STREET VERANDAHS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 113, 16 May 1927, Page 6

STREET VERANDAHS.

Passing down Queen Street the other day; and reaching the tram stop to board tfca Remuera car, I noticed the new Dilworta Building. I stopped and gazed. Here wae * majestic building, in architecture and deskn very much a credit to the city. And what made this particular building stand out in such marked contrast to the other buildings in our principal street ? Simply that it was without verandahs. Oh, what a difference! And people gazed and commented ■ What a beautiful Queen Street it would i*> if all the verandahs were demolished. B; would look much more imposing and the eua and light would be able to operate at their' fullest. All the cities of the world of any;' importance have their buildings erected witi-' out permanent verandahs. The only excep* tions I know of are Australia and New Zea- '' land. Some might point out that the veran- ! dahs afford shelter. That is true, but when' London and New York, with their millions, do ■ without them, so that their eyes can gaze <»' the palatial buildings that present themselves,' surely a little country like New Zealand must i take every opportunity to learn from the older countries. This is a question that, should be well considered. A street without i a verandah is something that produces »i striking effect. A street with a verandah has, all its beauty hidden. Thus, if attention were. first directed towards making your principal street as it should be in its buildings, roads and paths, it should be laying the foundation for greater improvements all round. Inclemency of the weather is no excuse for verandahs. Other large cities of the world in which I have spent a great deal of time have much damper, colder and severer climates. WALTER F. DARBY,.