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Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6501, 28 December 1881, Page 4

One of too moot picturing of sounds in tho human ear is tho noise of bells. In too old world bells are appreciated as taking a part in almost every event of the human drama. In Colonies they are even more appreciated, lor, as peals of bells are few and far between, fond memory ondowe them with every charm in the ears of those who “ have with holy bell been knotted to oburoh; ” whoso blood has stirred responsive to tho triumphant peals of great occasions; wbo have felt tho gladness, tho sorrow, or tho peaceful calm of their hearts echoed by tho great bolls of their far-away native town. When the bells were first sounded from the Cathedral tower of Christchurch, they made the atmosphere vibrate with tender memories of youth and hope, beauty, joy, and sot forgotten sorrow. Since that event they have begun a career which will, we hope, endear them to many generations. This is the good side of the bells. It is unfortunate to be obliged to confess that they have also a bad side. We do not allude to toe inefficiency of the ringers. That is a defect unavoidable In a new country which must begin life by losing the old art of bell-ringing. It is likewise a defect which is gradually disappearing. What we allude to is the unseasonable hour which the bellringers have chosen lor their practices. In choosing their praotioe time, bellringers should remember that, in spite of their excellent tone, tho beautiful object of their existence, and the thronging memories they produce, bells can be made to jangle most abominably in the ear by simple bad selection of the occasion of ringing. Breaking in upon a concert, bells are simply abominable. As an interruption to opera, they are unendurable. As on accompaniment to a dramatic performance, they are vile. As disturbers of mnsio in any shape, they are unpardonable. As assistants forced upon a lecturer, they are galling. About these things there is no manner of doubt. There is also no doubt that the hours immediately succeeding the hour of eight p.m. wore occupied before the bellringers appeared on toe scene, by toe drama, by concerts, by lectures and public entertainments of all kinds, and by the praotioe of music in private houses. In electing to extend their praotioe beyond the hour of eight p.m. the bell-ringers have taken forcible possession of that which other people possessed already. This is nothing more nor less than a breach of good manners: made in thoughtlessness, no doubt, or ignorance of the penetrating power of bell sounds, but a breach nevertheless. We venture to suggest to the bell-ringers that they, who are a very small minority in the community, should give way to toe majority of toe citizens. If it is a question of who is to suffer inconvenience, the answer most he that the sufferers must be the small minority. The bell-ringers will certainly be consulting the interests and pleasure of the majority of the citizens if they arrange to cease their praotioe at eight o’clock. There are rumours of applying for injunctions to restrain the ringing within due limits of time. Wo trust, however, that the good sente of toe ringers will prevent recourse to any extreme measure of that kind.