OF SPLENDOR OLD

Evening Star, Issue 19327, 13 August 1926, Page 3

OF SPLENDOR OLD

THE CHIEF PCS! OFFICE MEMORIES OF VOLUNTEER DAYS GARRISON HALL’S PAST HISTORY. Grey, cold, dingy, unostentatious, Dunedin Chief Post Office is to be found in Dowling street. Without those black and red signs, ugly and incongruous, under the royal arms and the striking lion and unicorn, there is nothing about the building to .show a stranger that there is situated the Post Office—the chief one for a district covering hundreds of miles. Tho signs say it is the Chief Post Office, but appearances are against tho truth of tho signs. For an office for postal business the building was never intended, but a peep inside to ego tire rush and hear the hub-bub proves that after all the Dowling street budding is tho scat of a big Government service.

Perhaps familiarity with tho interior has bred contempt, and you have not allowed yourself five minutes outeido to study tho building and pensively cogitate on the honor that was its in days gone by. History has been made within tho stone walls since 1880, or thereabouts, and an interesting story is told of its beginnings on Bell Hill, from where the city was seen to grew about it, % The “Chief Post Office rt has about it solidity and tranquillity of medieval days. Like a castle, with its battlements, merlons, and embrasures, the grand old stone building is, literally, emblematic of soldiers, their steadfastness, their life. Invulnerable strength stands out. As a relic of tho garrison halls of tho old days, the structure is typical. Rut now it is just a post office, and the glory which it held in the days of the Volunteer is gone from within,* the building alone remaining as a mark of the garrison days. DOWN FROM THE HILLS.

In the early eighties tho headquarters of tho Volunteers were on a stcUou adjoining the land now occupied by tho Girls’ High School. The drill shed was an unassuming wooden structure, with a low semi-circular roof. With tho enthusiasm which has meant so much for Dunedin, the citizens had subscribed tbe_ cost of building the shed. Education advanced, and the Government decided that the site should he procured for tho erection of tho Girls’ High School. A fair exchange was wanted by tho Volunteers, and the Government agreed that an area of land on Bell Hill, extending from tho western corner of tho present Post Office down to tho corner of High street, and going back as far as Macandrew street (now known as Burlington (ftreet), should be devoted to the purposes _of the Volunteers. Bell Hill, on which First Church stands, was above Dowling street, and before tho transfer of sites was made the Government levelled the hill in line with Dowling street.

Now without a home, tho Volunteers were faced with the problem of building a new drill shed. A board of commissioners, of officers from tho regiments, was formed, Colonel Stavoly being tho first chairman. Non-commis-sioned Officer G. L. Dcnnisten acted as honorary secretary, and other prominent members of the board were Captain Hill-Jack and Captain Thomas C. Reeves. In 1878, Mr N. Y. Wales, of Mason and Wales, prepared the plans. Money was needed for tho erection, though, and the Government did not help tho Volunteers. Individually and collectively, the commissioners made themselves liable for a loan of £5,000 from the Standard Insurance Company, and an overdraft was arranged for at the bank. COSTLY TUDOR STYLE. On the plot of land the old Tudor stylo garrison hall rose in stone in solitary grandeur, unshadowed by the brick buildings which now tower above it. At a cost of nearly £B,OOO the hall was built by Robert Rauchop and Co. to tho original plans, providing for a building TGI ft- deep, with a hall 9Sft long and 02ft broad, and a gallejy on the" second story running round tho main hall. That is the history of the origin and building of the Dunedin Garrison Hall. Now loaded with a big debt, the commissioners set about reducing tho weight tied round the necks of tho Volunteer forces. No assistance was asked. . A scale of charges for forces using tho Garrison Hall was drawn up, each corps drilling there being charged CIS per annum. Tho hall was also let for concerts, lectures, socials, dances, and all manner of entertainment, all bringing in revenue which helped the commissioners to reduce their liability. ARTISTS OF RENOWN.

Comfortable, cosy, and _ possessed of excellent acoustic properties, the Garrison Hall became a. favorite hall with visiting artists and companies. Many famous artists appeared in the Garrison Hall in the last decade of tho nineteenth century, and the record kept of artists in this century included the names of Nollio Mollin, A<la. CrossloVj Amy Castles, Jean Cerardy, Antoinette Trchelli Dolores, Rosina Bnckman, Clara Butt and Kennerly Rnmford, John Philip Sousa and his band, Herr Gerrard Vollmar, and a host of other celebrities. Each had her or his little sav of the qualities of the hall, a testimonial to tho skill of,. the architect. Dolores wrote; “Very easy to sing in and comfortable.” Rosina Bnckman, who gave her address as “Anywhere,” said “ Very nice indeed.” Clara Butt and Kennerly Rumford penned in tho book; “ Ono of the very best halls wo have snug in; delightful.” And Ada Crossley-Mueeke said : “ A glorious hall and—audiences likewise. All the grand balls of tho years were held in the hall, the floor of which was splendid for dancing. And dancing assemblies held their functions there, too. „ , Bab all the bookings for hall meant inconvenience lor the Volunteers, whoso hall it was. Money, however, had to be raised to wipe off the loan and tho bank overdraft. Orderly rooms wore needed for the growing forces of the Volunteers, and they were built on to the stone building, at tho rear and side, in the wooden section now occupied by tho Savings Bank, and the charges to the Volunteers were increased by iff, if tho corps engaged tho orderly rooms. WHEN CHORDS Wf'lßE BROKEN.

