THE ODDFELLOW'S HALL, EAST HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1189, 10 February 1880, Page 2

THE ODDFELLOW'S HALL, EAST HAMILTON.

This New Hall which was formally opened on Friday last, with the ceremonies of the Order, as detailed in our last issue, and was the same evening, the scene of one of the gayest and most successful balls ever held in the district, was generally admired by all present on the latter occasion. _ This really fine building, iudeed, which by the enterprise and public spirit of the society of Oddfellows, has been erected at Hamilton East, has supplied a want which that town had for a long time very seriously expenenaed, as no building adequate, or nearly approaching to the dimensions required for a public gathering existed in the town. The want of such a buildiug-, as is now provided, has prevented the appearance amougst us of first-class talent, in music and the drama, which has simply abstained from visiting- "WaikatO, because there was not a building in the district which could contain an audience sufficiently large, to warrant the venture, or which possessed the necessary stage acccmodatiou On more than one ocassion we have seen the last Hall erected, filled, to thu very door, and persons turned away, unable to obtain admission. Yet we very much doubt if even such an audience would have warranted the expense of a visit to "Waikato, from an opera or dramatic company, of any considerable number, except at prices, which would have been prohibitoi yto many, as in the case of Levy, the Oornet player. Now, however, we may look for such j visits as matters of course, for we can fur- i nish them with a hall, which for light, ventilation, accousttc properties is all that can be desired, and for capability for seating an andience, will accommodate the population, not of Hamilton alone, but the play going portion of the surrounding district. The building is 82 feet in length, and 31 in width. The height from floor to ceiling is 22 feet. The whole of the timber used is of best picked Kauri, and the workmanship is of a firstclass description. A stage and a proscenium are to be erected, which will be 20 ft from front to back, and the proscenium will be 16 feet in the opening and about the same dimension in height. At the back of the hall, on either side the east window is a door, on what will be the stage level, so that at any time, waiting rooms can be added to the end of the main building at the back, either as dressing rooms for the stage, or supper and cloak rooms in the event of a ball. The building is lighted by long narrow windows, arranged in couplets between the principals, and the windows are double hung. Proper facilties for exit are desiderata, which ought by right to be insisted upon by the legislature. Small narrow doors, entering inwards, should in no case be allowed. The architect in planni q the Oddfellow's Hall has provided for this. To secure the audience from the danger of draughts, a double door, covered with green baize, forma the entrance to the main body of the hall, from a vestibule of ample dimensions, the latter being entered from the street, through deors of considerable sue, both as regards height and width. The former doors are hung on patent swing hinges, so that in case of a panic, caused by alarm of fire, they will open either way, and render easy the exit from the building. The hall has a very imposing front to the street , the perspective is also pleas ng. No extraneous effect has been attempted by the use of oru-iment. The whole, forms an example of rigid simplicity of design, bat still retaining an air of architectural d'gnity, and the design, considering the extent of funds at the disposal of the architect, reflectmost creditably upon his taste and judgtneut, while the local contractor has done his share in the faithful carrying out of the work. The total cost, with stage and proscenium, will be from £6-30 to £7-30 Air T. BL. White is the architect, and Mr E. Pearson the contractor. Ihe paiutiu £ was contracted for and executed by Mr Alnrtagh.