FURTHER APPROACH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27447, 21 July 1950, Page 3

FURTHER APPROACH

Application For Property A letter regretting the council’s decision not to accede to the band’s request for a lease of the area of land on the corner of Isis and Severn streets on which to build a bandroom was received at the monthly meeting of the Oamaru Borough •Council last night from the Oamaru Garrison Band The band noted the reason given for the decision, that of proximity to a residential area, and submitted the following information with a view to having the matter reconsidered, the letter stated. The site was very little nearer to residences than the Drill Hall site, offered by the council. Past bandrooms of Oamaru bands had been close to residential areas. The Oamaru Salvation Army Band practised alongside a closelysettled residential area. The Woolston Band’s room was a wooden building, with houses all around, and other bandrooms in Christchurch and elsewhere were in residential areas. The local band proposed to erect a specially constructed bandroom with stone walls and Pinex ceilings that absorbed sound. If the band purchased a section it would be entitled to do so anywhere, and no objection could be raised to a bandroom being erected thereon. It would appear that, if available central sites were to be denied to the band, it would have no option but to go close to. if not into, a residential area.

From the foregoing, the band submitted that the council’s only reason for its decision was sufficiently answered for the council to reconsider the matter, the letter stated, and in doing so trusted that the efforts of the town’s leading musical organisation, with a Dominion-wide reputation of 70 years’ standing, would be encouraged rather than frustrated. Cr T. R. Beatty said that one of the objections to granting the site was that it would restrict the view of residents adjacent to the area.

The letter was referred to the Finance Committee for further consideration.