THE CLOCK TOWER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2044, 11 September 1880, Page 2

THE CLOCK TOWER.

Councillor King’s motion re the erection of the clock tower in Latimer square will come before the City Council on Monday. Tho motion is as follows : —“ That this Council take steps to have the clock tower presented to the citizens of Christchurch by the General Government, erected in Latimer square, with a suitable pedestal, at a cost of not more than £550.” Now, we sincerely trust that the motion will be thrown out. We believe that, if it is passed, £SO will bo given by the Mayor, and £250, it is reckoned, will be furnished by the residents, and the remaining £250 will bo taken from the city funds. In the present depressed state of our financial matters we cannot see that the Council would be justified in spending such a sum. There is a large amount of distress still prevailing, and it would appear as if it would be far wiser for the Council to reserve tho money with a view of supplying work for the unemployed when another crisis comes round. A clock tower in Latimer square may look well or it may not —that is a matter of taste; hut the furnishing of work to the distressed portion of tho community is a necessity. If we are to have our evening concerts in tho square concerts provided for by the kindness of fellow-citizens —by all means let some sort of rotunda be erected for the shelter of the band, but to spend £550 for this purpose is simply absurd, and, as far as can be seen, that is the only valid raison d'etre put forward for the erection of the tower. There are clocks enough, in all conscience, in the neighbourhood. Of course, if the whole cost of erection were raised by subscription, the matter would be different; but we do protest against city funds being spent for such an object. The public at large would be happy, we feel confident, to erect a rotunda for the bands, without any call on the city purse.