GREYMOUTH TOWN CLOCK

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1944, Page 3

GREYMOUTH TOWN CLOCK

Discussion on Proposed Site

Sites o n which the Greymouth town clock might toe erected when the present clock tower is taken down were apainst discussed b v the Greymouth Borough Council at its meeting last evening when consideration was being given to a clause dealing with the natter in the report of the Engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid). This .stated that' a nine-foot clock dial had been erected on the appointed site above Hnp intersect .on of Chapel and Alexander Streets. . Visibility, it added, would be improved toy making the hour marks somewhat wider and this would receive attention to the extent of one half-inch in the first case. Cr. Kent asked what the result of the test of the site had been Cr F. "F. Boustridge said he hau Vsteiied carefully and in no case had be heard anyone say that the clock was i:-.ot in an advantageous position, and in quite a number of cases he had heard approval of the site. None of those he had spoken, could suggest a better site. , . ' Cr. J. B. Kent said Jio did not think he had met one oerson who approved of the site, and'there had also been criticism of the expense which would be incurred if the site were persisted with. It was more of a joke with the people he had been associated with. He did not know either whether the chimes could be heard if the clock were put in the proposed position. He thought the clock could be placed in a central position, possibly at the Town. Hall or where the band rotunda had once been. The Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) said he had not heard anyone who had not approved of ’the site, which was visable from one end of Greymouth to the other. Cr. J. Saunders said he had' heard only one criticism and that was from a man living in Alexander Street who expressed l the opinion that trouble was likely to be experienced with the foundations for the clock. He thought serious consideration should be given to this objection. However he had always thought the site an ideal one. Cr. P. Blanchfield said that he ha'd found the great bulk of opinion in favour of the site. However he saw all sorts o f difficulties. It was going to be a mecca for larrikans. He thought the best idea was to leave the clock in store for six months after it had been taken down, after which it would be seen what its | sentimental value was. He thought that probably it would not be possible to either see the time or hear the chimes at anything more than a reasonable distance from the clock if it were set up on its present site. He was inclined to think that the best site was at the Town Hall or across the road as an archway just past the old band rotunda site. Cr. Boustridge said that the tower would not need to be so high on the hill as it would on the flat. He thought that if the clock, when taken down were stored for six months it would stay down for six years. The public appreciated it, he considered, and when it was taken down it should be put back at the earliest moment. Cr. J. E. Stokes said he felt strongly inclined to support the proposal that the clock toe stored. He thought the public should know what it was going to cost to erect it on the present proposed site. Cr. Herring said the only comment, he had heard was that the trial clock face could be seen from most parts of Greymouth but it had been jokingly suggested that the Borough Council should provide telescopes for those living in the Marsden Road area. He had never been in favour of having the clock on the hill—the town, as Cr. Kent had said, should radiate round it.