Time o' Day - municipal buildings - King George Place

Timaru Herald, 7 September 1874, Page 3 A TOWN CLOCK.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMARU HERALD. Sir,—Apropos of the subject of a town clock, I would call attention to the necessity of the Incumbent of St. Mary's, or some one of the church authorities, so ordering matters that a trifle more punctuality be observed on Sundays. Yesterday morning the service was sixteen minutes late in commencing, and on the previous Sunday unpunctuality was also the rule. I am, etc., TIME.

Timaru Herald, 29 September 1876, Page 3 TOWN CLOCK.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMARU HERALD. Sir, — The want of a public clock has long been felt in Timaru, but more so since the railway commenced running. The main difficulty, as to where it could be conveniently put up, might be got over if advantage was taken in time of the proposed erection of the lighthouse tower on LeCren's terrace ; the site would be sufficiently conspicuous; the light-keeper might do the winding with his other duties, and be remunerated by the Borough Council. It will be necessary to communicate without delay with the Lighthouse Commissioners to get an aperture left for dial or dials and works. As the contract for erection of the tower is not yet let, this might, be effected at a small additional expense to the General Government, and would confers permanent benefit to the general public. Details such as size and number of dials, etc., might safely be left in the hands of a committee. Were subscriptions invited from the inhabitants in Timaru and district, or entertainments got up to create a fund to meet the expenses, I scarcely doubt but that there would he a generous response. If you deem the above suggestions likely to have a successful issue, and open a "public clock subscription list" in the Timaru Herald, you can start with £3 3s from TOWN DIAL ; Timaru, September 28.

Timaru Herald, 5 June 1879, Page 2
THE NEW POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICES.
The new public buildings in Timaru will include accommodation for the Post Office, Telegraph, Customs, Education, and Land Tax Departments. The site of the building is at the junction of Sophia street with George street at its most elevated angle, and the principle entrances will be towards George street, where the frontage of the block will be 88ft, the depth towards Sophia street being 66ft. The building will be about two stories in height, or about 40ft from street line to finish of cornice. A central clock tower will be carried up an additional 80ft above cornice, or 70ft m all from ground line, and above this elevation a flag pole with time ball will be placed. In consequence of the rapid fall of the ground backwards from George street, the back portion of the building will only rise one storey above the line of Sophia street, where the private box department of the Post Office and posting-window ii situated, also the mail entrance to the sorting room, the basement floor under this portion being occupied for storage and other conveniences. The entrances to the public department will be through porches projected on relieved Doric columns, surmounted by balustrades, the entrance to private boxes and posting-windows adjoining being similarly treated. The design of the building is of plain Italian, several of the window openings being relieved with panelled pilasters, consoles, and cornices; the main cornice of the building being enriched with modillions and dentils. The tower will be finished with flat roof, protected by pierced balustrade, surmounting a boldly projected cornice, carried on moulded trusses. The basement floor will be constructed of concrete, and the remainder of the building of brick, cement finished, part of the work being rusticated at joints for relief.
    The accommodation provided in the building is as follows:—In the basement, large storage accommodation for Postal Department, 58ft x 28ft; two living rooms, 17ft x 13½ ft; bedroom, 13ft x 10ft; and other conveniences for storage, &c. In the principal or ground floor: Mail room, 68ft x 28ft; space for public, 21ft x 16ft (Money Order office screened off from same with parallel partition); Postmaster's room, 21ft x 16ft ; Insurance Department, 18ft x 16ft; vestibule, 8ft in width by 16ft. Telegraph Department, 23ft x 19ft 6in, subdivided by counter between clerks and public; a messenger's room adjoining, 16ft x 11ft 6in, communicating with a vestibule similar to that entering to the Postal Department. In connection with the Customs Department there will be a long room, 28ft x 2lft 6m; the Collector's and Landing Waiter's rooms of 16ft x 15ft each, and strong room a letter carrier's room, 17ft x 13ft 6in, and strong 100 m, being also attached to Postal Department. Principal staircase leading to upper floor will be 16ft x 13ft, and the accommodation provided m upper floor consists of the instrument room m connection with Telegraph Department, 40ft x 33ft, test room, and store room. A lift communicates from public offices, below, in convenient position. The remaining portion of this floor is occupied by two offices for the Education of 16ft x 15ft each, and Land Tax offices of 18ft x 16ft, and 19ft x 11ft. The building has been designed, and plan and specifications prepared by Mr R. A. Lawson, architect, Dunedin.

