TOLLING LIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 6 December 1927, Page 5

TOLLING LIES

STEALING A MARCH ON SIDEY POST OFFICE CLOCK'S MISTAKE. STRIKING AHEAD OF TIME. Boom I Boom! B*■ -I "What, eleven already?" The office girl of the "Tribune” looked at her watch. It was slow, so aha put it on 30 minutes. Another young lady in a lawyer’s office made a rush for the kettle. She was half an hour late with that cup of beverage for the boss. The ’bus drivers rushed frantically to the door and looked—no, they stared—at ‘‘‘Big Ben” which graces the tower of the Hastings Post Office. Sure enough the eleven strikes were booming out, but Well, the clock had lied! The hands on that stolid face indicated half past ten, but the inside works declared it to be the hour. For once that lin-shaped thing which made an unholy row on the mantelpiece was correct and “Big Ben’s” chatter was misleading. Frequently ,‘Big Ben” has spoken out of his turn by chiming the wrong time, but not before has he so de. Überately lied. The keeper of the clock tower, Mr 8. Armstrong, had a look at the mass of wheels, springs, ropes and levers but none was out of place. He is puzzled about this fresh complaint. Perhaps "Big Ben” was tired of the daylight saving and decided to steal a march on Mr. Sidey.