ORGAN WILL BE BOUGHT FOR NEW CONCERT HALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18187, 21 June 1927, Page 13

ORGAN WILL BE BOUGHT FOR NEW CONCERT HALL.

CITY COUNCIL GIVES AUTHORITY TO PURCHASE. Authority to purchase for the city concert hall an organ, to cost not more than the sum available from the insurances on the organ destroyed by the fire in His Majesty’s Theatre some vears ago, was given by the City Council to the Concert Hall Committee last night. Councillor J. W. Beanland, chairman of the committee, said that a meeting had been held that afternoon, and was attended by a number of musical people. The question of providing an organ was discussed, and the committee requested the council to come to a decision in the matter. lie understood that a sum of about £7OOO was in hand from the insurances on the old organ. He suggested that the committee lie authorised to purchase an organ Costing not more than £BOOO. Councillor D. Q. Sullivan, M.P., chairman of the Finance Committee, urged that the amount should not exceed the money in hand. Councillor 11. T. Armstrong, M.P., said that the council had a specification for an organ that would cost about £7OOO, if it were not for the enormous import duty that would have to be paid. The Mayor said that he was informed by the Town Clerk that the council would have about £7500 at the end of the year. Councillor Elizabeth M’Combs said that the cost depended on the number of stops provided. The organ could be added to on future occasions. Councillor Sullivan said that he understood from Dr Bradshaw that an organ could be provided for £7OOO. It was decided to authorise the committee to purchase an organ to cost not more than the amount of the money in hand from the insurances on the old organ.