CORONATION MEMORIAL

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 440, 12 June 1902, Page 2

CORONATION MEMORIAL

BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION FAVOR BAND ROTUNDA.

At the meeting of the Beautifying Association last night a discussion on tile subject of the Coronation Mentor ul took place.. On the subject being introduced, the President (Mr A. F. Kennedy) said that though the action of the Council on the previous evening might be thought ill-advised it was not for the Association to criticise the actions of the Council.

Mr Pettie thought that they might go so far as to give an expression of opinion that the memorial should be of an ornamental nature. Mr Symes : 1 think that a band rotunda is a very suitable and proper tiling.

Mr Pettie said that it was not his intention to specially mention any kind of memorial, but lie thought the Association might fittingly give an. expression of opinion without going out of their province- lie wished to move a resolution to that effect.

Mr Symes said they might s mply state that the memorial should he an ornament to the town.

Dr Williams said it might be replied that an Old Men’s Home would be an ornamental structure.

Mr Kennedy said that at the Council meeting one member had said that he was in favor of a band rotunda if only they had a site suitable. It was for the Associatian to endeavor to make a suitable place. The Secretary said that it was well to clear up any misconception as to the Vile at the junction of the rivers. After the road had been formed to the full width there would still be 'a space of at least 70 feet. Mr Muir said that at such a corner the full space of seventy feet would not necessarily be needed. The Secretary said that on the Kaiti they could prepare a place that would

give more room than any square they could obtain. Not only would the suggested band rotunda he suitably located on the corner ol the Quay, but it would also he the means of ridding the town of a great eye-sore of a building now at the corner. lie thought some

evidence might be collected to show the public that the site was in every way suitable. There was some question as to whether the motion should refer to the special subject of a band rotunda. Mr Muir thought that the rotunda should be referred to direct, and Mr Symes and the President also thought that they should give a straight-out expression of opinion. Mr Pettie then proposed, and the President seconded, “ That the Beautifying Association trusts that the per-

manent memorial to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward VII. will take such a form as to add to the beauty of the town, and ventures to suggest a band rotunda at the junction of the two r vers, with suitable surroundings.” Dr Williams asked if it was the recognised opinion of the Association the band rotunda should be at that point ?, The President: It seems to me that it is. Dr Williams said that in the beautiful plan of the proposed work at the recreation ground a band rotunda was placed in the centre. The Secretary : That is number two rotunda. (Daughter.) The President : We are devoting our attention to the river bank work now. Mr Grant : I think that the townspeople favor the point as a band rotunda site. Dr Williams : Are the bandsmen in

favor of it, too ? Mr Grant said that the site would be a most convenient one, as business people could leave their places of business and go round to the point without any loss of time. Mr Symes said that personally he would prefer the recreation ground as the site, but all things considered, he thought that the point would have the preference. The President and Mr Pettie pointed out that if a rotunda were erected ‘at the point kpeople could enjoy the music from the river, in boats, or they could sit on the Kaiti bank or listen to the music from the bridge. •'

The; Secretary in regard to the band rotunda marked on the recreation ground plan, that was as a complete work, not as a work that was at present contemplated. Mr Williams : That might lie changed to a fountain.

The Secretary said that the bandsmen were satisfied with the point as a site, and the Committee were satisfied that it could be made a very suitable place. In reply to Dr Williams, the Secretary said that- there would he plenty of room for the public as well as for the Band. People looked at the site in its present condition—a disagreeable mud-hole, with an eye-sore of a building—not as it would be made if taken properly in hand as the Association desired to do.

The President said he thought lha

it was the popular site. He did not know of any other place that could be obtained for a rotunda unless they had it out of town. Mr Williams : In any case our resolution would not bind the Council. The President : In deciding the matter the Council must not only take into consideration the cost of the erection of the rotunda. They must also consider, the foundations and the providing of the surroundings. MTlie Secretary : If they have to- buy S'Site it will cost a lot more than the

making up a site at the corner suggested—a corner that must he made up at some time. The motion was carried.