TOWN HALL RECONSTRUCTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3010, 13 March 1926, Page 2

TOWN HALL RECONSTRUCTION.

BOROUGH COUNCIL’S ACTIVITIES.

INTERVIEW WIITII ARCHITECT,

Members of the Borough Council met Mr. Varnham, architect, at the Council Chambers on Thursday afternoon and went into tho question of the erection of a new Town Hall. The plans of the old hall were submitted to the meeting and various alterations discussed.

It was decided that the building be erected on the site of the old hall and in main, the new structure will conform with the previous building. The supper-room will be 10 feet larger than previously and the dress circle will be of different design. Instead of being supported by several pillars, as previously only one solid steel pillar wili support a steel girder which will run the whole width of the dress circle. The auditorium will be 20 feet larger also and the seating accommodation will be for 1000 persons. The stage will not be as . cumbersome as previously and there will be no dressing rooms at the rear of the new building. These will be placed at either side of the stage. Roller scenes will be used and this will obviate the necessity of having the rear portion of the building made higher than the rest of the building as was the case with the old hall in which perpendicular drop scenes were used. The building is to be of brick construction and Mr. Varnham will submit pencil plans of the building to the Council within a week. As soon as the plans proper are approved tenders will be called for the building and preliminaries are all expected to be completed by the end of the present month.

It has not yet been decided whether a caretaker’s cottage will be erected in conjunction with the new building. The Town Clerk (Mr. Wm. Trueman) is taking a keen interest in the new plans and is leaving no stone unturned to have every facility possible for the comfort, of Town Hall patrons installed in the new hall. THE TEMPORAR Y BUILDING. TO BE COMMENCED IMMEDIATELY". At a meeting of the Foxton Silver Band on Thursday night it was decided that the band vacate their practice-room in qrder that the Council may have the use of it in connection with the erection of a temporary hall. The meeting also expressed regret at the loss the Council had sustained and wholeheartedly offered their services to co-operate in any way in order to assist the Council in their present trouble.

Mr. Win. Trueman and Mr. H. lieid leave on Monday for Wellington to purchase a new biograph machine. The screen for the temporary hall arrived at midday today.

Mr. R. Easton commences work on the temporary building on Monday. ..Ai,

The new hall will have a more* elegant appearance than the old building possessed. There will be no cloak rooms up stairs, but French-windows will open out on to a balcony from the passage-way skirting the staff’s, and leading to the operating box. On the whole the front appearance of the new hall will possess that stately dignity which should associate itself with a Town Hall.