GIFT TO PREMIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22710, 24 October 1935, Page 17

GIFT TO PREMIER

INSCRIBED GRAIN OF RICE A HINT FOR RECIPROCITY (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, October 16. Upon a grain of rice sent from the Museum Darulfalah, New Delhi, India, is inscribed in black and red ink the most novel tribute paid to the Premier of New South Wales (Mr B. S. Stevens). It is a common grain of rice, yet by minute and delicate work a most remarkable curio has been provided. A powerful magnifying glass is necessary to read the inscription: " May God Almighty grant long, happy, and prosperous life to B. S. B. Stevens, esquire, M.L.A., Premier and Colonial Treasurer, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia." The gift was sent by the staff of the museum. Mr Stevens's attention was directed, in a covering letter, to the " historical event of a verse of the Holy Koran, inscribed on a split pea, which was then presented to Eruperor Akbar tho Great. The Emperor was greatly surprised with it, and reworded the inscribers with lakhs of rupees." Mr Stevens was in-ited to compare the split pea bearing a verse of only 47 Arabic characters with 'our wonderful rice, which is evidently a smaller and uneven object for writing, and bears 120 legible English characters, showing yonr Honor's esteemed name and address, etc." Mr Stevens did not make public the nature of his reply to the museum staff, but it is certain that the hint for reciprocity was not accepted and that " lakhs of rupees" did not accompany the Premier's acknowledgments.