BURNS MAUSOLEUM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19584, 16 March 1938, Page 16

BURNS MAUSOLEUM

WORK OF RESTORATION WORLD-WIDE APPEAL DOMINION SUPPORT . (Per Prrsa Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Reference to a recent cable message from London which stated that the response to a world-wide appeal for funds to restore the Burns mausoleum at Dumfries was only £570, was made to-day by Mr. R. H. Nimmo, president of the Wellington Burns Club. He said the news had now been received in New Zealand that the appeal was an official one, and it was a challenge to every Scotsman in the Dominion to contribute to it.

“The Wellington Burns Club had no communication of a world-wide appeal at the time of the cable message,” he said, “and, consequently, I unhesitatingly publicly expressed doubt as to its authenticity, for the reason that at that stage there was no record of any Burns Club in New Zealand, to my knowledge, having received such an appeal. “The matter has now been clarified by the communication just to hand, indicating that the Dumfries Burns Club, as the autonomous body, undertook the task of carrying out the urgently-needed restorations to the Burns mausoleum at Dumfries.

“It was two years ago when the Dumfries Club undertook this task, and in so doing it is reported that the club incurred an expenditure of £2500 —an amount far in excess of its resources. Federation Appeal “Recognising that the financial responsibility should not, in fairness, fall solely on the shoulders of the Dumfries Club, the Burns World Federation have now taken up the matter and have circulatecya world-wide appeal to all affiliated clubs and lovers of the poet’s works to assist in clearing off this debt, which the club has incurred on its own initiative, and on Scotland’s behalf. “The amount required to clear the total debt is £1750, and this appeal has been sent out under the signatures of the Duke of Buccleueh, Lord Elgin, the Earl of Stair, Mr. H. H. McKerrow, president of the Burns Federation, and Mr. D. O’Brien, president of the Dumfries Burns Club.

“As the appeal is now official, it can be recognised and acted on, and it certainly presents a challenge to every Scotsman in New Zealand to contribute to this worthy object. “The Wellington Burns Club has decided to open a fund for this purpose, and on behalf of the federation x solicit a prompt response from all Scotsmen in the country through clubs associated with the federation.

“It is worthy of note, too, that the world appeal is being very generously assisted by the press, which in New Zealand, at any rate, has always treated us well.”