2 King George Place
Timaru District Council Building
Originally McRae’s Stone Store
Spot on the building Mayor James Cragie’s stone face
“A good father, citizen, politician and patriot” ... James Cragie (1851-1935) with wife Catherine Orr had one son and 6 daughters. He secured a grant from Andrew Carnegie for the 1909 Library, gifted the Burns statue, the oaks on Craigie Ave, the town clock chimes and art to the public collection. He was a painter and decorator “Smith & Craigie” and was on the Harbour Board, Health Board, Council, Mayor 1902-13, Member of Parliament and Legislative Council.
James Craigie’s head was carved by Mr Hood, who made a majority of the stonework on St Mary’s Church. He arrived in 1867 as a painter and decorator, became chairman of the Harbour Board 1906-1910, Mayor of Timaru Borough 1902-1913 and Member of Parliament 1908-1922. He gave the oak trees along Craigie Avenue, chimes for the town clock, and five artworks to the South Canterbury Art Society, which are now in the Aigantighe Art Gallery collection.
A chime-less clock was added in 1881 with a time ball. In 1913 Craigie who was MP at the time, donated a new clock and chimes. They were the largest in NZ and the tower had to be raised to accommodate them. They were “set in motion” by Post Master General Sir Heaton Rhodes (George Rhode’s nephew). After Napier’s 1931 earthquake, the tower was an earthquake risk and dismantled. The clock and chimes moved over the road to their current location on the Council Building tower.