SAVED FOR WAIHI

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXV, Issue 7721, 12 July 1928, Page 2

SAVED FOR WAIHI

KING'S THEATRE TO STAY IN TOWN PURCHASED BY CHURCH STILL AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC The cyclonic storm that struck Waihi on Friday, June 29th, did a great deal of damage, the greatest undoubtedly, both from the point of view of the owners and the public of Waihi generally, being that done to the King’s Theatre in Haszard Street. This hall lias for many years served a most useful purpose, it being the only suitable building in the town for the holding of church bazaars socials flower shows, boxing tourneys and other fixtures of any magnitude. The theatre has from time to time been the scene of many brilliant gatherings and the announcement that the owners (Haywards Pictures, Ltd.) had decided not to reinstate the damage but to have the building sold for removal gave no little concern to the various bodies who have from time to time used it for the holding of their functions. Apart from this its deinoiii.ion would have bene a retrograde step and have given Waihi’s jeremiads another peg upon which to hang their gloomy predictions that the town is radiply going to the dogs, but they will fortunately not now haw; the opportunity of voicing their doleful stories, as the building is to remain, I and the damage be reinstated,

INTENDED IMPROVEMENTS At a meeting of the vestry of St. John’s Anglican Church on Tuesday evening the question of retaining the' hall for Waihi was raised, and it was decided to make an offer for the building os it stands. This was done and the price, which has not been disclosed but is said to bo favourable to the purchasers, was accepted. Seen yesterday as to the intention of the vestry a member informed a representative of the “Telegraph’ that immediate stops would be taken to make the building secure against the weather, and tnat at the earliest possible moment the theatre would be put into a thorough state of repair. Supper and dressing rooms and a kitchen will be added to the rear of the building, taking tho place of the portion demolished by the gale, and to bring the hall thor mghy up-to-date electric light will be installed. When these works have been completed and the building has been renovated and made comfortable it will bo used for church socials, bazaars, etc., and will also “be made available to other bodies for approved entertainments and functions. In the meantime the building will remain on the present site, but the intention of tho vestry is to have it removed to the church properly in upper Seddon Street at some later date. When that time comes it will bo erected alongside the Sunday school, the vestry recognising that the day is approaching when the building at. present in use will require such extensive renovations that tho cheaper plan would be to remove the King’s Theatre and use it for Sunday school purposes. CHANGE OF NAME

Its ultimate removal will not, however, mean that it will ho no longer at the disposal of other bodies requiring the use of a large hall for entertainments and other approved functions and gatherings, but it is. of course, likely ill at its name will be changed. “This matter,” remarked the vestryman interviewed, in referring to a change of name, “is, however, not one calling for immediate consideration, the first thing will be to make the building more worthy of a name.” The action of St. John's vestry in acquiring the theatre will be approved by all townspeople outside the church, and it is to lie hoped that the enterprise shown will be handsomely repaid by the frequent public use of the building for various gatherings.