PAPANUI PEALS RING OUT, AFTER MANY YEARS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17999, 9 November 1926, Page 13

PAPANUI PEALS RING OUT, AFTER MANY YEARS

Out over the township, and across the fields, the peals of St Paul's, Papamii, were rung out last night for the first, time for many years. Forty-six years ago, in 18S0. they first rang, and the story is recorded in gold letters on a blue silk ribbon and hung in the vestry of the church. “The quiet and peaceful village of Papanui presented yesterday a scene of unusual gaiety on the occasion of the first ringing of the fine peal of bells presented by Mr J. T. Matson," it begins. And goes on to record the weight of the bells as 26 cwt, and the tenor bell to scale 6? cwt; that Mr Godfrey strengthened the tower; that the Rev F. C. Brittan read the prayers for the service; the Rev E. G. Penny, the lessons, and His Lordship the Bishop gave the address. Afterwards a public luncheon was held at the Papanui Hotel. Mr Amyes was caterer, and in the afternoon, football, cricket, was indulged in on the glebe paddocks, and the Railway Band played and the children raced. An address was presented to the donor, Mr Matson, thanking him for the gift. It was “emblazoned parchment in colours and gold" bv Mr Goodman and signed by the Rev F„ C. Brittan, M.A., vicar, and William Norman and Charles Jennings, church wardens. The frame containing the address was made of native timbers by Mr Howell, PapaBut the 26 cwt was soon found to be too much for tlie tower to stand. The strengthening, b'- Mr Godfrev proved insufficient, so a Mr Harrison was commissioned to effect repairs. He further strengthened the gantry, but after some 3-ears the swaying of the bells could be felt in the church, while the tower rocked dangerously-, so from then the bells have not been swung. 1 he Matson family for three generations have identified themselves with St Paul s Church, Mr Uenrv Matson taking up his 'residence in what is now Matson's Road. Papanui, in the early sixties, and Mr Conway Matson, a son, was on the vestry *of the church for twenty-seven years. When Mr Ilenry- M. Matson, the eldest son, retired from his holdings in Gippsland, Victoria, and came to live with his brother. Conway, in Papanui, he interested himself in the church of his father, and feeling that his brother's gift of the bells had become a useless one, he undertook the repairs. 13y the time the whole work is finished Mr Henry- Matson will have spent close in £ISOO on the church. The whole interior has been redecorated, and in the tower Messfs J. and W. Jamieson have built a gantry of 9 x 9 Oregon. So it was made possible for the Cathedral bell-ringers to come to Papanui. and for the chimes to once more ring out. Archcfbacon Julius, for many years vicar at Papanui, gave the opening address