Page 9 Advertisements Column 1

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 38, 8 June 1907, Page 9

PROSPECTUS OF Auckland Wonderland, Limited (To be Registered under "The Companies Act, 1903.") CAPITAL - £10,000 IN 10,000 SHARES OF £1 EACH. Of the above-mentioned Shares 8,000 are to be offered to the public as follows : — 2s 6d on Application ; 2s 6d on Allotment ; And the Balance in Calls to be made in accordance with the Company's Articles of Association. DIRECTORS : JOHN CHARLES SMITH, Bond Proprietor, Auckland. HERBERT ARTHUR MARRINER, Insurance Manager, Auckland. ERNEST DAVIS, Merchant, Auckland. ARCHIBALD LAIDLAW BAIRD, Amusement Manager, Christchurch. FRANCIS KNEEBONE, Merchant, Auckland. BANKERS : NATIONAL BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, Ltd. SOLICITORS : GILLIES AND COLBECK, Shortland Street, Auckland. AUDITOR : W. H. CHURTON, F.S.A.A., England. INTERIM SECRETARY : E. CANAVAN SMITH, 22, Shortland Street, Auckland. OBJECTS OF THE COMPANY This Company is formed to acquire from Mr E. C. Smith, hereinafter called the Vendor, all his right, title, and interest in the option of lease over certain land situated at Khyber Pass, Auckland, an area of about six acres, adjoining Hancock's Brewery, -whereon it is proposed to erect a thoroughly up-to-date Amusement Resort, to be known as " Wonderland." The rental is only £200 per annum, with 20,000 gallons of water daily, free. Mr A. L. Baird (late Director and General Manager of " The Wonderland Proprietary, Limited "), who supervised the erection of all the side shows comprised in Wonderland, at the New Zealand international Exhibition at Christchurch, undertakes to erect at the cost of the Company the various structures detailed below (or such others as may afterwards be arranged) from special plans exclusively in his possession, and to satisfy any claims for royalty that may be due thereon. The land secured is undoubtedly the most suitable in the environs of Auckland, being well situated in the Khyber Pass Roadj and served by tram or train. There is a large population within easy walking distance. Auckland, whilst the most progressive city and busiest commercial centre in the Colony, is singularly deficient in Amusement Resorts, and it is felt that the new venture will be enthusiastically welcomed by all classes of the community. It is the intention of the management to conduct the undertaking in a thoroughly up-to-date and high-class manner, on -the lines that have proved so highly successful at "carl's Court," London "Princes' Court," Melbourne, and "Wonderland" at the New Zealand International Exhibition, at Christchurch. The success of the latter undertaking as a popular resort is widely known, and has been the means of increasing public interest in outdoor amusement and it is felt that the time is now ripe for the opening of a popular ground equipped with the latest money-making attractions and sensations in Auckland. The great charm of "WONDERLAND " will be its tastefully laid-out grounds, artistic architecture, and its myriads of electric lights. Highclass Tea and Supper Rooms will be provided, and an excellent Band will play nightly. The catering will be a special feature. Water Chute. — This will be the sixth Chute to be erected by Mr A. L. Baird in Australasia, and will be equipped with the very latest devices to ensure rapid and safe handling of large crowds. It is estimated that this Chute will be able to deal with nearly three times as many passengers in a given time as the one at " Princes' Court," and will be built on the exact lines of the famous Chute at CHUTE'S PARK, Chicago — the finest in the world. The Chute at " Princes' Court," Melbourne, has proved a phenomenal draw, and a great money-maker, as has been the case wherever a Chute has been erected, whilst the " Wonderland " Chute at the New Zealand International Exhibition has handled about 350,000 passengers to the end of the Exhibition without hitch or accident of any kind. , Baird's Camel-Back Toboggan has proved probably the most popular and permanent attraction at "Wonderland," frequently carrying over five thousand passengers a day. The great fascination of the Toboggan is that it calls for the exercise of considerable skill and individuality, a feature entirely absent in other attractions of a somewhat similar nature. It also affords opportunity for interesting races, which greatly enhance we Toboggan's permanent powers of attraction. The Toboggan to be built