THE CITY S CLOCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 133, 8 June 1931, Page 6

THE CITY S CLOCK

WHAT WILL BECOME OF IT? TOTAL COST OF £725 NOTES FROM BOROUGH MINUTES The fate uf the major clock rim th as 1 dictated the policy of all the lesser clocks of Wanganui hangs in the bala nee. Need.-' mimt when the Devil drives and the home of .Father Time’s valued henchman is in the hands of the breaker of buildings. On Friday i’ublic Works officials, with rulers ami plans, were making ready lot lhe day of execution. No doubt the building which is to lose so prominent a portion of its archi tectuie will become a place of lesser dignity to the eye. but what will counti more in degree of importance will be ‘‘what is to become of the clock?” It is interesting tu recall that on October 22, 1991, as noted in those in fallible records, the minutes of the ' Borough Council, it was decided by the civic authorities of the day that the Town Clerk w rite the Postmaster Gen oral and negotiate for a clock to be erected in the post office then being rebuilt. 'l’bere followed a fairly lengthy period of negotiations between the Borough Council and the Government, the minutes showing that the late Mr A. Hatrick and the late Air A. D Willis played important parts in the endeavour to equip Wanganui with a suitable timepiece. It is noted that on January 22. 1902, it was decided that a new clock should be purchased, but, apparently, the fate of the old clock entered very prominently into the scheme of things and the Government, probably like every other Government elected to office, was slow in com ing to the point. In March, 1902, the council was informed by letter that there were too many requests being made for town clocks and it was the Government’s intention to decline them. At that meeting the Mayor (Mr Hat rick), and Mr A. D. '-Utts made haste to assure the council that they had had a promise of a clock an I. therefore, Wanganui could not be listed as a “doubtful borough.” Apparently, personal negotiation, carried on on behalf of Wanganui by Messrs Hatrick and Willis, had had the desired effect and they were practically certain in their own minds at that stage, that the Government was favourably disposed towards Wanganui’s request for a new medium for Father Timo. .Discussion moved on towards its zenith regarding the fate of the clock then in use and it was finally decided that it should be erected temporarily, with one dial, apparently to tide over the delay in final ising matters over the new. It is a coincidence that it was on June 3, 1902. that, the order for a new clock was authorised by the Bornew clock was authorised by the Borough Council —29 years to the day w-hen news was made available to the “Chronicle” that the tower this timepiece is housed in must come down. The price of the now clock was fixed at £725 and this was to include chimes and erection. Of that amount the Borough Council paid half. Presumably the Government footed the bill for the balance, so it is reasonable to assume that, the clock is now the joint, property of the State post office and the civic authorities. Just over £lOOO has been authorised to pull down the tower and certaiu unnecessary ornaments on the building. When the workmen begin every resident of Wanganui, including that little coterie who have a liking for gossip and stand on the post office corner, will debate as to what should be done with the clock. It has become part and parcel of the town, having rendered faithful service over its nearly thirty years of life.