Timaru Herald, 12 August 1880, Page 5
The building erected at the angle of George and Sophia streets for the accommodation of the postal and telegraph and other public services, is now completed, so far as the building itself is concerned, though a good deal yet remains to be done m the way of fitting up. We were yesterday shown over the building by Mr Targus, one of the contractors, to whom we are indebted for much of the information contained m the following description :—
    The mail room measures 68ft by 28ft. Off: this at one end is the letter-carriers' room, and projecting into it at the Sophia street end is a range of private letter boxes. Of these, when those in the present post-office are fixed, there will be 231, oil strongly made, with mitred and clamped doors fitted with Hobbs' patent locks. Near them is a recess in the floor, about 4ft deep, whore receiving baskets will be placed under the posting apertures. On the other side of the private boxes is the private or letter-carriers' entrance to the mail-room from the street. Below the mailroom, and of the same area, is a large storeroom for post-office purposes, and west of this three living-rooms and storage for the use of a caretaker.
    ...... In the store-room are two rows of stout cast-iron pillars carrying beams of Oregon pine for the support of the floor of the mail-room..
    The western entrance is similar to the eastern, but less space is given to the rooms on the ground floor on this side. Here are there offices, a strong-room, and a storeroom for the accommodation of the Customs department. The Customs office is the best room m the building, as far as appearance is concerned, not being broken by pillars, as are the telegraph and post offices. From the vestibule of the southern entrance a staircase leads to the offices in the second floor. At the west end are four spacious rooms, two of which will be used by the Board of Education, and the other two for land tax purposes. The remainder of this floor contains, the instrument gallery of the telegraph department, 40ft by 33ft, a test room and store room. The instrument room is well lighted, having windows on three sides. A portion of this room, with one of the fireplaces, is to be cut off by a, screen partition, to form a private room for the operators, and a sleeping room for the night operators. The test room is immediately under the clock tower, and m the upper part of the southern wall perforations are made for the passage of the wires into the building. From the test room access is gained to the clock room, dial room, and the top of the tower by means of ladders and trap doors. The circular spaces for the dials are each 6ft Gin m diameter m the clear, though they do not look it from the street.
The tower has a heavily-leaded roof, surrounded by a massive parapet about 8ft high, through apertures in which — or better, form the top of a parapet — a complete view of the town and neighbor hood can be obtained. In the centre of the leads rises a stout pole of Oregon pine, carrying a time ball of cane wicker-work. The ball is built about a cylinder of iron, and weighs about a hundredweight.
    The whole of the works appear to be of the most substantial character, and the building should last for centuries. The interior wood work is of kauri, with dark red pine mouldings. The counters are massive and very well finished, the whole of the work being done on the spot, except the carving of the trusses used m ornamenting the counters which was done m Dunedin. The staircase leading to the upper rooms is a very good and substantial piece of work. The handrails are of red pine ; the newels also of red pine, with inlaid panels of kauri, and finished with massive heads in kauri. The screen partitions and counter-fronts throughout the building are composed of kauri panels, relieved by red pine. The inner doors and skirtings on the ground floor have been very cleverly grained m imitation of different handsome woods, and the mantelpieces m imitation of different marbles, or malachite. On the second floor a less ornate treatment has been applied. The Postmaster's room and the Collector of Customs' room have been finished in a somewhat better style than the rest, and have a neat cornice to the walls. The absence of cornices makes the walls of some of the other rooms look rather bare. The mantelpieces are most of them massive and well-constructed, but m some cases are far too large for the rooms. Each of the offices is supplied with a lavatory, with water laid on from leaden tanks built into the roof, and at the back is arranged other conveniences.            
    Though the building is finished as far as the original contract is concerned, a good deal yet remains to be done before the officials whose headquarters it is to be can take possession of it. Numerous fittings of various kinds for the different offices are required, a complete system, of gas pipes is already m place, built into the walls out of sight, but the pendant and bracket burners are yet to be fixed, and twenty-one fire-places have yet to be fitted with grates. It will be six or eight weeks before the building is ready for occupation. When these requisites have been supplied, the Government buildings of Timaru will require a good clock to render them thoroughly complete. The contractors, Messrs Tubb and Targus, may well be proud of having carried out their contract m such a satisfactory manner, and may also congratulate themselves upon the complete immunity from accident which has marked the progress of the work. It seldom happens that so large a building is completed without some injury, trifling or serious, happening to a workman. We should mention that the architect for the building is Mr Lawson, of Dunedin, and that its construction has been superintended by Mr Miller. The brick work was done by Philp and Co., the plastering by Mr Palliser, the plumbing by McBride and McKay, and the painting by Mr Amos, each of whom appears to have done his branch of work in a most efficient manner.

