BELLS TO RESUME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 38, 14 February 1934, Page 9

BELLS TO RESUME.

WAR MEMORIAL CARILLON. GOVERNMENT GRANTS £30. The announcement was made yesterday by Mr. H. D. Bennett, chairman of the 'Wellington War Memorial Carillon Society, that the bells will soon resume their normal playing:, this result having been brought about by the action of the Government in- granting £-50 to the society for the current year "to facilitate the playing of the carillon" (states the "Post"). Notification to this effect been received by the society from the Minister of Finance. Some months ago when the society was faced with difficulty in carrying on o\ving to lack of funds, applications were made to the Government, the Wellington City Council, and the Wellington Harbour Board, to grant £50 a year each for a year or two towards the carillon playing and maintenance fund, leaving it to the society to find the balance necessary, estimated at from £100 to £150 a year, to carry out these purposes, and at the same time to take step,* towards the establishment of a permanent endowment fund which, when completed, will obviate the necessity of making further applications for assistance. Both the City Council and the Harbour Board have yet to give their decision, and the hope is expressed that with the generous lend given by the Government their response will not be unfavourable. It should be plainly understood, however, that the Government's grant of £50 towards the carillon playing and maintenance fund is for the current year only. Mr. Bennett stated that when the replies from the City Council and the Harbour Board had been received a meeting of the society would be held to consider the taking of such further steps as would be necessary to carry the pcheme to a successful conclusion. In the meantime, thanks to the help given by the Government, Miss Gladys Watkins, who was at present in Christchnreh, would be re-engaged, and the giving of special carillon recitals on Sundays and battle anniversaries would be resumed forthwith. In conclusion, on behalf of the .society, he desired publicly to tender its warmest thanks to Mi=s Watkins for having so generously played the carillon in a voluntary capacity during six months of last year.