BELLS OF MEMORY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 8

BELLS OF MEMORY

WELILNGTON CARILLON r WORLD RELAY PROJECTED A wireless relay all over the world of the Wellington carillon playing at Hyde Park, London, is the latest project of the Wellington War Memorial Carillon Society, which held its annual meeting last night under the presidency of Mr. H. D. Bennett. The carillon, according to the report, presented to the meeting, had been very favourably commented on by experts, and was claimed by them to be equal in tone and quality to any carillon in the world. Arrangements had been made during the year for the loan of the carillon to the Newcastle Empire Exhibition authorities, and while still under the responsibility of the founders, a temporary tower was erected on the exhibition grounds, where the bells were played to many hundreds of thousands of visitors, there being as many as 150,000 said to be present on one occasion. So successful and popular was that venture, that the High Commissioner was approached by a group of English newspaper proprietors for the loan of the carillon to be erected in one of London’s parks. Upon the consent of the society being obtained, the Hyde Park authorities were prevailed upon, and information had recently been received that the carillon would be ready for an opening ceremony at Hyde Park on December 22. The society should have every reason to be very proud of the reception ( given to its Memorial Carillon, not only by the British nation, but also by Interested people all over the world. The practice clavier arrived earlier in the year, and was immediately placed at the disposal of the Wellington Musicians’ Society. Expectations from the use of this instrument had not been fully realised, owing to the lack of an instructor in a country where carillon music was unknown. The two heaviest bells were not in chided in the set hung either at Newcastle or Hyde Park, and those, with the complete steel structure, were dispatched to New’ Zealand and were at present safely stored away. Possible Opening Date. With the very active assistance of the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) the long-xlelayed negotiations for the reservation of the Mt. Cook reserve as a site for the proposed National Buildings was brought to a successful conclusion during the year, continued the report. A board of trustees had been set up, had called for competitive designs, and had decided that the conditions should provide for the erection of the campanile to carry the carillon to be the first work to be undertaken. The sum of £15.000 had been provided by the Government to defray the cost of a “skeleton tower,” the intention being to finish or add to it as might be decided upon in the future. So far as could be judged, it was possible that the opening ceremony in Wellington might take place on next Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1930. The financial position of the society, so far as the capital account was concerned, appeared satisfactory. There was. however, need for reorganisation in the constitution of the society so as to provide, if possible, for an annual source of income. Negotiations were on foot for the services of an expert carillonneur for the opening ceremony, the aim being to secure an artist of the very highest standing for that event if at ail possible. The new High Commissioner gave an undertaking before he left to assist in the matter. The society had arranged with Miss Watkins to continue her studies at the Malines School for Carillonneurs. under the tutorship of M. Denyon, for a further period of twelve months. Miss Watkins’s services would, therefore, be available to the society. It was considered fortunate that there should be a New Zealand lady qualified to take charge of a carillon clavier. Election of Officers, r . Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow :—Patron, Mr. L. Blundellpresident. Sir Harold Beauchamp; vice-president. Messrs. S. Kirkcaldie. (J. J. B. Norwood, Hope B. Gibbons. L. (j. H. Tripp, G. Shirtcliffe. J. M. Geddis, G. A. Troup, and the Hon. T. S. Weston - hon. solicitor, Mr. E. A. H. .Tones; hon’. treasurer, Mr. E. G. Pilcher; hon. secretary. Mr. R. S. Johnston; hon. auditor, Mr. A. J, McLennan ; general committee, Messrs. H. D. Bennett (chairman). IL Temple White. H. T. Graves, Si ersor, « Tait. J. Burgoym* Thomas E fL Baldwin. F. de J. Clere. G. Mitchell. EE Muir. W. S. Wilson. H. R. Tolley. W. S. Hornig. E. D. Cache--s" a , „ -Tohnson. J. L. Goldsmith. G. N - Sturtevant. T. Ward. J. H. W bittaker. B. Egley. P. de B. Brandon. Colonel T. M. McDonald. Mesdames Chathold and E. E. Muir, and representatives of the Civic League. Returned Soldiers’ Association, and South African War Veterans Association.

Votes of thanks were accorded to the officers for their services during the year, particular reference being made to the work of the chairman (Mr. 11. D B»n--nett).

The chairman mentioned that the plaving of the bells had been recorded, mid he had that evening listened to a gramophone reproduction of fho chimes.