DUTCH FAMILY BIBLE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1933, Page 9

DUTCH FAMILY BIBLE

TROPHY OF THE BOER WAR. RETURN TO BLOEMFONTEIN. A Dutch family Bible brought from South Africa to New Zealand by an extrooper of the New Zealand contingent to the Boer War has at last found its way from New Plymouth back to South Africa. It had been deposited with the committee of the Taranaki Museum which, realising that the Book would probably have greater sentimental and historic value in South Africa, made endeavours to return it to that country.

An appeal was broadcast through the Times, London, last year, by Sir Abe Bailey of South Africa, requesting the return of all personal records that had been taken during the Boer War. The National Museum, Bloemfontein, consented to receive and, where possible, trace any such articles returned to the country. On receipt of this advice the New Plymouth committee prepared to forward' tire volume by parcel post to Bloemfontein, but the weight was in excess of postal allowance, and the return was held over pending the opportunity of forwarding by w a visitor to South Africa.

This opportunity occurred in May. Tire Rev. T. O. Baillie, Empangein, Zululand, was visiting New Plymouth, and he offered to convey the Bible to Durban and to ensure the delivery from Durban to Bloemfontein. .

The museum has received advice of the receipt of the Bible by the museum at Bloemfontein. The director sent the following letter to the' New Plymouth committee: “On behalf of my committee and myself I thank you most heartily for the gift of a Bible which was taken from South Africa during the Boer War. We greatly appreciate the gift and spirit which led your committee to return this relic. We have written to Mr. Baillie and to another who forwarded the volume to us. from Durban. We are indeed thankful that so many have cooperated in this manifestation of friendliness.” . . ;