HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19799, 21 November 1927, Page 9

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

SHIELD FOR ASHBURTON. NAMESAKE IN DEVONSHIRE. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON. Oct. 4. Major S. E. Harvey, M.P., is to present an oak shield bearing the arms of Ashburton, Devonshire, to the town of Ashbnrton, New Zealand. The shield has been shipped to New Zealand in time to meet Mr. L. S. Amery, the Secretary for the Dominions, who is to hand over the shield personally, when ho 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, Ontario. The 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 fprging a*further link between Canada and this country. This will not be the first interchange of compliments between the two Ashburtons. An interchange took place between the Masonic lodges of the two towns some years ago, and since then a flag bearing the Ashburton coat-of-arms was sent to a school in Ashburton, New Zealand, from the local Grammar School.