CLOCK TOWER SITE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20010, 19 August 1930, Page 10

CLOCK TOWER SITE.

HOW SPACE SHOULD BE FILLED. How the space formerly occupied by the Clock Tower at the corner of Manchester and High streets should be filled, or whether it should be filled at all, was a question which came before last night's meeting of the Christchurch City Council. Action was deferfed. The Water Supply and Works Committee recommended that a low stone wall be erected on the former site of the Clock Tower, with a raised footpath on two sides to act as a safety-zone for passengers waiting for trams. A small drinking fountain would also be erected in the south corner. The cost of the work would .be included in the estimate for the removal and the re-erec-tion of the Clock Towor. Cr. C. E. Jones said he hoped the wall would not encroach on Manchester street as the Clock Tower did. It was suggested by Cr. M. E. Lyons that action should be deferred till the By-laws Committee considered it this afternoon. "I'm absolutely astounded at this proposal," remarked Cr. H. T. J." Thacker. "We took away the Clock Tower and now we are going to put a plot there to obstruct traffic." Cr. A". E. Armstrong said he failed to see how a garden plot was going to obstruct traffic. "I was going to suggest putting the Art Gallery there," he added. Cr. T. H. Butterfield said he would like to see the place left clear for a week or two and then the committee could see what it would be best to do. The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer): Yes, except that we have got to provide a safety zone for the pedestrians. We can't leave a big Bpace like that open. Cr. J. W. Beanland, chairman of the committee, explained that the plot would bo a triangular one with a drinking fountain in the middle. This, he thought, would provide the necessary safety zone: The By-laws Committee is to consider the proposal this afternoon.