THE STARTING OF THE CLOCK

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8289, 18 September 1903, Page 1

THE STARTING OF THE CLOCK

THE BANQUET.

. At the conclusion of the ceremony of setting the clock going yesterday, his Worship the Mayor entertained at luncheon Mr St. John Buckley, to whose magnificent liberality the town is indebted for the possession of the clock and its "sweet chiming bells" ; the members of the Borough Council and the municipal officials; Mr W. W. Beswick, representing the Postal Department, the representative -of Messrs Littlejohn and Son, who was entrusted with the erection of the clock; and Mr J. M. Forrester, the architect for the construction of the tower. The luncheon was held at the Star and Garter Hotel, and was laid in Host Potters customary excellent style. The Mayor presided and had upon his right, Mr Buckley, the chief guest of the occasion, and upon his left Mr T. M. Cunninghame, Town Clerk. Full justice having been done to the good things, a short toast-list was gone through. . . . The Mayor gave the toast of "The King,'" which was duly honored, the company singing the National Anthem. Councillor Waddell, in proposing "The Parliament of New Zealand," 6aid he thought this toast rather a large order, as he did not know much about the members of the present House. England, however, had given all her colonies great freedom in order that, by their free and,.untrammelled institutions, they could manage their own i affairs. • The-Premier; being a man of grit, 'was able to worthily represent this colony | at Home, andat the inauguration of the. Commonwealth: Sir Joseph Ward was also a very able man, and to him was due the promise that the Government should provide money to build the clock tower and pay for the bell 6, to which Mr John Buckley had added the clock, etc. Another worthy member of the Ministry was the Hon. T. Y. Duncan, their representative, who was spoken against by some of their neighbors, but there was a good deal of truth in the old saying that "a prophet hath no honor in his own country," and it was so in Mr Duncan's case. He was held in esteem, as he deserved to be, elsewhere—a man with a good head and not easily prevailed upon, he made an excellent Minister of Lands. It was most important that they should have such a man as Minister of Lands, as at the present time, while they were cutting up and settling the large estates, the prosperity of the country greatly depended upon its being done wisely and with care. The wisdom of cutting up the land was very apparent in Oamaru, as, although all honor was due to the original owners of the estates, it had become necessary that there should «be closer settlement; To the original owners, such as Mr John Reid, the late Mr Menlove, and others, credit must be given for the introduction of the colony's famous herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, and to these men, who were capable and practical farmers, the Oamaru district owed its celebrity for the production of coveted specimens of stock. He had travelled from his subject somewhat, and,'to return to the toast he was' proposing, >he would say that Parliament should'.oe thoroughly representative, and that to/it lielonged the responsibility of making the country prosperous. Councillor Frith had been an aspirant at one time for Parliamentary honors, and as he •bad heard that he still had a leaning that way, he would couple Councillor Frith's name with the toast.

The toast having been honored, Councillor Frith said it was a source of pleasure to him to" reply to this toast, as he. had from his boyhood taken a keen interest in politics, and must admit that he was ambitious enough to hope to represent ,this constituency or another one in the future. JHe was at one with the present, party in power, and believed they deserved the credit for doing a great deal which had tended to bring about the present- prosperity of the colony.' He paid a high tribute to the late Sir John M'Kenzie, to whose policv of cutting up and settling the land was "due the change they saw in this district from what it was years ago. He deprecated always crying down their fair city of Oamaru, with its rich pastures and beautiful climate As they had that day started their town' clock let them also cease to decry th=ir town. He had travelled the length and breadth of the colony and could not find a better place to live in, and he always combatted the idea that Oamaru was beliind any other town. The present Council was a good body of men, and were going to bring the town up to date, and if they" met with misfortunes they would do as Timaru did the other day, when part of its protective works were washed away—set to work to_ repair the damage and make light of the mishap. This was far better than being discouraged and making out"" that the damage was greater than it really was. Regarding the New Zealand. Parliament, it was a thoroughly representative once. He was at one with the Government, and believed it had done far more for the good of the rolony than its predecessors, and hoped it would be long spared to make good and beneficent laws for the people. _. At this stage the Mayor read the following message from the Hon. George Jones

