A SPLENDID PRESENTATION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue IV, 27 July 1895, Page 104

A SPLENDID PRESENTATION.

A REPRODUCTION appears on this page of the exceedingly handsome presentation recently made to Mr Alfred James, who is well-known in Auckland, Wellington, and other parts of the colony as the introducer and manager of the Cassell’s Gold Extraction Company. Mr James made quite a host of friends during his stay in Auckland, and these will be greatly interested in the very handsome presentation by which the directors of his company have marked their appreciation of Mr James’services on their behalf. The service is a magnificent one, has been made entirely from New Zealand silver (Waihi Cyanide Works), and is probably the first, as also the most splendid, that has been thus made. It was manufactured by the silversmiths to the Prince of Wales, and is ornamented by very fine reponsde work and panels from the works of Thorswaldsen, the Danish sculptor, representing ‘Spring,’ ‘Summer,’ ‘Autumn,’ ‘Winter.’ • Spring ’ is the bashful maiden (undraped) of 17; ‘ Summer ’ the gentleman appears on the scene ; ‘ Autumn ’ the Family appears on the scene; and ‘ Winter ’ the grandfather and grandmother are left alone with the cat, the ‘ family ’ having evidently started fresh homes of their own. The service weighs about 4000 Z, and on account of the exceptional fineness of its silver, has the ‘ Britannia ’ Hall mark as well as the ‘Lion.’ This is

very rare. The whole is enclosed in a plush-lined oak cabinet, and forms a unique and sumptuous gift.