History ana Progress. 



27 



PLACES OF AMUSEMENT AND PUBLIC HALLS. 



The Theatre 

 Royal, in Arthur 

 Square, is a fine 

 building, with all the 

 usual arrangements; 

 the same may be 

 said of the Opera 

 House, in Great 

 Victoria Street: both 

 theatres are owned 

 by a limited liability 

 company. The Em- 

 pire Music Hall 

 and the Alhambra 

 Music Hall are 

 devoted to variety 

 entertainments. 



Belfast possesses 

 several very excellent halls for public meetings, 

 concerts, etc. The Ulster Hall, Bedford 

 Street, is a commodious structure, capable of 

 seating 3,500 persons ; it contains a grand 

 organ, provided by John Mulholland, a wealthy 

 citizen, at a cost of 3,000 guineas ; there is also 

 a minor hall, capable of seating 400 persons. 

 The Belfast Corporation have now purchased the hall. 

 The Corporation already possess a capacious hall in the 

 Botanic Gardens Park, termed The Exhibition Hall, 

 where many important meetings and receptions are held. 

 The Saint Mary's Hall, close to the Bank Buildings, is 

 also capable of seating a large audience. The Grosvenor 

 Hall is a light, commodious structure, capable of holding 

 a large audience, and is mostly used for popular religious 

 services. There are also a number of other halls in the 

 city for meetings and concerts by the citizens of Belfast. 



The city is not wanting in opportunities for the enjoyment 

 of the various forms of athletic Sports, such as cricket, 

 football, lacrosse, lawn tennis, golf, hockey, and bowling. 



