MEMORIAL CLOCK TOWER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18192, 13 September 1933, Page 6

MEMORIAL CLOCK TOWER

NEW SITE CHOSEN AT END OF GRASS PLOT DESIGN DECIDED UPON A new site for the Robinson memorial clock tower was chosen fby the Gisborne Borough Council at its meeting last evening, it being decided that the tower should be situated in the middle of Gladstone road, between Grey street and Derby street, one chain back from the former street. Discussion regarding the site was reopened by a motion by Cr. W. J. MabGibbon that the resolution appointing the centre of the Gladstone road and Grey' street intersection as the site for the clock should be amended, and that the site should be as eventually decided upon by the. meeting. The council also decided upon a design' for the tower —a very handsome drawing submitted by the borough engineering staff being unanimously chosen. In speaking to the motion, of which he had given notice, Cr. Mac Gibbon said that he considered that on the site originally decided upon the tower would be a menace to traffic, whereas by placing it as suggested the clock would not be much further out of the town. INTERSECTION OBSTRUCTION. Cr. D. S. Thompson, on whose motion it was originally decided that the tower should be in the centre of the intersection, seconded the motion, mentioning that he had been informed by the town clerk of Auckland that the latter was opposed to the placing of obstructions at intersections. He had advised the speaker that if the tower were placed as recently decided it would have to be removed in later years. Cr. Thompson had put the alternative site now proposed before , the Auckland town clerk, who informed him that he could see no reason why it should not be so placed.

Cr. H. H. DeCosta contended that on the site now proposed the clock would be too far out of town, and he suggested as an alternative that the site should be outside Cr. Thompson’s shop between Grey street and Bright street, partly as a compliment to Cr. Thompson, through whose efforts the. erection of the tower had been made possible. Cr. G. Bradley Smith also was of the opinion that the new site would be too far up the town, and remarked that there was a considerable amount of dissatisfaction over the proposed site. He considered that from a utilitarian point of view and also from the point of view of beauty, the most desirable form that the clock structure could take would be an arch over the Gladstone road bridge. In that way r any question of danger to traffic would be removed.- As an amendment he proposed that his suggestion should be referred to the works committee for a report. FINALITY SOUGHT. Expressing opposition to the clock being placed anywhere in the street, Cr. W. Cave seconded the amendment, remarking that he would like to see that proposal investigated. “It looks as though this council doesn’t know its own mind for one minute,” said Cr. J. W. H. Holmes. Cr. H. E. Maude commented that at the intersection the clock would obstruct visibility, but in a grass plot between intersections there would be no obstruction. He agreed with Crr Holmes that the council should reach some finality. While being in favor of the amendment, he would prefer the site proposed by Cr. Mac Gibbon to that originally decided upon.

Cr. J. H. Hall favored the site originally decided upon, prophesying that that intersection would become the centre of the town, and that a clock in the centre of the intersection would provide a safe means of directing traffic. It would be possible, he suggested, to erect the clock with an arched base so that visibility would not be obscured. In a sense ho supported the amendment, but wished to see a clock there later in addition to a clock at the Grey street intersection.

The Mayor, Mr. John Jackson, stated that the motion only entailed moving the clock up about a chain, and it would also furnish an attractive termination to the grass plot, without obscuring visibility in any way. In order to reach finality he was prepared to support Cr. Mac Gibbon’s amendment. Or. Smith’s amendment that the practicability or otherwise from an engineering or financial point of view of placing the clock in a tower over the bridge should be referred to the works committee was lost, and the motion was carried.

HANDSOME DESIGN CHOSEN.

Following its decision as to the site, the council considered seven suggested designs attractively drawn and presented. Of tho seven one was unanimously selected. The drawing showed a slightly tapered white column of severe and impressive lines, approximately 60ft. in height, and relieved at the apex by a pyramid roof supported on eight columns, thus leaving the chimes exposed to view. The tower will be supported on a plain flat base, and on one face the words “Robinson Memorial Tower” will be inscribed within a simple wreath.

“This is something that the council should be proud of,” said the Mayor when it. was announced after a decision had been reached that the chosen design was the work of the council’s staff. It was agreed that the design should be displayed in a shop window in town. Gisborne registered architects did not submit designs by order of the Ncw r Zealand Institute of Architects, which refused to allow its members to take part because of tho fact that the competition conditions were not in accordance with the regulations of tho institute.

As an indication of the range of visibility of the new clock, it may bo mentioned that the height of the parapet of the Cash Stores is 42ft., while the tower itself is to be approximately 60ft. high, and the clock face 50ft. above the level of the road.