THE FITZROY HALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1922, Page 6

THE FITZROY HALL.

AN INTERESTING HISTORY. KE-OPENED FOR PUBLIC USE. The official re-opening of the Fitzroy Hall by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) on Saturday, evening marked another stage in the eventful history of this interesting building. Nearly thirty years ago Mr. R. C. Hughes was responsible for the transporting of the hall from its original site at .Bell Block to the corner section at Fitzroy, at present occupied by the tram-sheds. Subsequently the hall passed into the hands of the Fitzroy Town Board, who allowed the building to be utilised as a combined club and gymnasium for the youths of the neighborhood with the proviso that in the event of the membership falling below a certain standard the hall should revert to the board. This eventually did happen, and the club, owing to the careful administration of Messrs. F.' T. Bellringer and J. kibby (secretary and treasurer) was wound up with a credit balance of about £2O. In December of 1911, when the suburb of Fitzroy became part of the borough of New Plymouth, the old Town Board ceased to exist, and control of the hall passed into the hands of the council, who, realising (the value of the corner section as a site for the tram-sheds •purchased for £250 a half-acre in Darnell Street and the hall was bodily moved to its new position. More recently Mr. R. Day, in order to alleviate the distress caused through shortage of houses, ingeniously divided the*hall and ante-rooms into dwellings for four families, each to have three rooms and a convenience, with use of a common bathroom. Thus the old hall became a domestic habitation, sheltering, within the space of two years, no less than twelve different families, and a remarkable point is that the council never once had difficulty with the rent or trouble with tenants. The acute housing shortage has now passed and the hall has again come into its own. Resplendent with a new coat of clean grey paint on the wainscoating, surmounted by grey oatmeal paper and a cream ceiling picked out in pink (to match the freize, rhe interior presents an appearance distinctive and pleasing. During an interlude between dances on Saturday night, the Mayor declared the hall re-opened. He said the history of the hall reminded him of recent cables wherein it was claimed that man. by a simple operation, could rejuvenate his organs and consequently his disposition. By the application of paint and paper, by the execution of repairs and renewals*, the Fitzroy hall had taken to itself a new lease of life, and to-day looked fresher and more youthful than it had for many years. He congratulated the citizen’s upon their hall, their committee and their spirit of progress. The committee of ladies responsible for the supper arrangements comprised Mesdames George, Roberts, Bartley, Bishop, Golds worth y and Miss Bartley. With Miss Worn at the piano, dancing was continued till midnight.