New Public Hall.

Patea Mail, 10 May 1881, Page 3

New Public Hall.

The Patea Harmonic Society have decided to erect a new hall, for the society’s use and for public purposes. The subject has been under consideration for several weeks. The society bad purchased a section in Cambridge street some time ago, and on the Town Hall passing into private hands, the society’s committee agreed to recommend the immediate erection of a Harmonic Hall, A special general meeting of the society was convened, but before a decision was arrived at an offer was received of a section near the Post Office, Mr Thomas Haywood being willing to give sufficient ground if the hall were to be erected on his sidefrontage opposite the Wesleyan Church. This caused a decision to be postponed, and before the society met again, a counter-offer was received to the effect that half-a-dozen property owners guaranteed a donation of £l2O on condition that a tender should be accepted for erecting a hall on the society’s section in Cambridge-street. A third offer was received later, Mr Odgers proposing to give a section at the lower end of Taranaki road, opposite the English Church, if the hall were put on it. The Society met last Friday to decide the question, 33 working members being present. The committee had determined previously that honorary members may take part in the society’s proceedings but shall not vote. The three offers were discussed at length, and with animation, the result being that the site offered by Mr Haywood was accepted, 20 being for and 13 against. The committee are thus authorised to accept plans and proceed with the building. PLAN OF HALL. Mr Knott, architect, Patea, has prepared a plan for the proposed Harmonic Hall, It is designed in the chaste Italian style, light and elegant. An open vestibule, with pillared portico, gives access to a hall 80 feet long by 36 broad ; with 10 side-lights, roof of moderate height, 22 feet 9 inches to ceiling, and space for end gallery to be added when required. The stage will be spacious, seating 60 performers, and there will be two retiring rooms behind the stage, added as a lean-to. The floor of the hall will seat 340. The inner Avail space is relieved with pilasters and capitals, the round-headed windows presenting elegant lines, and the architectural effect being soft and pleasing as compared with the barn-like blanks of some large interiors. The stage is designed with shifting proscenium, so that when concerts are given the whole breadth from wall to wall will be available for performers. The fittings of the stage might be made easily changeable for dramatic purposes, or for lectures. The exterior elevation has pilasters between the side lights corresponding to the interior. The front view is the most elaborate feature of the structure. The pediment resting on three arches covers an open vestibule, with a door of massive appearance in the centre as an object of bold relief. This frontage is so good in proportion and general effect, that it should be preserved at the cost of reducing the estimate in other respects. Probably the hall need

not be so long, and might be shortened by omitting one light. If the reduced space would suffice for present requirement, there would be the erection of a gallery as extension when the populatioh had outgrown the present space. Ticket office and cloak room could be placed in the vestibule at each side, making two blind arches deeply recessed for light and shade. The architect is to be congratulated on his design. Tenders for erecting the building on Mr Knott’s design are required to be in by next Friday. If the amount be found within the society’s means, there will be no need to cheapen the plan, and the work can proceed without farther revision. The new site will need no levelling, and the tenders should be framed accordingly.