Hastings Town Clock

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 161, 24 June 1935, Page 8

Hastings Town Clock

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Permit me to offer a few suggestions to the Borough Council on the all-absorbing topic (“Our town clock”). In my opinion the site chosen is not the best for many reasons:

‘‘Firstly, the vibration caused by the ever-increafing weight of trains is sure to have a harmful effect on tlie mechanism of the clock.

Secondly, it is as well perhaps to remember that it is quite possible for Hastings to receive another ’quake in years to come, and none of us would be pleased if the proposed tower crashed on top of a passing train, causing a derailment which could easily result in the loss of many more lives.

Thirdly, the chiming of the clock might easily distract the attention or deaden the hearing of passing motorists and pedestrians, and thereby cause an accident at the crossing.

Fourthly, as the town clock in many towns is the recognised rendezvous for appointments, it may be as well to take into consideration the existing environment obtaining adjacent to the present site. Fifthly, it is quite easy to conceive that in a few years’ time the railway lines will either be raised for an overhead crossing, or lowered for an underground crossing; in either case the tower would suffer some interference.

Sixthly, the placing of the tower in the main street is out of the question; there is not sufficient width of street for one thing, and we have lately been reading a great deal about the concrete bridge pier, which is in the centre of the Hutt road, and has been the cause of many accidents, greatly to the concern of ‘ the Wellington City Council. A steel arch over the main street might possibly solve the problem, but there would always be the vibration to contend with, and the possibility of the whole structure crasliing on the roadway. Having found fault with these sites, there is, in my opinion, only the civic square left as a solution of the difficulty, so I am going to plump for that site as the best in every way. It is indeed fortunate that the council has secured the services of such an eminent town planner in Mr Hammond to advise on the lay-out of the Civic Square, and I feel content to leave the matter in his hands.

It has been reported that when discussing the site for the new library, a councillor mentioned that the business people in Karamu road should be studied. I can hardly believe that any councillor would allow himself to be influenced by any business instincts when such an important matter as the beautification of the town was being considered. Someone will be saying next that the clock tower is being built on its present site because it suite a certain business (“the man with the pie-cart”). If the council intends to study the business people, they had better build the clock on wheels, and move it every week to a different spot, thus ensuring a fair deal for everyone.—Yours, etc., “REASON.” June 24, 1935.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Kindly allow me a little space in your columns to express my views, along with probably 90 per cent, of the ratepayers, as to the unsuitable site which our Mayor and councillots have chosen for our town clock. Surely the time has come for a statement from our Mayor and councillors in answer to the huge majority of public opinion, which rightly condemns the site which is at present in progress. I think I would be correct in stating that in the opinion of most ratepayers, and certainly as an asset to Hastings, which will no doubt be a large city in the near future, nothing will do short of a picturesque steel archway across the mam street, with the clock tower built in the centre, which would be a boon to the whole town, and could be seen from all directions. If the cost was a little more, it would be money well spent. In times of festivity it would be an ideal background for decorations. Where are all our leading citizens that they have not come forth to give a helping hand to a council which is evidently in distress and /blind to the fact that the present site does not command approval? Could not our Mayor or leading citizens call a public meeting in the Assembly Hall, or preferably in the Municipal Theatre, as the seating accommodation would be taxed to the utmost, and discuss this all-important question before it is too late, and thus relieve the Mayor and councillors of one of the biggest blunders 1 ever perpetrated in Hastings? —Yours, etc., “BUSINESS MAN.” June 24, 1935. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Ab a further backer of the arch and clock scheme, may I suggest that at the base of each side of the arch an up-to-date and modern ladies’ convenience on Clausen’s side and a men’s on the Hastings Hotel side be added, these places being preferable underground with, of course, a garden and seats alongside each. Naturally some ratepayers will object to the extra few pence it may be necessary to levy upon them, but bear in mind there arc some ratepayers who would stop any town from sound progress. even though such progress may indirectly increase the value of their property. A town of this size is well overdue for this double convenience that is really so urgently required, both by the town and country people. —Yours, etc., FOR STEADY. SOUND PROGRESS. June 21, 1935. (To the Editor.) of your correspondents has criticised the others for eoudemniiur the proposed site of the tower without having an alternative, I take the liberty of submitting two of my on n. Fv.l. I must say that lam not in favour of a tower at the railway crossing at aIL Von have a municipal building in Hastings which had there been no clock in the Post Office I presume would most likely now be adorned with a tower ami c’oek. This building could easily be adapted for the piir|K'se. The present room at the top centre can be seen practically all over Hastings. Then there is the alternative o f a two-faced clock in each block in the main street worked electrically from the master clock in, say, the Municipal Buildings.—Yours, etc., JOHN W. G. BLACKER’!', i June 24, 1935.