GIFT TO CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 11

GIFT TO CHURCH

HISTORIC CANDELABRUM NEVER SOLD BY OWNER THE SON'S DECLARATION (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, June 15. (Received June 15. at 11.15 p.m.) Lord Kilbracken. who is counsel to the Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords in a letter to The Times on the announcement with regard to Lord Bledisloe’s gift to St. Lawrence Jewry, says: ‘Tt might suggest that a member of my family flagrantly disregarding sent! mental considerations, sold the candelabrum, which Lord Bledisloe subsequently purchased John Robert Godley, my grandfathei. died in 1861. and my grandmother carefully preserved the candelabrum until she died in 1907 It then came into the possession of my father who was never even approximately in the position of having to sell his effects; certainly he would not have sold the candelabrum. Nevertheless when he died in 1932 the candelabrum was mysteriously missing. While I do not suggest that Lord Bledisloe did not come into possession of it legitimately, I hope when he returns from Rhodesia that he will help to clean up the mystery'

A previous message stated that on behalf of New Zealand Lord Bledisloe presented a candelabrum to St. Lawrence Jewry, New Zealanders’ London church The candelabrum was originally the Canterbury Provincial Government’s gift to Mr John Robert Godley, founder of the province and first Agent-general It is 26 inches high and the lower panels bear the province’s and Godley’s arms. The upper panels are now bearing the arms of Lord Bledisloe and the City of London.