S. ANDREW'S CHURCH BELLS, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1681, 14 April 1883, Page 3

S. ANDREW'S CHURCH BELLS, CAMBRIDGE.

Some time ago, it will bo remembored, as the above bells were discovered to afford anything but harmony when ringing together, a competent person (Mr Wells, organist, Christclmrch Cathedral), was called in to report upon the quality and proficiency of the peal. The result of the investigations of the musical expert was \rry unfavourable, and in consequence of this, at a subsequent meeting of the church vestry, it was agreed to make strong representations to "the merchants through whom the bells were imported, on the matter, Tim communication of the vestry, embodying the nature of the complaint, was in due time forwarded to the makers, Messrs Vicken" and Co., London, and elicited the following satisfactory reply :—: — [Copy of letter from Messrs Vickers, Sons, and Co.l Sheffield, 23id Jiinunry, 1883. lair of bclN for Cambridge, New /ral.ind. — We are sorry to learn from your letter of the 15th fast, that the pc>il of bells we sent out through you to Cambridge, New Zealand, have not given satisfaction. We are surprised at the icport, as the bells were of course tried here, and were considered a fairly good peal for thcir > size. The bells, however, were tried here standing on the ground mouth upward', and their tones may have soundrd somewhat different to what they sound when hung in the tower. 'Ihe notesofthiipe.il as registered in our booVs, were : Treble. G sharp; 2nd. F sharp; 3rd, E natur.il; 4th, D sharp ; sth, C sharp ; tenor, R natural ; and those notes should make a harmonious pe.il if the attendant notrs in the bells are corrert. We fear at the height the bells are hung, these notes not being quite correct spoil the ground notes of the bells. We are prepared to do whichc\cr you think would be more satisfactory ta your customers, either to make two new small bells, or to mkke an entirely new po.il, le-ivmg you to sell the old pp.il rithci as single bells, or a ring of three or ionr larger bells, and the others as single hel1« In making steel bulls thure i< a difficulty that does not exist in bron/e bells, and that is we h.ive to cast the true note, as we cannot tune steel bells as bronzed ones are done after they arc cast. The frame in which tho bells arc at present hung will not of ( ourse admit ofanyffreat departure tiom the original sizes of the bells, and for this reason we are rather inclined to think it would In* best to send out tno new small bells, and not disturb the others. Awaiting jour instructions, and regretting icry much that we have not this time given satisfaction, we remain, &c, Vickkrs, Sons ami Co., LIMITI'U. An advertisement calling a special ceneral mevting of the parishioners for Tuesday evening, to consider the above communication, appears in another column. It has been proposed to return the whole peal to be sold as separate bells, instead of merely the two faulty ones. The vestry are of opinion that as they cannot ring the present peal without injury to the tower they would bettor have a peal of laruer bells and do nothing but chime, as chiming does not injure the tower. This certainly would be a great improvement, but it will rest with the meeting of parishioners on Tuesday evening to decide whether any further expense is to be incurred in the matter or not.