CHIMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9075, 8 June 1888, Page 3

CHIMES.

TO THE EDITOR.

—Allow me a short space in your columns to make a few remarks on a letter which appeared in your yesterday's issue. The writer gives as his opinion that bells cut but a poor figure in tune-playing, from which I think many persons (myself among the number) will entirely differ, for it is not borne out in fact, for so many instances are known all over England, in which they are used for such purposes. I will quote only two that are very familiar in London, at the Royal Exchange and St. Giles's, Cripplegate. But as a ringer myself I fully endorse all that he says about change-ringing, but all that is quickly disposed of, as here we neither have the bells nor the men for the purpose. With reference to the tubes in the library tower, he knows very well that although excellent substitutes for bells, the mode of manipulation is so different, that it is dimply impossible to ring changes on them only in very brief stages, as it all lias to be done by one person, so that one purpose is as good as another. But as our friend is careful to tell us he was not the offender to the very sensitive student, I frankly say that I was (if indeed it was an offence), as none was intended. But I certainly think Sunday evening during the hours of church service is a very unseasonable time for change-ringing.— am, etc., J. Mitcham. Auckland, June 7, 1888.