ORIGIN UNKNOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 10

ORIGIN UNKNOWN.

CANADA'S SENATE MACE.

TIME AND RESEARCH FAILED,

OTTAWA, Canada. A mystery of Canadian history is the origin of the Senate Mace —a national symbol of authority without which Parliament cannot officially lie opened. It is of solid gold, stands nearly six feet high, weighs 25 pounds and in its recorded history lias survived a riot and four fires. 'lime and research have failed to unfold the origin of this mace. The only clue to the time it was made is the inscription "CI. Ilf. R." placed over the Imperial coat-of-arms on the lid of the round urn under the life-size crown of gold at the top of the pole-like stem, indicating that it was completed durincr the years 1700-I*2o in the of George JIT. | On one side of this jam-jar-shaped urn is an embossed crown under which is the symbol of the fleur-de-lis. Another side shows the thistle under a similar crown. A third has the harp of Wales embossed under the royal crown and on the fourth side, a medallion picturing the Quebec citadel stands alone. Locked in a cabinet the size of a grandfather clock, the heavily-engraved | emblem of authority stands in the i corner of the Senate Speaker's chain- I liers. getting an airing only when it takes a trip to the Red Chamber. The assistant to the gentleman usher of the black rod carries it on his shoulder to the chamber and places it on the long table before the Speaker's chair where if remains for the duration of the day's sitting. References in the third edition of "Parliamentary Practice and Procedure in the Dominion of Canada." by Sir Oporjre John Bnurinot say the mace in ii-n in the Senate belonged to (he old legislative council in Lower Canada before confederation. '