BUMBLE AND BEAUTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 282, 26 November 1921, Page 17

BUMBLE AND BEAUTY.

SOME REFLECTIONS ON THOSE WHARF SHEDS.

(By CYRANO.) Years ago Barry Pain lif 1 remember rightly) wrote a whimsical story about an English borough councillor and his sense of the artisti< - . Tiiis worthy man had been deeply hurt because a fellowCOUncillor bad said that he had no artistic taste. As .1 matter of fact he had none, but no man will admit as much, any more than he will jiuinit that he lias no sense of humour. This councillor blooded over the charge ;is In- walked home from the meeting. H? no sense of he artistic.. Absurd! Then a fairy arrived on the scene, and endowed him I with such a sense. The result* were , amusing. The moment lie arrived home the contents of his house, which had always satisfied him, appeared ugly. He was wounded by the anti-macas-afs and the artificial flowers. Up took lo frequenting the National Gallery and other centres of thu world of Art. 1 am sorry that 1 cannot remember what happened in the end, and espeelaiiy whether hi* conversion bad any effect mi the public art of his borough. 1 merely iveall the story because he is typ'ua] of thousands! of 'men in British' communities who undertake the work of local government. It is often difficult and generally thankless work, so let us be grateful to them. It is extremely doubtful whether you or I could manage drainage, water supply or road formation and maintenance any better. Unfortunately those men too often have an undeveloped sense of beauty, yet they are put in positions where" tliey can mar puMio beauty and fasten ugliness on communities. The sheds on the Auckland waterfront over which a justifiable hubbub has been raised are a caso in point. The Harbour Board is the guardian of the waterfront Primarily its duties lie in the material field, but aesthetieism is surely not excluded from its order of reference. The space on the waterfront between the Queen's wharf and the new Central wharf has hitherto been open. From the promenade there the citizen of Auckland obtains a line view of the wharves and shipping, the harbour, and the northern shore. Through this gap most of the visitors arriving in Auckland from oversea obtain their first view of the city frontage at close quarters. No one would claim that the masses of goods sheds on the wharves were beautiful or even dignified. The representatives of a really artistic community would have made them harmonise better with the quality of the neighbouring Ferry Buildings "which are always dignified and sometimes beautiful. Still, the goods sheds are not, in the mass, very bad; as part of a view of this kind they are not an offence. One reason why they are not so very objectionable is this gap between the two* wharves. But what does the Harbour Board do? It moves an ugly old shed, the corrugated iron of which is hardly good enough to build a fowl bouse With, and dumps it down right on this part of the waterfront. A pleasing feature of this area has been the iron railing and gates erected by th<! Board, which have some merits in design. Hie re-erection of this hideous iron shed has necessitated puliing down some of this ■barrier, and its ugliness positively shrieks against what remains. It blocks the views outwards and inwards. That this mass of ugliness should bo set down at the door of the city is an outrage. Why do public men do these 1 things? Is it' because the sense of lit- ' ness is feebler in a body of men than in f the individual? One may reasonably " doubt whether any one of those respon--3 sible would think o; erecting a summer--5 house made of rusty old kerosene tins 2 just inside his own front gate. Why should not the interests of the city's 3 entrance be just as dear to him?

In this respect, of course, Auckland does not suffer alone. Christcliureh, that beautiful and tidily kept cathedral town, has just been providing an example of the game sort of thing. The municipal glory of Cliristchuroh is, if not Hag'ley Parflc and the gardens, Cathedral 'Square. This large space, dominated 'by the cathedral, has presented magnificent opportunities for further treatment on noble lines, but the City Council has been more intent on making it a tram terminus than on developing 'beauty and civic dignity. Out in the square is an is-land mound of grass and trees, on which until recently stood the statue of John Robert Oodlcy, founder of Canterbury. The Godley statue has claims to be considered the finest statue in New Zealand. A

sculptor rarely succeeds in maiking ;i subject look impressive in the coat and trousers of every-day modern life; this is one of the successes. Some years ago they planted a tram shelter right i:i front of the distinguished man, so that you sioav flodley, not as the artist intended him to be seen, on top of a pedestal proportionately designed, hut cut off somewhere about his legs or middle by the roof of the shelter. It was about this time, or it may have been a little earlier, that the question of providing public conveniences in the square was considered, art! it was actually proposed that these should be built on or beside the site of the statue, and Godler should be placed on top of the structure! After Godley had remained I for some years truncated by the

shelter, he was removed to the cathedral grounds on the east side, of the square, on the understanding that if the ground was wanted for cathedral extension, he was to be taken back to his "island." The Council, however, has other ideas about that pleasant spot. At its last meeting it decided to bi-ild a "comfort station" for women and children on this reserve. Some people would call a "comfort station"' liy a plainer name. When the question of the ultimate fate of the Godley statue was raised, a labour member .suggested putting it on the top of the "station." Another suggestion was that the ""station," which it is proposed shall be a low structure, might he camouflaged with pot plants. All this in tho middle of the only reiil city squ.ire in New Zealand —the centre of the life of a cathedral and university city! Nearly as bad was the counter proposal that the

"station" should be 'built near the statue <>f Captain Scott on part of the beautiful reserve that follows the windings of the many-willowed Avon, inese titiings leave yon almost speechless — especially if you are fortunate enough to know Christchurch. What is one to do with such people? Of course neither

plan will be carried out in the face of

the overwhelming opposition that at once declared itself; 'but that such ideas should be approved or even proposed is well-nigh heart-breaking. The trouble is that material considerations are apt to rule in such matters* There ia a type of mind that is

ruled by utility, and it is sadly common on".public'bodies. Argument is of no avail. Like -Mr. (iradgrind. it worships hard facts. rntortur.ately, British communities have not developed a marked artistic taste, an.l the direction of mutters that deeply concern public beauty and ilijmit.v arc in the hands of the average man. who seems to become still more average when lip touches them. A glaring outrage may call forth a storm of protest, but many an offence excites little interest. "A ,, " see it in small tiling n« well as lv.L r . Just consider the hideous proscenium in the Concert Chamber of the Aii.-kland Town Hall. (on-ider the uinliUtHm of (Mount AHiert, one (if the many beautiful volcanic ernies round Auckhmcl, done in told blood by what is perhaps the !grcatcst offender— the State itself. ConIsidci—oh, consider—the tragic in.'sincss 'of war memorials. Thank Hcnven, there arc gleams of light in this dark- ! ness—such as the Maori Wsir lnonu'nient in Symoiid.s Street, and the Great I War memorial at Si. Paul's corner. There will be others. Hut against these set the great crop of ugly, overornamented (iheiisks that i-< springing up all ove;- tile country, born ol ignorance that will not seek knowledge. If only men would realise that special qualifications are requiivd lor the dejsigning m" such thing*, just as much :is I for the -planning of drainage schemes 'and water works!

I wonder if Un-rry I'nin i-onld .rive us the address of that fairy that we might ask her to toiu-li the eyes of our Mr. liiiinbles.