COSTLY GIFTS TO ROYALTY.
Beautiful sad Interesting Preoento RoeeAved t*r the Pvftno* and v P*iiM>«M o* WOes Itaa* Yeaw ; A dazzling array of royal presents is , on. view in the gallery of the Imperial /jinetitute. It consists of gifte; made to the priiice and princess of Wales during- the cruise of the Ophir last y«ar. The exhibits are 871 in number, but Jbhe greater proportion connate of .illuminated addresses and gold and silver trowels used at the laying 1 oif various foundation' stones. The actual presents nuthbe* about 200, some of 'Which are very valuable, others less valuable butj^erhape more interesting, say* a London report. The most striking exhibit is a model of a diamond mine. The outer casket is made of silver, and the inner portion contains an exact representation in miniature of the Kimberley diamond mine, within which are > deposited rough diamond*'. The casket stands on a base of marble, incrusted with rubies and garnets from De Beers mine. ' Another beautiful gift is a Maori canoe, manned by seven boatmen, with golden paddles. The canoe stands on ' a. slab of green stone on which are engraved the, royal arms in gold. The caskets are numberless, and many of them are beautiful works of art. Perhaps the finest is that presented by the inhabitants of Kandy, in Ceylon. It is with priceless gems. There are several gifts reminiscent of the war, one of which is a set of three bells, each formed from a cartridge shell from Ladysmith; anther is a gong constructed from part* if a captured gun-carriage and a "Long Tom" shell. There are several presents from Boer prisoners. The princess, has some beautiful furs and jewels among her gifts. Of the former the most noteworthy are a mink pelerine trimmed with sable tails, a mink cape faced.with ermine, a. magnificent mink carriage rug t-rimmed with tails, and a mink muff: of the latter, a collection of over 170 pure-water diamonds, and a large diamond and opal pendant are %h& most conspicuous.
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Bibliographic details
Bruce Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 180, 23 October 1903, Page 7
Word Count
335COSTLY GIFTS TO ROYALTY. Bruce Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 180, 23 October 1903, Page 7
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