NEW ZEALAND DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1937, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND DAY.

AT ST. LAWRENCE JEWRY. TEA AND DINNER GIVEN. (By NELLE M. SCANLAX.) LOXDOX, February 10. • As Xew Zealand Day, February 6, fell on a Saturday this year, we kept it in London on Monday. Firet there was » service at St. Lawrence Jewry, the city church of the Lord Mayor of London, which we have in recent years also adopted as our own. After that a limited number of New Zealanders, about 270, were entertained at tea by the Girdlers Company. And at night the Xew Zealand Men's Association held their annual Xew Zealand dinner, at which the Duke of Gloucester was guest of honour. I still look forward to the day when we will mark this occasion in a. more comprehensive manner, and have a reception at which all New Zealanders in London, whether resident or visitors, will be present—without limitation.

In St. Lawrence Jewry the Lord Mayor and hie sheriffs have their special box, and the ancient ornamental ironwork stand is at the side where swords were once hung. New Zealand, too, ha* its special pew, with the New Zealand flag above it, and our coat-of-arme on the door. It was occupied this year by Mr. Jordan, our High Commissioner, and Mrs. Jordan, and the Hon. Walter Nash and Mrs. Nash. Mr. Nash read the lesson.

The Lord Mayor of London, in his scarlet robes, accompanied by a group of eheriffS, and attended by officers l>earing the golden Mace, sat in their pew, and a company of the (Jir.llers, in robes of heavy corded dark blue silk, edged with brown fur, occupied the front pew.

The service was.brief, and the address was given by the Archbishop of London, who recently visited Xew Zealand, where he has a brother living at Port Chalmers. He recounted his experiences and impressions, paying tribute to the kindliness and hospitality of the people and the beauty of the scenery. He laid stress on Dunedin's Scottish origin and ite magnificent setting. He praised the City of the Plains, the view of the Southern Alps, the design of Christchurch and its beautiful cathedral, where evensong is sung every evening. He was loud in his praise of Auckland and the view from the War Memorial, the sweep of the harbour and islands of the gulf; but I am afraid it must have been raining in Wellington. A lusty chorus sang "God Rave the King," and we all trooped off round winding narrow city lanes to the Girdlers' Hall for tea, where we were received by the Chief Girdler.

This is one of those <Tity Companies which have retained their customs, though the trade or craft from which they sprang has long ago disappeared or been taken over by mass production. The Girdlere , beautiful hall was built after the Fire of London, and the carvings are the work of Grinling Gibbons, whose work is among the finest in England and greatly prized. Many of you who have been in London will remember seeing examples of his work in various churches and at Hampton Court. So much work is attributed to him that it is felt hi* pupils must have been responsible for some of it, but what is generally recognised as his signature is the open peapod among the flowers and fruits. Wherever this appears it is accepted as a genuine Gibbons carving. At one end of the Girdlers' Hall, hung along the wall, under glass, is a magnificent carpet. The Chief Girdler told us the history of its unusual design. A wealthy merchant commissioned this carpet to be made in Lahore with the finest Indian workmanship. He also eent precise instructions for its transportation to London, including a copy of the marking to be placed on the bill of lading and the package. Not being rery familiar .with English, the Indians wove this marking into the carpet. It is a crimson carpet with Oriental border in many colours, but two large white medallions appear, with the black initials which were intended to ensure ita safe delivery in London. The carpet was made in 1667. and has been in the possession of the Girdlers ever since. When I asked the Chief Girdler the origin of their company he said that the girdles referred to tile cord that wae worn round the loose robe of ancient times, but so longer in fashion.