will be on the same lines as the one in "Wonderland," Christchurch, which is at present the largest Camel-Back Toboggan in existence. "Wonderland " Toboggan will be the seventh built by Mr Baird in Australasia. Katzenjammer Castle. — This well-known feature of "Wonderland " will be duplicated, but with improvements and additions lately invented in America, and which are so arranged as to allow of continued variation. This attraction was one of the most successful of the Exhibition, and it is calculated to have earned more than three times its cost after defraying running and lighting expenses at the close of the Exhibition season. The Castle has taken over £100 in one day. Its average weekly expenses are £8. Laughing Gallery. — This arrangement of Distorting Mirrors, as installed in every up-to-date Amusement Ground in the world, is immensely popular ; the first cost is low, and operating expenses nominal, whilst its capacity is only limited by the speed of the ticket-seller. Haunted Swing. — A highly popular and cheap illusion, and a leadine; feature of Mr Baird's Concessions at Bondi, Sydney. Helter Skelter. — The Helter Skelter erected by Mr Baird at " Princes' Court," Melbourne, and at "Wonderland," immediately caught on ; the low first cost, and small working expenses, make this a highly profitable concern. It is immensely popular with the public, over seven thousand persons having patronised it in one day in " Wonderland." Rifle Range. — The popular sport of Rifle Shooting will be catered for in a thoroughly up-to-date and improved range, such as has not yet been seen in Auckland. A Miniature Rifle Range is always a most popular resort, while the running expenses are extremely small Merry-Go-Round. — This universal favourite, dear to the hearts of all children, (young and old), will be a feature of the grounds. In addition to the above principal features, a number of smaller and cheaper attractions will be added from time to time as occasion may require. The erection of the various attractions will be under the sole supervision and control of Mr A. L. Baird, who has had great experience in this class of work. He has designed, built, and managed Steyne Court, Manly, Sydney, Princes' Court, Melbourne, and "Wonderland "at the New Zealand International Exhibition, and has just completed arrangements to erect a complete Wonderland for a large Wellington Company at Miramar. Mr Baird will act as Managing Director of the Company for a period of at least one year. The Vendor has secured the option over the whole of the plant, motors, machinery, fittings, timbers, iron, turnstyles. and other property used in and about the side shows known as " Wonderland " at the New Zealand International Exhibition at Christchurch, including five camels for the very moderate sum of £1750. The Vendor will hand this option over to the proposed Company at the same figure as contained in his own option. As an evidence of their faith in the project, both the Vendor and Mr A. L. Baird are subscribing for shares in the Company to the extent of £800 in all. It is expected that Wonderland will be successfully operated for a mimber of years, and when it is borne in mind that the Wonderland Company in Christchurch will pay about ten per cent, dividend and their capital in full to the shareholders, as the result of only 5§ months' working hampered as it was by exceptionaly heavy charges for electric light and power, and the payment of about £2000 to the Govermnent in royalties alone, to say nothing of the fact that every visitor to Wonderland had to pay Is at the Exhibition gates in the first place, the results in Auckland should prove highly satisfactory to all concerned. As an instance of the popularity of this class of venture in America, there are at present over 1500 such resorts in the United States and Canada, and on the authority of the leading American Theatrical Weekly there has not been a single failure in three years past. Mr Baird's concessions at Bondi, Sydney, will repay 75 per cent, of the capital as the result of four months' working, whilst another syndicate promoted by Mr Baird at Princes' Court, Melbourne, has returned the whole of the capital in the first season, and will pay over 50 per cent, dividend tor the present season just closing. The Share List will be open on Monday, 3rd June, at 10 a.m., and will close on Monday, 10th June, at 4 p.m. Since the registration of mis Prospectus, over 3,000 share* have been applied for, . •■•