Ring in the Christ that is to be." Ring in the valiant man and free, The eager heart, the kindlier hand, Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring .in theGhrisfc that is to be." _ The Mayor expressed his pleasure at having an opportunity such*as that, as he thought it was an excellent thing for men to meet and exchange, ideas. "The next, toast fell to him to- propose, and it was that of the health of Mr John Buckley. How well he remembered.his feelings, after giving the assurance that, the town would find £250 towards the cost of the clock, when he wondered how it would be possible to find the money. The Council was hard up, and even if it voted the money it was most "probable the auditor would refuse to pass the item, and councillors mijrht have to _ make up the money themselves. At this critical time Mr Buckley came to the rescue, and kindly found the money the Council were responsible for, together with the cost of the hour bell, nearly £450. He admired the way it- was done. It- was, as Mr Buckley said, not to benefit any particular individual or body, but the whole community. On behalf of the town he. therefore, thanked Mr Buckley for his generous gift-.' He, hoped that he mie-ht be spared to perform many more 6uch deeds, and he believed that should such opportunities occur Mr Buckley had the generous heart to perform them. It is unnecessary to say that the tnnst was received with great enthusiasm. Not only was Mr Buckley cheered, but Mrs Buckley and the children came in for a full share of the good feeling displayed. Mr Buckley expressed his gratification at the honor donet him. He was a family man, and could appreciate all their good wishes for himself and Mrs Buckley and family. He was glad to have been able to confer a benefit on the town and district, and he hoped it would prove as beneficial as they anticipated. - The Mayor apologised for the absence of Councillor Hedley, who was unavoidably detained at a sale.

Councillor Taylor proposed the health of Mr Burton, who had, as Messrs Littleiohn and Son's representative,-superintended the erection of the clock.

- Mr Burton, in responding, expressed the belief that the clock would give every satisfaction.. His firmi had made a good many large clocks, and endeavored to improve in some way upon every clock they made. The mechanism, of the Oamaru clock was all. well made, and the friction parts were hardened ho' that it should last, if it had no mishap, for-300 years.

The Mayor gave the toast of Mr J. M. Forrester. • the architect of. the tower, to whose) talent theyl "-werei indebted the fact -that :the -work' • had", ; been, carried out .with the little money.they' had Sat their disposal. Mr 'Forrester,- responding, said that he was not entitled to credit for the original plans, which were for an elaborately-woriced tower. He Had" had" the privilege of applying the pruning knife, in order to ewct a structure that" would answer all the ■ remurementis and yet 6© within their means. It-had" proved' a very-: difficulti task ail -through, as the, 'weather was so bad at times- to make the work very hazardous. Howfever,-He was elad it.had been accomplished" -Without'mishapr ; .'■ The- toast .of '"TEe Staff" was proposed by

Councillor M'Diarmid, and responded to by Messrs T. M. Cunningham© (Town Ckrk), W. H. Gledhill (Gas Manager), and R. L. Rule (Collector). The. Mayor proposed "Absent Friends,' naming particularly the Hon. George Jonee, who, he said, had done all he possibly could for them in their efforts -to get the clock. Mr Jones was at all times most ready to help them when they luid occasion to ask his assistance, and he was glad to add that they never appealed to him in vain.. Councillor Waddell, in giving the toast of "The Mayor," returned thanks to him for the very pleasant entertainment ho had provided for them, and urged him to do his best during his term of office to provide Oamaru with municipal offices and theatre combined, such as tlie town uight well be proud of. He said tne present Council offices were a disgrace to the town, and that the money would be subscribed readily in debentures.

The Mayor, in responding to the toast, said that Councillor Waddell had anticipated him in his remarks about the now Council offices. He fully intended setting about that very thing, and had every confidence that, it would be brought to a successful issue. Referring to the clock onto more,, he said that the town would now have the- time, and that it would be useful at their. Council meetings to bear the clock strike 10, and he promised to take no fresh business in future olter the clock 6truck tliat hour.

This resolve was received with cheera, amidst which.the company dispersed.