Timaru Herald, 12 August 1880, Page 6
From Mr John Jackson, asking the Board to take steps to have Timaru made a port of registry, locally owned vessels having now to be registered elsewhere ; also requesting the Board to get the time ball at the new Post office put in working order at once, so that vessels might rate their chronometers by it. On the motion of Mr Moody, it was resolved that the Commissioner of Customs be requested to have Timaru made a port of registry. Captain Sutter explained that steps were being taken to put the time ball in order.

Timaru Herald, 31 August 1880, Page 2
The new Post and Telegraph Offices were lighted up last night, to test the gas pipes and the efficiency of the lighting. There are between sixty and seventy burners in the building, and generally speaking the lighting is very satisfactory. In one or two places in the mailing room an additional burner or a re-arrangement is considered desirable, and Mr Miller, Clerk of the Works, took a note of these possible improvements. The gas fittings are neat, though some of them have a rather heavy appearance. The quality of the light leaves nothing to be desired. The fittings are being supplied and fixed by Anderson, of Dunedin. The fitting up of the Post and Telegraph offices is nearing completion, and there is some talk of the business being removed into them on Saturday next. In the mailing room is a sorting table made on the model of one used  in the General Post Office, London, and to the uninitiated the convenience generally seem very complete. In the telegraph department the operating room is fitted with a table for twelve instruments, each pair divided from their neighbors by a low panel partition glazed with rough-rolled plate glass. This table is lighted with pendant burners, with two reflectors. The battery room is being specially arranged by Mr Meddings, Inspector of Telegraphs, and presents a curious array of rough glass vessels, with their contained chemicals. The line-men are busy at work putting up poles to carry the wires to the building, the poles being of a very substantial character. The time ball will also be ready to perform its allotted duty, a windlass being placed on the operating floor to wind it up with.

Timaru Herald, 24 March 1881, Page 6
The Post-office Clock. — The following letter was yesterday received from Mr. Gray, Secretary to the Post-office and Telegraph Department, Wellington, in answer to a letter forwarded by Mr E. H. Lough, Town Clerk, conveying a resolution recently passed by the Borough Council respecting the Post-office clock : — "Adverting to your letter of the 7th ultimo, No. 443, expressing the willingness of the Timaru Borough Council to contribute £100 towards the cost of a clock to be erected m the tower of the Post-office building, I beg to inform you that a contract is near in course of acceptance of  the construction of an eight day four-dial illuminated clock, at a cost of £285. The specified weight of the clock bell is five hundredweight ; but if your Council is of opinion that a larger bell will be required to ensure the striking of the hours being heard over a desired area, perhaps you would be good enough to indicate the weight which in the opinion of the Council would be most suitable."

Timaru Herald, 3 October 1881, Page 2
The Town Clock.— Mr Littlejohn, of Wellington, at whose establishment the clock to be fixed in the tower of the Government Buildings was manufactured, arrived in town by the Express train from the north on Saturday. The clock arrived by the evening train, and no time will be lost its erection.

Timaru Herald, 6 October 1881, Page 7
Messrs Littlejohn's Clock for Timaru — A Wellington contemporary says : The large clock ordered by the Government from Messrs Littlejohn and Son of Lambton Quay, Wellington, for the new Post and Telegraph Offices at Timaru, is now completed and has been forwarded to its destination. As it is one of the largest timepieces ever manufactured in New Zealand. The clock with all its accessories weighs about a ton and a half, and is constructed with all the latest improvements for securing perfect accuracy in the measurement of the fleeting hours. It is fitted with Graham's dead beat escapement, and carries a pendulum 8ft long and weighing nearly 2001bs. It strikes the hours on a bell weighing about 6cwt, which has been cast for the purpose by Messrs Mills and Cable. When in position it will have four dials, each 6ft in diameter, and fitted with white opal glass. The machinery is so constructed that, at sunset each evening the clock will illuminate itself. All the wheels and bearings are of gun metal, turned and finished with extreme care and nicety. The general character of the work reflects great credit on the makers, more particularly as the whole of it, with the exception, of the rough castings, has been executed upon the firm's premises. Messrs Littlejohn and Son make a special feature of the manufacture of large clocks. It is worthy of record that the timepiece over their shop in Lambton Quay has not been once altered since if was first erected six months ago, and during that time has only varied a few seconds. It is fitted with Dennison's gravity escapement, like the great clock at Westminster. To secure possession of the correct; time, the firm have an electric indicator communicating with the Wellington observatory.

Timaru Herald, 10 October 1881, Page 2
The Post-Office Clock. Rapid progress has been made in the erection of the clock in the tower of the Government Buildings, and it is expected everything will, be completed today. On Saturday evening the clock was set motion, and the dials illuminated, the effect Being very satisfactory. Mr Littlejohn. expects to have the bell fixed in position by noon to-day and to toll the hour as the timeball drops.

