TOWN HALL CLOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27384, 9 May 1950, Page 6

TOWN HALL CLOCK

History Of Chimes 70 YEAR’S SERVICE “Why does the Town Hall clock play a tune different from other clocks?”- This question, as we recounted in our columns yesterday, led a visiting couple from the North Island to undertake a long and frustrating series of inquiries before their curiosity was finally satisfied. For 70 years the bells of the Town Hall clock have faithfully clanged the passing of the hours, but few citizens of - Dunedin —as this couple learned when they commenced their inquiry—know anything of their history or the story behind the melody of the chimes. A correspondent who signs himself “M,” has reminded us that 15 years ago we printed this story in our columns. The article to which he referred appeared in the Daily Times on November 5, 1935, and from it the following passage is extracted:'— • “Citizens generally accept the message of the bells as the indication of the passage of time, but musicians note the music they make. This was written by Mr A. W. McArthur, who was associated with Mr John Hislon, and was intimately acquainted with the manufacture of turret clocks. The chimes are as follows: First quarter: C, A flat, B flat, E flat. Second quarter: B flat, G, E flat, A flat. E flat, B.flat, C, A flat. Third quarter: E flat, C, B flat, A flat, B flat, G, E flat, B flat, A flat, C, E flat, A flat. y , Fourth quarter: C, G, B flat, E flat, B flat, G, E flat, B flat, E flat; A flat, B flat, C, A flat, B flat, C, A flat. “ Between the last stroke of the fourth quarter chime and the strike of the hour bell thefe is a pause of eight seconds, and then the first stroke of the hour indicates the exact moment of time when the hour begins. The hour is struck on a bell of 30cwt, and chimes the four quarters on five bells weighing altogether 76cwt 2qr. The hour bell is included in the chime. The cost of the clock in London was £9OO, and when finally erected in the tower of the Town Ha]i.the total cost was £1839 18s lid.”