SILVER CANDELABRUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23082, 6 July 1938, Page 14

SILVER CANDELABRUM

VISCOUNT BLEDI SLOE'S GIFT l ■ PURCHASE FOR A CHURCH RETURN TO ENGLISH PEER LONDON, July 4 In a letter to the Times from Nyasaland /Viscount Bledisloe says: "All I know about the candelabrum which I presented to the Church of St. Lawrence Jewry early in Juno, on behalf of New Zealand, is that I purchased it for the church at what I believe was its full value, from a silversmith four months ago. "The silversmith stated that he had purchased it at a sale. As so many old faniilies find it necessary nowadays to dispose of family plate, I naturally assumed that a descendant or legatee of the original presentee had done so in this case. "In the circumstances I am requesting the vicar of the church to send the candelabrum to Lord Kilbracken, while promising to supply another piece of plate in place of it." Before leaving England for Rhodesia ,Viscount Bledisloe, former GovernorGeneral of New Zealand, gave the silver candelabrum to St. Lawrence Jewry, which is New Zealandcrs' official church in London. This candelabrum was presented to John Robert Godley by the Provincial Government of Canterbury in 1852 on thq completion of his pioneer work. Referring to a report in the Times stating that Lord Bledisloe's arms had been 'engraved above those of John Godley, the latter's grandson, Lord Kilbracken, said recently: "This very public announcement, following upon others that have lately been made, might give the impression to New Zealanders and others that the candelabrum, having been sold by' some member of my family, in flagrant disregard of sentimental considerations, was subsequently purchased by Lord Bledisloe and presented to the church. "My grandfather died in 1861, and the candelabrum was carefully proserved by my grandmother until. her own death in 1907. It was then transferred to the possession of my father, who was never even approximately in the position of having to sell his personal effects, and who I am convinced would never havo sold this one in any circumstances. "Nevertheless, on my father's death in 1932 it was mysteriously missing. While not suggesting for a moment that Lord Bledisloe did not come by it in a perfectly legitimate way, I hope that when or before he returns from Rhodesia he will help us to clear up the mystery, which I know to be puzzling a gopd many people both at home and oversea."