“TALKIES” FOR MATAMATA.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 304, 5 September 1929, Page 1

“TALKIES” FOR MATAMATA.

LARGE, MODERN THEATRE. With Shops and Offices. At a meeting held in Matamata on Friday night final arrangements were made for the erection by a private company of a modem block of buildings, comprising an up-to-date theatre, nine shops and five offices, at a total cost of £25,000. Work is to be commenced at as early a date as possible.

For some time past rumour has been busy in Matamata with reference to the erection of a new picture theatre. For once rumour is correct, as several orominent citizens and country residents have shown sufficient faith in the future of the Matamata district to form a private company with the object of erecting a pile of buildings which will bear comparison with anything outside of the leading centres. The final decision towards this end was taken on Friday, when at a meeting called for the purpose £16,000 was subscribed within half an hour. The total number of shares in the new company jls £25,000, and the balance of the shares are bespoken by other residents who were unable to be present.

The new block of buildings is to be erected on a site belonging to Mr. I. Black, at the corner of Arawa street and Tower road, and will cover an area of 154 feet by 54 feet deep ■with a right-of-way 12 feet wide ' running parallel to Arawa street. The buildings will comprise a modern picture theatre, on the second floor, with seating accommodation for 82S people. All the latest improvements, . including “ talkies ” and the most I modern stage requirements, will be installed, so that the largest touring theatrical company which comes to . Mew Zealand can be catered for with I ease. The seating accommodation j ■will consist of tip-up chairs on a sloping floor, while the lighting and [ ■sanitary arrangements will be the best procurable.

The ground floor will he devoted solely to shops and offices. Fronting Arawa street will be nine shops with frontages of 14ft Bin and depths of 54ft. The corner shop will have a frontage of 30 feet and will front - Both streets, while the balance of the frontage to Tower road will be taken up by the office entrance. The architect for the company is Mr. T. Cray, of Cambridge, and it is expected that work will be " commenced without delay. The promoters are certainly showing courage and faith in the district.