WAITANGI MEDAL

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 114, 7 February 1935, Page 10

WAITANGI MEDAL

Presentation to Lord Bledisloe

TREATY ANNIVERSARY

Numismatic Society’s Gift

to Patron

A silver copy' of a medal struck at I lie direction of the New Zealand Numismatic Society "Io commemorate tlie presentnlion of Hie Waitangi estate to I lie people of New Zealand by tlie Gov-ernoi'-Gelieral, Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloe. as well as to encourage medallic art in tlie Dominion, was presented Io ills Excellency at a special meeting of Hie society last night. Lord Bledisloe Is patron of Hie society, and the speakers also said farewell to I heir oflicer. Yesterday was Hie 95th anniversary of the signing of tlie Treaty of Waitangi. Only tlie one silver copy bus been struck, but bronze copies are for sale. The chair was occupied by the president, Professor J. Ranklne Brown, who expressed pleasure that one of the society’s vice-presidents, Mr. J. C. Entrican, from Auckland, was present, mid Mr. J. B. Ward hud come from Hokitika. After reading a paper on the history of medals and on their dis-, tinction from coins. Professor Brown described the history of the medal which he was to hand to Lord Bledisloe. History of Medal. “After the generous and patriotic presentation to the people of New Zealand by their Excellencies of the site of Waitangi the society took up tlie idea of interesting tlie Government 1 in the striking of a medal to commemorate the event,” said Professor Brown. “Nothing, however, was done in this direction, with the result that tlie so, ciety decided to proceed itself, partly to stimulate the medallic art in New Zealand and partly to celebrate in an appropriate manner tlie presentation .of the site at Waitangi. His Excellency was good enough to consent to his portrait being placed on the obverse of the medal, and .also to agree to accept a copy as a specimen of New Zealand medallic art. All through the society has received the assistance of Mr.- Mayer, of Mayer and Kean, tlie firm which has struck the medal. “On the obverse of the medal is the portrait of hrs Excellency in profile-f--tbe universal position in medals—with suitable lettering around it. On the reverse is a design characteristic of .Maori art.—a parved doorway. Inside Hie doorposts is an inscription: ‘Waitangi, Hobson, 1840. and Bledisloe, 1934,’ tlie linking of the two names most closely associated with tlie historic site. Round the edge runs, ‘New Zealand Numismatic Society,’ with the date, 1935.” Numismatists Honoured. His Excellency would always be remembered as a man who had put. his outstanding ability and great knowledge at tlie service of New Zealand, and who had taken personal interest in their concerns, said Professor Brown. In that he had always received the assistance of her Excellency. The society appreciated the honour of having had him as its patron. Dr. J. S. Elliott emphasised the society’s appreciation of Hie honour conferred on .the society by his .Excellency in permitting his portrait to be put on the medal, find by taking office in the society. The whole Empire would not lie able to provide a Governor-General so connected witli their branch of study us Lord Bledisloe. The medal commemorated his services to the society and to the country, and also was a permanent commemoration of the idea of securing the Waitangi estate for the Dominion in perpetuity to remind them of the great event there 95 years ago that very tiny. All would agree that Hie words of counsel and duty of the highest man in the land had played a major part in restoring the country to equilibrium. He conveyed on behalf of the society "Hail and farewell.”

Special reference to tlie effect of Lord Bledisloe’s gift on the Maori race was made by Mr. Johannes Andersen, who said Hint although Hie Maori bad been saved much tragedy from the dishonouring of tlie Treaty of Waitangi by his sense of humour, he might lie sore at heart While he laughed. Tlie thought fill Maori admitted, while the thoughtful European regretted that it had not been possible to honour the® treaty in greater degree. It was witli pleasure therefore, that they had learned of their 'Excellencies’ act. There had been some perturbation in Hie Maori, but now tlie treaty had been signed a second time. • Professor Brown then handed tlie medal to Lord Bledisloe with wishes for long service in tlie Old Land. His Excellency’s Hope. • "One burning need of New Zealand which I sincerely hope that Hie nationalisation of Waitangi may stimulate is a sense of nationhood —an expansive development of that larger patriotism which puts country before city, township or province, and tends to foster natiqnal pride, perpetuate na-' tioual history and promote national ideals —a sentiment which burnt brightly during the Great War but has been apt to flicker both before and since,” said his Excellency after lie had expressed his thanks. Lord B|edisloe said lie need hardly mention that tlie medal would become an heirloom in his family. He confessed Hint, although lie did not possess tier Excellency’s Celtic temperament. lie was beginning to dread Hie formal words of farewell. It was with pride'that lie had been patron of tlie society, and, as a result of an appeal, lie readily consented to retain his membership. He congratulated those responsible for tlie work of art which tlie medal was and thanked Hie society for a beautiful and epoch-making gift. Coins and medals were said to lie Hie most imperishable of antiquities. Tlie striking of tlie society’s first medal might therefore be regarded as a notable landmark in the history of tlie Dominion. Botli obverse and reverse reflected great credit upon Mr. Mayer and his die-sinker as well as on Mr. J. Berry and his emblematic designing.