ALAS, THOSE CHIMES!

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 287, 8 January 1915, Page 10

ALAS, THOSE CHIMES!

WHERE ARE THEY? SYDENHAM'S POST OFFICE CLOCK THREE YEARS' WAIT. On November 20, 1911, Sir Joseph "Ward laid the foundation stone of- the Sydenham Post Office in the presence of •"a large and enthusiastic gathering" the newspaper reports of the function). In due course the building was jeared from a bantling of mortar and

etone to a lusty edifice of no small preten- . eions. There was a tower, with a place , for a' clock. The tower is still there, but the circular dial places gaze mournfully over the model borough. The clock, with 'its harmonious chimes, is not there. Where (it is, nobody knows. The people of Sydenham cannot be accused Of apathy in this matter. They did not ask for i ' tick" for the clock, but they 1 Tvant to hear the clock ticking. When the .foundation stone was laid, Sydenham decided that it was time to think about the clock. A committee got to work, collected a good round sum, and persuaded the City Council to come down with a subsidy. It was no case of goiug cap in hand to loan-ridden or unsympathetic Government. Sydenham placed the cash in the hands of the powers, remarking that there was enough and to spare to put a miniature yßig Ben" in the aching void in the tower.

GOVERNMENT WHSAT. CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION. The following are the conditions upon which applications are invited for supplies of Government wheat: — (1) The wheat is Australian or Canadian, and has been imported for breadmaking. (2) The price of wheat will be 5/9 per bushel, at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, or Port Chalmers, and Bluff. (.'>) The wheat will arrive in January and February. (4) Delivery will be given at ship's side. (5) Instructions should, if possible, be supplied with every application if required to be forwarded by rail or sea to iinal destination. Unless otherwise directed, marine insurance will be effected at applicant's expense on all consignments transhipped by sea. Sacks will be charged for at valuation, but no bank exchange will be payable. (6) An allocation will only be made on receipt of an application on the prescribed form, signed, witnessed, and stamped, and no allotment will be made unless it appears from the information supplied in the form of declaration that the stock of wheat on hand or arranged for is insufficient to meet requirements. (7) The terms of payment will be cash ou delivery; payment to be made at any Money Order Office within the Dominion or to credit of the Public Account at the Bank of New Zealand. The information given in the applications will be regarded as confidential.—R. Triggs, W. R. Morris, J. .Ilislop, Wheat Distribution Committee. A sworn statement has to be made as to the amount of wheat and flour held b ythe applicant or arranged for.

St. John's v. Waimairi, at Linwood Park. Dunstable v. St. Matthew's It, at Linwood Park. St. Peter's v. Boys' Gordon Hall A, at Woolston. Y.M.C.A. v. Islington-Hornby, at Hagley Park. Boys' Gordon Hall II v. Druid-;, at Hagley Park. TEAMS SELECTED. The following are the teams selected: — LINWOOD WANDEIIEKS. Seniors (v. Sydenham Hoekey Club, at Sydenham Park) : Peters, Seymour, Campbell, Grammer, Harry (IJ), Wardell, L. Elvy, Watts, Stevens. Emergencies: A. Hobbs, Wench, Juniors (v. WooLston, at Wools ton Park) : Jennings, Robinson, Irving, Williams, Judkoii, Hardie (2), Uentley, Beanland. Muling, G. Elvy. Emergencies: Flatman, Sullivan.

There have been various rumours since that time, but no clock, no chimes, rot, oven a modest tick. People stop in front of the post office and consult their watches, but there is no infallible and friendly dial to show how far their •watches are out. "Where is our clock?" is the question of the hour. It is said that the Governrn-ut l has accepted a tender, but beyond that there »s no information. The chairman of Jhe committee, Mr G.'E. Good, has asked the member for the district to make enquiries, and this ought to give Dr Thicker a chance for another historic telegram to a Minister. Sydenham feels that it wants its clock, that it ought to have it, and that it means to have it. The sooner the gently dulcet chimes are sweetly stealing to their listening cars the better they will be pleased.

War has made itself felt in the Moray Firth, and the minister asked for beds and bedding. One old woman came and said: "Here's a blanket aft* in a ain bed — it's clean, too. Maybe it'll do to hap up some poor loon. My one laddie is drooned, and the ither is in the Reserve, and may the Lord be aboot them a'! " And another said :'' And here's two pillowsnew anes. They were for Jessie Ann; but maybe she'll no' be needin' them noo .that it's war—it's no' this year they'll i>e married;'' And another said: '' Here \s poor Dannie garni aff to fight for his country, and he has nae socks."

WHO HAS THE STOCKS?

Mr If. G. Ell, M.P., has sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister: '' I sent you a telegram last Saturday. I have not received a reply; and I must confess to a feeling of surprise, as my telegram conveyed an offer to render to the officer you appointed all the help I could to discover the names and addresses of persons holding wheat for a rise in price. I have now the name and address of a man who, I am informed, has refused 6/9 per bushel for 8000 bushels, and is asking 7/-."