THE 58th COLOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 11542, 29 November 1900, Page 6

THE 58th COLOURS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — hope, and I venture to think, that a regard of the surrounding circumstances will prevent the proposed removal of tho' 58th colours to too Public Library. The 58th Regiment were intimately connected with St. -Paul's Church during the whole time of their service in Auckland. On the death of the minister of St. Paul's, in 1853, the officers and men of the regiment subscribed handsomely to a memorial, erectid to his memory by the whole of the resident*, and entrusted tc the civic authorities for safe keeping. On tie departure of the regiment, in 1858, they presented to St. Paul's a set of handsome brass coronal candelabra for the church. In 1868 the regiment sent out their old colours, not to be entrusted to the citizens, but to be placed in St. Paul's Church. It is true that the then Primate of New Zealand raised an objection to their being placed there, but the grounds of that objection have now disappeared, and would probably be non-existent in 'the mind of the present Primate. Although the temporary variation of the trust under which the colours were sent to Auckland has received the subsequent concurrence of some of the surviving officers, I submit that it is not right that a further breach of the conditions should be committed without the consent of these survivors, and also the Primate and authorities of St. Paul's Church. Apart from the important question of whether the colours would be more safe from risk of fire in. the Library than in the church, it is interesting to compare the manner in which the other two trusts by the regiment have been observed. St. Paul's authorities have care-' fully conserved the candelabra, adapting them to the requirements of gas. The city authorities have destroyed the memorial of 1853, and steadily refusing to make restitution, have appropriated the very ground on which the memorial stood, though their at-' tempt to plant it has been rendered abortive by the refusal of nature to permit the growth of the trees placed on the spot.l am, etc., Equity.

Auckland, November 27, 1900.