SHIPS BELLS.

Southland Times, Issue 22055, 30 June 1933, Page 5

SHIPS BELLS.

To the Editor. Sir,—Regarding the article in the Times of June 27: What has become of ships’ bells? There is, or was, one at Tuatapere on either the Presbyterian or Methodist Church. This bell has special interest in Southland as it was taken from the fine ship England’s Glory, which was wrecked just outside of Bluff Harbour about 35 years ago. The late J. A. Adam, a son of Orepuki, wrote up quite a nice article at the time of its erection on the church showing how, after calling the weary mariner from rest to toil, it was now used to call the weary soul from toil to rest. I had a little personal experience in connection with this same bell. I had occasion to be travelling to Preservation Inlet in the old Hinemoa, then in command of the late Captain Bollons, and in the course of conversation, I happened to mention to Captain Bollons the fact of this bell having been placed at Tuatapere and he was very much interested. He said, “I would like to get that bell. Do you know I was an apprentice on that ship when she was wrecked?” He was so much taken up about it that he may have got it and given another in its place, hence my remai*: at the start — There is or was one at Tuatapere.—l am etc., LEONARD CROSS. June 27, 1933.