"A THING OF RARE BEAUTY."

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9185, Issue 9185, 8 April 1910, Page 2

"A THING OF RARE BEAUTY."

UNIQUE PRESENT,

FREEMASONS' GIFT TO LORD

PLUNKET,

LONDON, Feb. 25

I had an opportunity of viewing to-day at the Regent street establishment of Messrs Stewart Dawson, Ltd., the. magnificent piece of plate which the Freemasons of Now Zealand are to present to Lord Plunket on his forthcoming retirement from the position of Governor oE New Zealand. It is a thing of rare beauty and exquisite workmanship. Competent authorities declare that no finer piece of eijve r work has ever gone out of London, lho whole work weighs 1000 ounces of solid silver. Maori ornamentation, copied from the best examples, is a striking feature : the rich effect of which is brought out by gilding in a way that silver alone could not have done.

There is a silver gilt centre-piece in the form of an epcrgne, with a large centre jardiniere and four small dishes to match, supported by brackets copied from examples of Maori carving, and springing from Maori tatooed heads. The single foot which supports the whole is novel in form. It is a square set in a diagonal position, with sporting scenes on two of the panels, and of the other two panels one commemorates the visit of the American Fleeet and the other the opening of the Main Trunk railway. The whole is supported on a. plateau measuring three feet by two, with bevelled feet and eight panels. These panels represent Captain Cook's ehip Endeavour in New Zealand. A Maori war-canoo with typical landscape. ' The New Zealand training ship. A. Super-Dreadnought. Views of Auckland and Wellington. Mitre Peak. All the panels arc framed in richlychased borders copied from good examples of Maori carving. On one side of the large centre jardiniere is inscribed Lord Plunket's coat of arms, and on the other side is the following inscription : Presented by the Freemasons of New Zealand to his Excellency Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.0., Most Worshipful Grand Master from 1906 to 1910*. In recognition of his eminent services to the Fraternity, Wellington, New Zealand, May 12th, 1910. In the centre of the inscription appears the coat of arms of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Maeone of New Zealand, established in 1890. All four small dishes have Lord Plunket's crest on the obverse side and a fern leaf with the initials "N.Z." on the reverse. The centre piece stands two feet high. Besides the handsome centre piece there are two side jardinieres to match. These stand on a eingle foot about 18 inches high, placed on a plateau of similar shape to that which holds the centre piece. Two decorative panels show typical New Zealand vegetation and a kiwi bird.

The whole work has been designed and entirely manufactured by Messrs Stewart Dawson, of New Zealand and London. It will be shipped to the Dominion by the direct steamer Athcnic, leaving London next Thursday. Meanwhile it is on view in Regent street.