GRAND CARILLON

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1931, Page 10

GRAND CARILLON

CAMPANILE ERECTION

COMPLETION IN OCTOBER

Jt is expected that the campanile will be completed and the Grand Carillon installed before the cud oil October next, states the annual report which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Wellington "War Memorial Carillon Society to-night.

'The cost of the finished tower will exceed the Government giant of £15,000 by approximately il-1000," proceeds the report. "Tho society will assist in an effort to reimburse this extra sum to the trustees when economic conditions improve. Messrs. Cadbury Brothers' generous offer to send their carilloner, Mr., Clifford Ball, for the opening ceremonies at no cost to the society still stands good. Miss Gladys Watkins, of Wellington, who studied the carillon under M. Denyon iv the Continent, and who won her diploma with honours, is now back home. Miss Watkins will be the official carillonist to Ihe society, and she will be associated with Mr. Ball for tha opening ceremonies."

APPRECIATION AT HOME,

In congratulating members of Die society upon the near approach of the realisation of their object, tlio committee proceeds to slate that the New Zealand War Memorial Carillon, to give it a national description, lias already functioned and has delivered its message of love and remembrance to millions of people in England. The society acknowledges with gratitude tho universal homage paid to its carillon during tho time it was in use at the Newcastle Exhibition. The subsequent request made by tho London authorities that the carillon should be erected at Hyde Park, that great centre of historic associations, was accepted as an appropriate gesture. The wonderful reception given it day after day, the concourse at times exceeding a hundred thousand people, may be accepted by the society and the people of this country less as a tribute to its intrinsic value than as a compliment by Britain to the men and women in whose honour tho carillon is to bo dedicated. The extent of tho favour merited by the carillon while in England may bo gauged by the request made to the New Zealand Government that the carillon bo loaned to the British Empire Exhibition authorities for tho great Buenos Aires Exhibition which was opened ttfis month by HB.H. the Prince of Wales. Tho full equipment of 49 bells, ranging from the five-ton Bourdon bell, "Beo Wairua," down to the smallest, with all attachments, is now safely stored away in the care of the Wellington City Council.

SOCIETY'S THANKS,

The society extends its thanks and appreciation of services rendered gratuitously by the following:—The Overseas Shipping Committee, for free transport of carillon; Messrs. Cadbury Bros., Ltd., for the offer of Mr. Clifford Ball's services; New Zealand Shipping Company, for the offer of special fares for Mr."and Mrs. Ball; Wellington Harbour Board, for remission of port charges; master carriers of Wellington, for free transport; tho Mayor and City Council, for many kindnesses and free use of committee rooms; Mr. Ranald^ J. Harvey (consulting engineer to High Commissioner's Office), Sir Thomas Wilford and his staff in London, the Prime Minister and officers of the Treasury.