The bells of Levuka

Satish Nakched, Suva

Levuka Public School had a vintage brass bell that was about 18 inches in diameter at the bottom and about 24 inches in height that was mounted on the beam of the original two storey building. This spot was picked so when the clapper struck the inside of the bell a sharp and a distinctive sound was produced that can be heard miles away depending on the wind direction.

The task of every student then was to beat the bell ringing in the morning at eight thirty to avoid punishment.

In the afternoon at three thirty there can be no sound more satisfying than to hear that bell ring to declare the close of the learning day.

The student who had the duty to be the time keeper and ring the massive bell on time at some suffers from tinnitus which is the adverse effect of the high pitch sound that continues to buzz in the ear long after the school is over.

The harder your strike the clapper the louder the sound that is produced. This was the practice which continued since 1879 that provided the school time over so many generations.

I could recall that in 1974 this bell fell off its mounting and narrowly missed the students below who were on a break.

After that incident it was again mounted back to its original position. However, this piece of history is gone and after investigation no one seems to know what happened to it and I sincerely hope that it did not end up with the scape buyers when their business was flourishing.

Another two similar type of bells still exist today in Levuka and there could be others. There is one mounted on the southern wall of the Anglican Church of the Holy Redeemer and the other one hanging off a mango tree in the bank of the Levuka Vaka Viti creek beside the historical Levuka Church. Both built in the early 1900s.

The vintage bell beside the creek has a temporary iron rod used as a loop from the top of the bell to secure it to the branch of the mango tree. The condition of the bell is in a poor state that also has visible cracks on the surface.

There are paint stains, scares and rust accumulation on this antique with the clapper missing.

I believe that such artefacts must be proudly maintained and restored. They were part of the history when this beloved nation of ours was born.

Historic significance seems to be eroding at a rapid rate in the Old Capital and once again I urge the ministry concerned to assist and prevent the loss of the priceless treasures that we still have.