BADEN-POWELL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 59, 10 March 1903, Page 4

BADEN-POWELL.

THE DEFENCE OF MAFEKING.

GIFT FOR GENERAL BADEN-

POWELL

Nearly three years ago. when the gal. lam defence of Mafeking by General Baden-Powell, ami his men sent a thrill round the British Empire, all parts of the Empire united in forwarding <xif t3 to that gallant oflic.r to mark their appreciation of his conduct. Auckland waa not behindhand in shotting her oratitude, and when there was a cal. for shilling subscriptions towards a gift for the General, there was a splendid res. ponse, some £200 being raised. .Mr Shackelford was .secretary of the fund and Air liadley treasurer. The Mayor, Messrs T. W. Leys, VY. Berry W. E. Hutchinson. A. C. Caughey, K. g. Abel, and il. M. Smeeton were appointed a committee at a public meeting to carry out the object of the subscribers. It was decided to send a greenstone and silver casket and an escritoire made of New Zealand woods to General Baden-Powell. The casket has already been sent, and the escritoire, which is a splendid piece of workmanship, has just been completed by Mr Seuffert, of Campbell Terrace Parnell, and is now on exhibition in the Art Gallery. The Cabinet is a remarkably brilliant piece of workmanship, and is made of New Zealand woods, cleverly inlaid to give colour ancl design to the article. It is replete with representations of Maori life and architecture, and also bears Baden-Powell's coat-of-arms. A silver plate explains that the gift is from '-Admirers in the province of Auckland. N.Z.. in rceosnii. (ion of the distinguished services rendered ts the Empire during the siege of Mafeking, from October 13th, 1899. to .lay 17th, 1900." The workman who has turned out this exquisite piece of furniture is the well-known inlayer, Mr W. Seuffert. of Parnell. a son of the lata Mr Seuffert, who was also famous in the same line of work, arid made tha. cabinet which is included in the __!_.- kelvie collection. Tlie Baden-Povrall Committee „ paid about £12_ for the present cabinet, although experts declare that its real value should be put at twice this sum. Tt was made to order, according to a design submitted to tlie committee, and Mr Seuffert has been engaged on it for the past two and a half years. _ I embers of the committee are delighted with the result., The cabinet will bo carefully packed and insured, and sent to London in about a. month's time.