On fine nights when concerts wore given in the hall the Volunteers drilled in, Cumberland street, in the corner now known as Anzac square and the city reserves. But there were many wet nights, and the corps were, forced to take shelter in tho basement.

imagine the wrath of the singer who, standing before a packed bouse, was startled every now and again by a sharp order of command piercing through the floor from the basement below! Of course, there were remonstrances, apologies, and a softening of orders. The Volunteer movement grew, and at one time the Infantry Battalion, under Colonel E. 11. Smith, was the largest in the world, being composed of fourteen companies—Dunedin City Guards, Cycle Corps, and the following rifle corps; Dunedin City, North Dunedin, Highland, South Dunedin, East Taiori, Bruce, Owaka, Popotunou, Wakari, Caversham, and Green Island. There were also , the Hussars, the Artillery, the Engineers, and the Ambulance. At a later date two battalions were created. As far back as 1905 the hoard of trustees realised that more commodious quarters would have to bo found, and in April of that year Colonel A, IV.

Robin, who was in command of tho Otago Military District, advised tho trustees that permission had_ been granted them to soli tho Dunedin Garrision Hall and reserve. LOOKING FOR SITES. The records show that no active steps were taken to change tho locale of tho headquarters of the Volunteers. In 1911 the Territorial system was introduced, and the trustees still held office. In April of that year Colonel Smyth told the trustees that demands for accommodation at tho Garrison Hall under the Territorial scheme were now so continuous that it was necessary to have tho use of the hall without interruption. Tho following motion was carried:—“That on the Defence Department undertaking to indemnify the trustees against all standing charges after tho trustees have expended the funds now in hand and accruing, the trustees will agree to the hall being devoted entirely to military I purposes, it being understood that all commitments entered into must bo carried out.” This, apparently, was not accepted. Five days Infer tho trustees (Colonel Smith then being chairman) had a full ! discussion on the question of a silo | for a now drill hall, and it was decided to make a strong effort to secure a site of one and a-hix!f acres on the Oval at a cost of £2,500. Tho City Con red ■would not agree to tho I fused to sell any portion of the o\al. ) Tho trustees wanted a central site I whore tho lads could train. 1 When tho trustees’ _ efforts became ! known two sites totalling a little over j half an aero in Melville street were 1 offered at a cost of £4,850, and tho trustees were informed that other sections of just a quarter of an aero adjoining the offered property could ho purchased. Tho amount asked for was altogether beyond tho trustees bounds; further, they considered tho price unreasonable, and the offer was declined. In 1911 Colonel Robin informed the trustees that tbo wishes of the Defence Department were that the floor area ol tho new hall should ho 100 ft by 200 ft, and at that meeting the trustees decided to approach the Prc.sbyfconam Church Property Board _ of Trustees and offer a price for six sections or about ono acre facing Bridgman street. Ultimately the land was purchased under the Public Works Act for £2,000, and a Bill empowering the trustees to borrow £16,000 from the Minister of Finance for tbo new ball was passed. Tho sale of tho old site and reserve was decided upon, but a letter was rocivecl from Wellington advising that the whole matter of drill halls and garrisen halls in tho dominion would be shortly considered by tho (lovernment. THE “ROBBERY.” Tho bombshell came and landed on the board of trustees in the gui.w of a morning paper, winch told too world at largo that tho Government had decided to take over all the garrison and drill halls. Dunedin s was included. There was no compensation, although the Government at the same time was taking over all liabilities. Now tho Dunedin Garrison Hall war. not Government property. All other halls in the dominion had not been built as Dunedin’s was—through the energy of tho Volunteers and the original generosity of the citizens. Without doubt, tbo hall was the property of the Volunteers. But tho Government took the reserve and buildings, valued at approximately £20,000, saying or thinking “ What you have wc want, and wc are going to take it,’ “Barefaced robbery” all sections thought about this commandeering. The trustees were disgusted. They started to take up tho cudgels, but they did not proceed with an aggressive attack on tho Government, as, if compensation were paid, the trustees realised tho difficulty they would have ; in allocating tho individually

among the owners of the hall—the Volunteers. And there the hall was taken over by the Government ; by no right other than an Act of Parliament. In August, 1914, Colonel Smith laid the foundation stone of the Kensington Drill Hall, and when it was completed the Territorials and all Defence Forces moved out to Bridgman street, and the old Garrison Hall was changed into a Post Office—the chief one for the Otago district. POST OFFICE FOR £800! A Post Office for £800! That was tho total cost to the Government. The hall and reserve were taken for nothing, and tho £BOO, the total sum it is said, was spout in pulling down partitions, altering the interior, and placing the mail boxes and counters in the Dowling street building, which became tho Post Office when tho old building in Princes street was vacated. Records show that tho last concert or entertainment given in the Garrison Hall was on the night of January 25, 1916, when tho Dunedin Burns Club engaged the building. It had seen some glorious farewells before that., particularly the night when the Volunteers went out of existence, and there was a final parade and address by Colonel Smith. TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW.

To-day thousands nf foot pattered up the concrete steps into the Post Office, ill suited for such a purpose. If the lion and tho unicorn were human: What a talc they would have to toll of the departed glory, of the humdrum business people, and of the brilliant folk who passed under their guard to the bails and grand concerts of yean; ago! Before many years pass the 1 nst Office will bo no more in Dowline street, and the Garrison Hall will Ik its own once again. Will it bo redecorated and assume its old reputation as one of the best concert halls south of the Dine? '1 he Government has taken it, and it alone knows. Without property the board ol trustees is still in existence. r J ho hoard was never disbanded. Time alter time recommendations were made to Government for alterations to tho Kensington Drill Hall, hut they were never acted upon, and tho trustees quietly “ fizzled out” of active existence. , Some say that if the recommendations of the trustees had boon adopted tho Kensington Drill Hall would todnv he in a good condition; as it is. tho hall is dirty and shows signs of wear. lb will never have the splendor _ol tho associations or traditions which still livo in the Garrison Hail, Dowling street.