GREYTOWN

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3051, 12 November 1888, Page 2

GREYTOWN

the palace hall skat, ingeink: •

(From OuYOwn Correspondent) Last Friday night the Palace Hall anil skating 'rink at Greytown was opened with a plain and fancy dress Vjq.ll.. This block of new buildings merit something more than a more passing notice, inasmuch as it will he wlicn finjshed, liaifdfjomp in appearance outside, and iif the interior arrangements unique in its adaptability to tllP various wp'ts incidental to a place of public amusements, Its frontage to the main street is 40ft, a lofty voraudah covers this space of the footpath in front, also protecting two shop, fronts, leaving a 7ft entry in the centre, this beingtho entrance to the,hall. Above the' shops are upper floors so that the roof of the buildings are uniform throughout ;m the centre of the verandah is a large square balcony counnunicatiiigwitu tho.'.'gallery. ,of the; hall by a wide staircase.'. Tho balcony' will be used for*/ affrpsc'o ;'! ni'usipdj performances l when required a^aM :: 'outSide';.a'tfrac:! iapn' : ladies%fl gentlqiiiei)' Viid. -'seVjliS' sh()jy." '• Bassiilg through -w 'entry 'ftoiji 'the

street to ; '.tlie liall is the 'usual; pay .office and to the right, and left are; wide, spaces leading to the skate repository and ladies and gentlemen's dressing rooms lavatories and other conveniences, with all the usual necessaries for cleanliness and comfort. In this departmentdue care has been taken to secure success in a sanitary point of view. From this passage or vestibule a staircase leads upwards to the wide passage overhead leading to the'galleries (to be mentioned hereafter). The entrance to the Hall is through heavy curtaius behind which is a largs screen which hides a view of the inside from outside. Tbis arraugement of ingress and egress, offers.no impediment to a safe and quick escape in case of fire, there are also wide folding doors at the other end of the Hall, which can be thrown open should such an event require their use. The building is 124 feet long by 40 feet wide, and 18 or. 20 feet walls from whioh spring the rafters of gable roof, the Hall is lighted from without by a lantern roof (there are no side lights) 88ft by lCft, having glazed sashes on both of the longer sides the walls and roof are tied with heavy wooden beams or "■principals" and likewise with iron tubing with screw straps. Around two sides and the front end are galleries supported by wooden beams and iron ties from the walls and roof, consequently the whole of the lower floor is without impediment of any kind. The front gallery is 40ft long by 14ft in width with rising platform from front to back capable of seating 160 people, the side galleries are 76ftlohg and Oft wide whereon, if necessary, comfortable seating accommodation can be arranged for 800 persons. At the farther end of each side of the gallery will be a movable stair-case, so that when a ball is held in the Hall, the dancers can ascend to the gallery, promenade around, and descend at the other side, or vice versa. The floor of tho Hall is laid upon tbo American'. linking principle. The total area of the Hall available for skating is 90ft x 40ft, and is laid in suoh a manner as to give no vibration to the walls or roof of the building, The floor has an oval centre, 35ft x 15ft of 0 x tongued and.grooved planks. This is encircled all around for a distance of 12ft by lin battens, bent and fastened separately to the width indicated. When the Hall is used for dancing, two largo scenes ■ will enclose a 12ft space on either side of the Hall, and at the end 1 hanging curtains through which i dancers will enter the extemporised i supper rooms, It is reported that ' eventually there is to be built at the , rear of the Hall a kitchen with all : necessary accessories, and as soon as • the plant ordered from England r arrives, the building will be illuminated outside with a BOcandle power lamp, and forty-eight 20-candle i power for inside illumination. When : the wholo arrangements aro com- ; pleted—finished and furnished—it 1 will doubtless bo acknowledged one • of the handsomest places of public amusement in the North Island of I New Zealand,