Quake aid in the pipe line

The Queenstown and Southern Lakes Highland Pipe Band, seen marching on Marine Pde last Thursday, raised $2588 for Christchurch earthquake relief, from busking sessions in Queenstown and Arrowtown last week.

The band was due to compete in a national piping competition in Timaru last weekend, which was cancelled because of the disaster.

Instead, the musicians decided to put all their practice to good use by playing popular melodies to the public for the benefit of Canterbury residents.

"The response has been unbelievable, I think we'll go out again on Thursday in Queenstown," side-drummer Julie Murray, of Arrowtown, said yesterday.

"We're hoping to hit $3000."