AUCKLAND’S GIFT TO QUEEN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 12

AUCKLAND’S GIFT TO QUEEN

SET OF GREENSTONE BOOKENDS “The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, December 17. A set of greenstone bookends, to be, given to the Queen by the City of Auckland, together with the city’s illuminated address and its special wooden casket, will be on display at the Auckland Art Gallery at the weekend. The bookends, on which Mastercrafts, Ltd. have been working for months, will be delivered to the Town Hall today. They have been made with greenstone from the West Coast of the South Island, pure* gold from the Clutha river, and silver from the Martha mine at Thames.

Although greenstone is virtually a national emblem of New Zealand, most curios made from it come from Germay. On this occasion, the tasks of cutting, polishing and drilling were done in Auckland. A greenstone block was cut diagonally to fortn the two ends, each measuring seven inches by four inches by five inches. The ends bear the Auckland city crest beaten up in pure gold. The components of the crest stand out in relief. ■/ Miss Hilda Wiseman, an Auckland artist, inscribed the address extending “loyal and respectful greetings” to Her Majesty. Consisting of 400 words, it is the biggest assignment Miss Wiseman has had in 30 years of this work. The address was bound in full creamgrey leather by Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd. The city’s crest is gold tooled on the outside of the padded front cover. Mr A. J. R, Park, woodwork instructor at Te Awamutu College, made the handsome casket for the address from a variety of native woods. He is the son of the late Mr J. Park, a former Mayor of Onehunga, who made similar caskets for visiting Royalty.