DISAPPEARANCE OF A RELIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 5 (Supplement)

DISAPPEARANCE OF A RELIC.

The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers is making strenuous efforts to trace the headpiece of their beadle's. staff of office, which has been lost in some unaccountable manner. '

This historical piece of plate was beautifuly fashioned to represent the arms of the company in embossed silver, surmounted by the Holy Virgin and Child on each side. It was dated 1705, and weighed 12oz, and measured about 9in in length. On July 15 the beadle attended a court of the company at the Guildhall, and at its conclusion, he states, he returned the mace to the place where it was kept. When the next court was held in October the headpiece of the staff was not to be found.

Naturally, all connected with the affair were anxious to avoid any unnecessary publicity. It was hoped that the valuable relic would " turn up somehow." Unfortunately, it has not "turned up." The police were informed, and finally, as a last resort, recourse has been had to advertisements offering £10 reward for its recovery. No clue of any sort, however, has been obtained.

The Plaisterers' Company happens to possess very little plate, so the loss will bo felt all the more. A press representative/who made inquiries as to the probabale value of the headpiece, was informed by an expert that it would be very high. "It is," he said. " very difficult to fix a definite sum in the case of an historical relic of this kind, but it would probably realise anything from £20 an ounce. There are a number of ' pieces' to be obtained embossed with the arms of city companies. Some of these belonged to now-extinct companies, .while others, were gifts from Bonus company."