REV. ROBERT FRANCIS

Southland Times, Issue 19924, 17 July 1926, Page 6

REV. ROBERT FRANCIS

A LETTER TO SOUTHLANDERS. To the Editor. Sir, —The many friends of the late Reverend R. Francis will be interested to know that about 800 copies of his recent publication “A New Zealand Harp” remain unsold. It is a fact that if the above quantity were disposed of at 3/6 per copy the estate of the deceased gentleman would be in the position of having made neither a loss nor a profit by the publication. An appeal to charity is not desired but I am confident that the friends of the Bluff Bard will be glad to perpetuate his memory, and by seeing to the successful sale of his book of poems do what would have pleased him had he been alive. It w not for me to praise his verse. It has already been favourably reviewed by critics and has always been well appreciated by Southlandcrs. The last words written by our departed friend seem to me to make an irresistible appeal on the lines I have indicated. “When ane is lying a’ alane Abune his held :• lettered stane, An’ daises growing at his feet Through Winter’s rigour, Summer’s heat, Will you rejnember or forget The ane wha’s freed frae ilka fret?” I am, Sir, Yours faithfully, J. L. McG. WATSON. Chief, St. Andrew’s Scottish Society.