NEW THEATRE BLOCK

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 247, 17 September 1929, Page 6

NEW THEATRE BLOCK

NEGOTIATIONS COMPLETED. LARGE FIGURE INVOLVED, Involving a figure understood to be in the vicinity of £IOO,OOO for th® Pupj chase of land and the contemplated erection of imposing new theatre and buildings, negotiations have been pra _ tically finalised for the acquisition an hotel site in Broadway. It is understood that the agreement to purchase the site has actually been signed subject to a few conditions, and no doubts are entertained that the arrangements will be satisfactorily concluded. . The erection of the new theatre is projected by a leading Australian and New Zealand theatrical organisation and the building will probably be a three-storey block with frontages to Broadway and King Street, which will be connected by an arcade, it will contain a large theatre, surrounded by shops and with offices in the upper storeys. The purchase price of the land, it is reliably reported, is in the vicinity of £30,000, and probably over £60,000 will be expended on the new buildings. All going well, the work of construction should be in hand before November, it is stated. Although nothing is definitely known concerning the hotel license, it is learned that negotiations are being made by a Feilding resident for its purchase, and its destiny will be known after the end of this week. The probability is that a new hotel will be built within statutory distance of the present one. Information was sought by Cr Eliott at the Borough Council meeting last evening concerning the unexpired term of the Opera House lease. He stated that councillors were no doubt aware of the reason which actuated the inquiry. It was mentioned that a theatrical firm had acquired a site in Broadway.