NEW ZEALAND FREEMASONRY

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 80, 6 April 1910, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND FREEMASONRY

LORD PLUNKET HONOURED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 25th February. His Excellency, Lord Plunket, who has been Worshipful Grand Master of the Freemasons in the Dominion from 1906 to 1910, will shortly be the recipient of a striking handsome work of art as a recognition- from his brother Freemasons of his services to the fraternity during the last four years. The gift is a silver-gilt centre-piece in the form of an epergne, with a large centre jardiniere and four small dishes to match, supported on brackets copied from typical examples of Maori carving, springing from tattooed Maori heads. The single foot which supports the whole is somewhat novel in form. It is a square, set in a diagonal position, with sport-ing scenes on two panels, and of the remaining two one is commemsorative of the visit of the American Fleet, and the other shows the new North Island Main Trunk railway — the section opened during Lord Plunket's term of office. The whole iE supported on a plateau, three feet by two feet, with a bevelled foot having eight panels. These represent: (1) Captain Cook's ship Endeavour off New Zealand ; (2) Maori war canoe with typical piece of New Zealand scenery ; (3) New Zealand training-ship ; (4) a modern Dreadnought; (5) and (6) the two towns linked up by the new railway, Wellington and Auckland ; (7) Geyser in full play ; (8) Mount Cook, The panels are all framed in richly chased borders, copies from good examples of Maori carving. On one side of the centre large jardiniere is Lord Plunket's coat of arms, and on the other ie the following inscription : "Presented by the Freemasons of New Zealand to Hir Excellency Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., Most Worshipful Grand Master from 1906 to 1910, in recognition of his eminent services to the Fraternity. Wellington, New Zealand, 12th May, 1910." Then there is the coat of arms of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of New Zealand, established 1890. The four small dishes have his Excellency's crest on the obverse, and a fern leaf and the initials N.Z. on the reverse. The piece stands 24 inches iv height. In addition to the handsome centrepiece there are two side jardinieres to match. Standing on a single foot, all 18 inches high, and placed on a plateau of similar shape to the centre-piece, these have also two panels showing New Zealand vegetation and the unique bird, the kiwi. The whole weighs 1000 ounces of solid silver, and has been designed and* manufactured entirely by Messrs Stewart Dawson and Co., of New Zealand. During this week it has been displayed in their new premises in Regent-street, and it will be packed on Monday for shipment to New Zealand. The Maori ornamentation is a special feature of the work, and competent authorities say that no finer piece of silver work has ever gone out of London. The gilding brings out the richness of the Maori ornamentation in a very decided manner, and it would not look nearly so well in silver. Messrs. Stewart Dawson are to be warmly congratulated on having completed such a work of art.