“So chimes a good

deed in a naughty world ..."

(With apologies to

Wm. Shakespeare*)

Last night I heard the old Levuka clock chime 12 mid night. I waited and sure enough a minute later it struck 12 again.

I was really delighted the town’s famous clock is back in action.

The Levuka clock is in the tower of the Sacred Heart Catholic church in the centre of historic Beach Street. Inside the tower is fixed a plaque. It reads: “The clock was placed in this tower by the people of Fiji in memory of the late Rev. Father Breheret. ”

Father Breheret was the pioneer French Marist mission ary who first landed in Levuka.

It was he who established the Catholic missions in Fiji. Be

cause of all this, it was thought that the clock must be of French origin. But other evidence now seems to point to England as its home.

However, it is possibly the only surviving example of the dual striking clock still function ing. Its unusual feature is that it repeats the hour striking once and then again a minute later so that if any of the townspeople did not count the chimes the first time around, they could verify the hour when it was repeated.

For a number of years the clock had been ailing, and its voice was mute. The members of the Levuka Historical and Cultural Society, of which I was one, were particularly sad at its demise. We contacted a clock specialist. When he quoted a price of some thousands of

Sacred Heart Church, Levuka, with its much-loved clock.

dollars, there seemed no way in which we could have the clock repaired: The price was quite beyond the means of the small community.

Then, last year, I met some visiting journalists who wanted a personal tour of the historic sites in Levuka. With them on the plane from Suva were a man and his wife. They in quired as to what they could see as they were in Levuka for that day only. I invited them along with the journalists on our walk.

As we went down Beach Street I pointed out the historic church and its clock, and men tioned that we could not hear its chimes. I explained about the high quote. Later on the tour the man took me aside and confided that his name was Tomlin, and that he was a master clock-maker from New Zealand about to retire. He said he was interested to see the clock, so I directed him to Father McMahon, the parish priest.

That day he was able only to have a brief look at the clock’s workings before going off on the afternoon plane. A few days later I received a letter from him in which he stated firmly that he felt the quote was outrageous.

I immediately wrote back thanking him and asking if he knew of anyone in New Zea land who was capable of fixing the clock and who would be interested in a working holiday in Levuka. He was quick to answer and offered to come himself if we could arrange his fares. With the help of The Fiji Times, I was able to get him a free trip on Air Pacific, and Father McMahon was happy to give him accommodation while he was in Levuka.

Mr Tomlin arrived and work ed on the clock for about 12 days, fixing, cleaning, repairing and regulating. He had the clock going perfectly in time for the important Independence Day celebrations held over the long weekend in early October.

He stayed on to enjoy the four days of fun, sports, plays and the re-enactment ceremony of the signing of the Deed of Cession.

Back home in New Zealand, he wrote me a long report. The letter began enthusiastically; “Many thanks for organising the wonderful working holiday

in Levuka. Everything went very well, the weather was not too hot, the work went accor ding to expectations, most things were foreseen, and all was carried out satisfactoriy. ”

His report finished: “This is a very brief description of a fascinating and rewarding ex perience. The people were overwhelming in their generosity.”

“Dear Mr Tomlin: We in Levuka are all grateful to you and we remember your gen erous spirit every time we hear those lovely Levuka clock

chimes thank you. ”

Victor

Carell.

* How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. — The Merchant of Venice.

Suva-born artist Judy Leach has a well-established internatio nal reputation for her work in sculpture. Originally working in ceramics, she has of recent years turned to “sculptured fantasies,” such as the above, which is inspired by the colors and texture of tropical coral. She says: “My work echoes the rhythms, colors and textures, I hear, see and feel.” - W.

G.Coppell