal. iUr W. A. Gunn applied for a renewal of the license. The inspector of Public Buildings, Ml' J. R. Smith, reported that the a iterations stipulated were nearly completed, e., cv.pt the grading of the, clay bank to give e;.sy access from the back to Barnard stieut, and the passage through the middle of the drci-.s circle had not been made. One or two other lesser detailri were incomplete. letters from Mr J. S. Turnbull, architect, explaining former deiays, were received.

Mr Turnbull waited on the Council to ask for the withdrawal of the request for an alky-way to be made down the n• ddle of the drets circle, as in. order lo do thi-s the whole of the seats would have to bo lifted and refixed, because they were ill rows tip and down. This ailey-way vats not asked for by the Council, lut v h suggested by their side. The clay oank was practicable now. but! could easily be improved. Otherwise they had done everything I lie Inspector had demanded, and, in fact, tliey ii.id i!v.ne at least one thing that was u.-velei:S in erecting a ladder at tins wrong side of the Hies.

Mr Turnbull having retired, the Council d'teeuKfied the matter. Councillor Leathwick saw no dilliculty in making a. central paiasage through the dretis circle; it. would only require f slight curve. The passag-pn in the eiall* ought to be 4ff. wide; they were only 2ft 2in, and this», "he considered, a serious matter.

Councillor Raymond said • in- cwiierx lind done more than was -isked for in other tilings; Uic passage in the circle was their own suggestion; and if they divided all the passages there would be 110 mating k ft - Councillor Lealhwick : But 5s it safe ? Councillor Parks said it had been safe, for man3 r years. Councillor Sattertlnvaite (said that a. great improvement had been made in the tire-escapes, and ho thought the theatre .should "do now till they got ihe law municipal theatre acrws the road." Councillors Oborn and fcjealey ,pr»-pnsed that the license be granted on the Inspeetoi* reporting that the : alterations were completed ; but as this implied the making of the central passage in thw duii-i circle, which Iho Council agreed not to insist upon, the motion was altered to extend the permit for a fortnight (the given time to get; the clay bank cut down) and was then agreed to. Councillor Leatihwick ■said that'i viral} had been done, was well done. .the wafer screen over I lie stage was a. good thing.