AN OBSTRUCTIVE BAND-STAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 998, 13 December 1910, Page 4

AN OBSTRUCTIVE BAND-STAND.

—: 6 _ NEVER USED. One of the best band-stands in Wellington is the one which never, under any circumstances, Harbours a band. The staud referred to is the one situated right opposite the main doors of the Central Fire Brigade Station at the junction of lower Cuba Street and Jervois Quay. Primarily, a band-stand is erected for the use of a band, but as this particular structure is never guilty of sheltering even a strolling trombone, leave alone a full band, it can only be regarded as an obstruction to the fire brigade. If an alarm comes from Thorndon there would bo a straight run out for the brigade and along Jervois Quay, wero it not for the unused band-stand and its fringe of green shrubbery. As it is,, both motors and horsedrawn fire-carts have to come out steadily, diverge to one side or other of the band-stand, and then take the straight track northwards. There may come a time when a band may play in this staud, but the policy of the City Council is all against band performances in any other places than at tramway termini. The tramway revenue must be kept up though city band-stands totter and fall. This being the case, it is-suggested that the Jervois Quay band-stand be removed to the centre or far side of Oriental Bay, and that .that suburb be alternated with Lyall Bay and the Botanical Gardens as a pitch for the subsidised bands.