TOWN HALL, CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 749, 11 January 1860, Page 4

TOWN HALL, CHRISTCHURCH.

A meeting of the shareholders duly convened by public advertisement was held in the building on the evening of Saturday, the 21st ult. j the chair was occupied by Richard Packer, Esq., chairman of the managing committee, who submitted to the meeting the following BEPOET. Your committee in presenting to you this third annual report have much pleasure in stating the progress of the undertaking to be in every respect favourable. The hall has, during the past year, furnished accommodation for the sittings of the Supreme Court. And the extent to which use has been made of it for other purposes of public utility has continued to increase. " Two additional rooms, one of them of considerable size, have been completed since your last annual meeting, and add greatly to the public accommodation. ; It having some months since been known to your committee that the piece of ground between the hall and Mr. Watson's house was for sale, they took upon themselves to agree for the purchase of it at a price to be determined by arbitration ; the price thus determined was £300. Considering the importance of securing so advantageous a site for future additions to the hall, your committee trust you will approve the steps they have taken. The receipts and expenditure of the past year show a balance in hand of £143 19s, 6d., available for distribution [as a dividend, or for any other purpose to which you may think right to devote it. It was then moved by Archdeacon Mathias, seconded by Mr. Tombs, and carried unanimously— That the report of the managing committee be adopted. It was also moved, seconded, and unanimously carried—That the purchase from Mr. Hart of the piece of land between the Town Hall and Mr. Watson's house, for the sum of £300, is fully approved by this meeting.' .

Motion was also made and carried unanimously— That of the balance now in hand the sum of £100 be applied towards the payment of the sum of £300 agreed to be paid to,Mr. Hart: and that the loan of £200 offered to be advanced on the personal security of the managing committee be accepted, and the current income of the association be appropriated towards paying off the above sum and the interest thereon until snch sum shall be entirely redeemed; ■ .

Motion was further made and carried—That the committee be fully authorised to take such steps as may best tend to the taking of further shares in the building for the purpose of completing the hall so as to render it more suitable for balls and other amusements of similar character.

This resolution was also carried unanimously, and an earnest hope expressed that those who have not taken shares and yet enjoy the accommodation the building affords for balls, &c, will liberally respond to the object of this resolution.

A unanimous vote of thanks to the Committee was then passed, after which the following gentlemen were elected a Building and Managing Committee for the current year, viz.:—-Joseph Brittan, Esq., chairman; Bichard Packer, vice-chairman and treasurer; William Wilson, honorary secretary; Messrs. J. Hall, H. W. Packer, In wood, Anderson, Fooks, Tombs, Harrington, sehr., and J. Ollivier. Four additional shares were then taken, after which a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business of the meeting. .