His Majesty's Theatre , which was formerly known as the Otago Agricultural Hall, was built in the year 1896 in connection with the annual winter show, which is held by the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society. The building was erected chiefly through the energy of the Hon. Thomas Fergus, Messrs Thomas Brydone, P. Pattullo, John Roberts, John Angus, E. F. Duthie, James Hazlett, W. Patrick, Robert Campbell, James Shiel, and J. H. Morrison, and when it was opened in June, 1897, by the Minister of Lands, it was pronounced to be one of the finest buildings south of the Equator. During the time it was known as the Agricultural Hall, it held some of the largest audiences that ever witnessed an entertainment in New Zealand, and continued to be one of the chief places of amusement until August, 1902. At that time the directors, after being approached on numerous occasions by the various principal theatrical managers in Australia, as to the conversion of the building into an up-to-date theatre, decided to act upon the suggestion, and resolved to [gap — reason: illegible] the building into a theatre. Accordingly, after the necessary alterations had been made, the theatre was opened in December, 1902, by Mr J. C. Williamson's comedy company. Madame Melba, Mdlle. Antonia Dolores, Mark [gap — reason: illegible], and other gifted and accomplished persons have performed in the theatre, and pronounce it to be in every respect one of the finest theatres in Australasia, with perfect accousttc properties. The theatre is situated in one of the finest streets of Dunedin, and as the electric trams pass the doors, it is thus conveniently within reach of all parts of the suburbs.