SYDNEY’S CARILLON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20075, 16 April 1927, Page 14

SYDNEY’S CARILLON.

WILL THE BELLS EVER RING? TROUBLE OYER THE TOWER. (FBOU OUS OWK COBBESFOKDXHT-) SYDNEY, April 7. A wrangle is going’ on at the University of Sydney over the carillon which ia to be the war memorial of that seat of learning. All that the carillon haa struck at present is a discordant note which cannot be altogether pleasing to the subscribers to the memorial. When the fund was opened for the carillon, Sydney’s wealthy folk, and especial]/ those with university associations, poured money into it like water. The immediate success «f the appeal was beyond the fairest dream* of the promoters. But it was not until some time subsequently that the possibility of a campanile also was contemplated. The campanile was an afterthought. It is now the cause of-all the pother. While most people are convinced that a bell tower will be an enchantment to the carillon, especially as it will be ore of the best in the world, there is a strong -feeling that if the installation of the carillon has to bo dependent upon the erection of a campanile, it will have to _be postponed indefinitely, owing to the difficulty of raising the additional large sum needed. People opened their purse string* for the carillon with extraordinary alacrity, in the belief that they would soon witness the consummation of the memorial, and hear the notes of the carillon floating out over Sydney in a grand symphony. In view of events, they are liardly likely to pour money into a campanile with the same feverish generosity, especially as it will cost an additional £20,000. The Senate of the University ia now being plainly informed that a duty is owing to those who subscribed to tl e carillon fund, to get the carillon itself installed, and that, with the university dock tower in existence, it can easily be made to serve the purposes of a bell tower for the carillon. , Sydney is eager to hear the bills ringing. It is now beginning to wonder if they ever will ring.