THE BELLS OF ST. MATTHEW'S TOWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 8

THE BELLS OF ST. MATTHEW'S TOWER.

The fin & peal of bells, which for the past-; 40 years have hung in. the wooden tower at Bishopscourt, have , been . removed to St. ! . Matthew's, and < Messrs. A. and T. Burt, have tho contract for fixing the peal in: the. belfry of the new; church. % The peal, which consists of eight bells, were cast in 1862 by the well-known firm of bellfounders, Messrs. Warner and Sons, of London. The bells weigh about nine tons; the tenor bell alone being two tons' in weight. Their original cost was £1000, and they are worth" considerably more now, owing to the enormous increase in the value of bell metal,' Before being stmt to the- colony the bells were on, view at the Crystal Palace Exhibition. The members of St. Matthew's Men's.: Society have started a bell ringers' association, and; -they .are" now advertising/ for '■ thd assistance of old ringers. It is known tha!, there are several v veteran bellringers ;in the* city who- have rung in famous churches of? tlio Old 'Country.. The assistance of these veterans is asked for the. training of younger men. It is hoped that the whole peal will ring out. on Christmas Eve. ; Old bell-, ringers and those willing to ..learn, are in-?, vited to assemble in the ' ringing ' chamber of the tower at. .three o'clock, this afternoon. A flagstaff is to be erected on the; roof Of the tower.' The Hon. E. Mitchelsdn; 1 who has already enriched the church with gifts' is presenting the polo. Mr. -Ernest Davis ; has promised a. flag, and has ordered a suitable ensign, from -England. It is customary" in the Old Country to hoist the colours on church towers on festival days, and on occasions of national and civic importance. The tower of St. Matthew's has-been visited by some 5000 persons since the church was opened. The view from the top is greatly appreciated by visitors to the city. The visitors' book .shows that travellers" from almost . every part of the world have ascended' the. tower. The "remarks" of the visitors ' indicate that the. splendid view of the harbour and surrounding scenery'has impressed ; those who have come from .distant place* -j During the process of erecting the bells the staircase in the belfry will be somewhat. I disarranged. The framework for hanging i the hells, which is constructed of good old ; English oak; will just fit the belfry. The zig-zag stairs will need considerable alteration. .Ascent to the top of the tower win' be a little difficult for a..while, and children will, not be; permitted to make, the ascent till the alterations arc completed.'