Timaru Herald, 15 November 1881, Page 3
The Town Clock. On the motion of Councillor Jackson, seconded by Councillor Shepherd, it was resolved - "That the clock be only lighted on Saturday nights up to midnight."

Timaru Herald, 19 November 1881, Page 3 THE TOWN CLOCK.
To The Editor of the Timaru Herald. Sir, — I observe from your report of last meeting of Timaru Borough Council, that the town clock is not to be lit up, except one night (Saturday) during the week for the future. This resolution, I presume, was made on the score of economy. If so, it appears to me a very cheeseparing economy, especially after all the fuss that has been made over procuring this precious ornament, and the cost of its erection. Surely a few shillings per week would not be misapplied from the town rates in illuminating the face of the clock, both for the information of people passing through the town within seeing distance, and in being a decided ornament to Timaru at night when lighted up. Hoping pressure will at once be brought to bear on our local Aldermen at their next meeting, which will induce them to rescind the resolution referred to, and allow the gas to be lit in the clock till midnight at least every night through the year as in other towns in New Zealand, I am, &c., CITIZEN

The councillors said "Let it stop."

Timaru Herald, 18 January 1895, Page 2 Friday
Amongst the business discussed at the meeting of the Borough Council on Monday night was the maintenance of the town clock, or the Post Office clock as Councillors preferred to call it. It is a subject of such tremendous importance and difficulty that we are painfully aware of laying ourselves open to a charge of rashness in venturing to say anything about it. Nevertheless it would be sinful to remain silent at the present juncture, and so we must make the plunge. The clock has stopped, as most people who live in town are now aware. It stopped not because it was unwell, but because it had run down and there was a hitch in the arrangements for its winding up. Clocks usually stop when they are allowed to run down and are not attended to, and therefore the Timaru town clock did no more than might have been expected under the circumstances. It could not wind itself up, and the Borough Council would not come to the rescue. It seems that until recently the Government of New Zealand paid for seeing that the clock did its duty. At last they awoke to the fact that it is usual for people to wind up their own clocks and watches and not get the State to do it for them. This view of the situation was submitted to the Borough Council, with the intimation that the Government would no longer pay for keeping the town clock going. An official correspondence then took place, but the Government stuck to their determination, and thus it was that the subject cropped up at Monday's meeting. To whom does the clock belong? The Mayor said it belonged to the Government because they had paid £200 towards the cost of it, whilst the borough had contributed only £100. We should say that the State and the Borough Council are the joint owners of the clock, but it is a very nice question. This much, however, seems to be clear. The Council cannot wind up a third of the clock and the State the remaining two-thirds. At all events the suggestion was not made at the meeting of the Council. The determination arrived at was "that the Council take no action towards the maintenance of the Post Office clock." This resolution was adopted as a means of bringing pressure to bear on the Government, who, for anything that we know to the contrary, may be very much distressed at the stoppage, though not so deeply as they might be if it were the stoppage of the Bank of New Zealand. The mover of the resolution said :— "Let the clock stop, and there would be a howl from the public that would make the Government glad to start it again." The howl has arisen, sure enough, but, strange to say, it is not against the Government but against the Mayor and Borough Councillors of Timaru who have been freely called — well, there is no necessity for putting it down on paper. The first man that the Mayor meets will tell him what he and his Councillors have been called constantly ever since the town time-piece stopped at 12 o'clock. It is true that the same words had previously, at longer or shorter intervals as occasion required, been applied to the city fathers, but since the clock ran down, the words are used without ceasing. Someone is always wanting to know the time, and when he looks at the clock, the words dimly indicated above at once slip from his lips "coupled with the names of His Worship the Mayor and the Councillors," as is usually said when giving a toast. Perhaps if it is a clergyman or Salvation Army captain, who looks at the clock, he manages to swallow the words instead of letting them slip out, but it must be by a strong effort. These words — there are only two, of them — will continue to be used ceaselessly in Timaru until the Mayor and Borough Council cause the clock to be wound up again -and set to the right time. Certainly the Government won't do it, for the voters of Timaru can scarcely make the town clock a question of party politics at the next General Election. If the municipal treasury is m such an exhausted condition as not to be able to afford the few shillings required for the winding up process, we would suggest that the Mayor and Councillors do the job turn about. The town clerk can hold the ladder steady, and we are sure that the Postmaster-General, before his departure for England, will raise no difficulty about giving a guarantee that the municipal clock winders shall not be arrested or sued for trespass — a point which we see was raised at the Borough Council meeting. Our strong advice to the Mayor and Council is to start the clock, and thus secure not the eternal gratitude of the town, but at least the credit of having done one sensible thing during their term of office.

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