HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 306, 29 November 1927, Page 11

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

SHIELD FOR ASHBURTON. NAMESAKE IN DEVONSHIRE. LONDON,- Oct. 4. Major S. E. Harvey, M.P., is to present an oak shield beai'ing tiie arms of Ashbui'ton, Devonshire, to the town of Ashburton, New Zealand. The shield has been shipped to New Zealand in time to meet, Mr L. G. Amery, the Seci-etai-y for the Dominions, who is to hand over the shield personally when he visits Ashburton. Mr Amery, who is a member of a Devonshire family, will give an account of the history and customs of Ashburton and the officials who are still appointed in accordance with ancient practices.’ Major Harvey mentioned that a similar presentation had been made by Sir Harvey Brittain, M.P., from Acton, England, to Acton, Ontai'io. Tho townspeople of the Canadian Acton were -extremely pleased with the gift, and recently made a return gift to Acton, England, which had not only been much appreciated, but had been very effective in forging a further link between Canada and this country. This wiTl not be the first interchange of compliments between the two Ashburtons. An intei’change took place between the Masonic lodges of the two towns some yeax-s ago, and since then a flag bearing the Asliburtori coat-of-arms was sent to a school in Ashburton, New Zealand, from the local Grammar School. 1 1