CLUE TO MYSTERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23528, 17 June 1938, Page 8

CLUE TO MYSTERY

THE GODLEY CANDELABRUM OFFERED FOR SALE LAST YEAR LETTER FROM LONDON JEWELLER (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, June 16. A clue to the mysterious disappearance of the candelabrum given to John Robert Godley by the Canterbury Provincial Government has been provided by the Chrktchurch City Council. A cabled m :,;sage from London, published to-day, said that the candelabrum which has been given by Viscount Bledisloe to the Church of St. Lawrence Jewry, was mysteriously missing from the home of Mr Godley’s son when he died in 1932, and Mr Godley’s grandson, Lord Kilbracken, was hoping that the mystery would be cleared up when Lord Bledisloe returned from Rhodesia. This afternoon a letter was despatched to Lord Kilbracken by the town clerk of Christchurch (Mr J. S. Neville), stating that the candelabrum had been offered for sale to the Christchurch City Council last year by a London jeweller, Mr M, P. Levene. The price asked was £25, but the offer was refused. The offer was made through the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London (Mr W. J. Jordan).

An announcement of the gift b l ' Lord Bledkloe was made on June 6. This was followed by a letter to The Times by Lord Kilbracken, which was contained in a cabled message printed to-day. Reading the cabled message, Dr G. M. L. Lester, a member of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery Committee, recalled that the candelabrum had last year been offered to the City Council, and accordingly the town clerk has sent the following letter to Lord Kilbracken: —

“ For your information, I may say that this candelabrum was in the hands of Mr M. P. Levene, a jeweller in London, who offered it for sale ty the High Commissioner for New Zealand fpr £25. The offer was submitted to my council with a view to the purchase of the candelabrum, either for the Canterbury Museum or the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, but it was not accepted. “The following is a copy of Mr Levene’s letter to the High Commissioner: ‘ I have in my stock a massive and very finely wrought three-light silver candelabrum standing over two feet high, and inscribed on the base as follows: “To John Robert Godley, in grateful recollection of services rendered to the Province of Canterbury in New Zealand as the founder of the first settlement, leader of its first colonists, and subsequently the first agent in England of the Prqvm-. dal Government. This testimonial is presented by the Superintendent of the province in compliance with the vote of the Provincial Council.” The other two sides of the base are engraved with crests and mottoes. I do not know whether this piece has any historical interest, but, as its price is based purely on its merits as a piece of silver by weight, I thought I might be permitted to draw your attention to it in case you were of opinion that it would be of interest to some authorities in New Zealand. The weight is over 130 oz and the price only £25. Originally it must have cost well over £75 to make, and it struck me as: being rather a pity to let it go to some private individual, to whom its history might mean nothing. I would be very pleased to forward you a photograph or the original if you think it is of interest to anyone here or in New Zealand.’ “ This letter, with a covering one from the High Commissioner, was received by the City Council in April of last year, and a letter refusing the offer was sent in October."