The Town Hall was originally fronted ( on the Cuba Street side ) with a Roman styled portico and a 150-foot clock tower . A clock was not installed in the tower until 1922 , when John Blundell , owner of '' The Evening Post '' newspaper , donated one . In 1934 the tower was removed as a precaution following the 1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake , and the main portico , pediment , balustrade , parapet and bold cornice were also removed . The building was earthquake strengthened in 1943 following an earthquake the previous year . During the strengthening the Corinthian capitals on the exterior were replaced with Tuscan detailing
1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
Wellington Town Hall