Hastings Town Clock

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 160, 22 June 1935, Page 6

Hastings Town Clock

(To the Editor.) Sir,—lt is about this town clock business. I feel it is my duty to defend our City Fathers against the injustices heaped upon them by people who cannot see further than their noses. I feel sure that if those who have pointed out the bad points had any idea of the amount of forethought and consideration that went into the choice of the cite for one clock they would feel mentally dwarfed. This is the only act worthy of praise I have seen for some itme in this land of ours, which is being rapidly ruined by the Government’s interference with private enterprise. My contention is certain to have many supporters in the vast army which has had ite livelihood taken away from it by the Government’s ruthless socialistic legislation. For my part I wish a more obscure site could be found in our town. —Yours etc., “A WATCHMAKER.” June 22, 1935.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—May I add my protest in condemnation of the selected position for the town clock. In this position it will be of little use, and as an ornament it might as well be placed underground. The position as far as Heretaunga street is concerned matters little. The clock destroyed in the ’quake could not be seen from this street any more than the proposed clock. As we are to have a civic square, why not have placed the clock in the centre of the square and laid out the remainder of it so that the clock will be both ornamental and useful? I think in this position it would be of service to far more of the townspeople than in the selected site. —Yours etc., G.B. June 22, 1935. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Just one more to the many disapproving letters published in the “Tribune” lately concerning the very unpopular site for the town clock, but which so far have not suggested a better one. Could not a design be constructed to form an arch, rounded or crossed at the top, right over the street, with a four-faced clock high up in the centre and a base and supports on each side of the street where the flower borders are? It would prohably be costly, but unique and ornamental, and be seen from all directions.— Yours, etc., “A LOVER OF HASTINGS.” June 22, 1935. (To the Editor). Sir, —I have road with interest the outbursts of criticism in your issues for the last day or two re the chosen site for the clock tower, and I wonder why they didn’t express their objections and protests as soon as they found out that the clock was to be erected there instead of the centre of the main street. Now that the excavations, etc., are so far advanced naturally it involves more expense to revert to Mr Hyland’s main street centre scheme, but I feel positive, with the extra cost and all, that it is worth battling for, and further, I venture to say that approximately 85 per cent, of the ratepayers of Hastings would reject or condemn the present site.

Why not give the ratepayers a chance to vote or decide which site? Spend £2OO extra now and erect the tower and clock where it will be an asset to our fast growing town and future generations; it is to last for all time. Don’t let it be an eyesore by erecting it on the present chosen site. We have had experience of the town clock erected on a blind street previously. Yet the powers that be have chosen another blind street site for this one. Wake up. Hastings ratepayers; act now before it is too late.

Also re site of proposed library in Civic Square, why interfere with the suggestions of Mr Hammond, the town planner? Ho ought to know the most suitable site for the library. Councillors Rainbow and Ashcroft suggest the corner facing Karamu road, which I venture to say is wrong, because it is too close to the workshop opposite and also the garages and petrol stations nearby. We don’t want a noisy atmosphere in the vicinity cf a public library. As regards the necessity of having to remove the cenotaph a matter of a few yards nearer to the Women’s Rest, Mr Hammond assures us that this can be easily accomplished without doing any harm to the structure. Why not do it? It has been done in other countries and large cities, such as London and Glasgow, where heavy statues and such like have been removed to different sites nearly a mile distant. In conclusion, I would advise your numerous correspondents not to do so much wailing about a slight increase in rates as long as wo get value for money spent and an asset to the progress of the town as a whole.

Mr Editor, I would like ever so much if you would give us your opinion of the whole situation.

Thanking you in anticipation—-ours, AN OLD RATEPAYER. June 21, 1935.