ROYAL RELICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 976, 17 November 1910, Page 5

ROYAL RELICS.

INTERESTING GIFT TO NEW •'ZEALAND. " While the Prime Minister was in Lomi don attending the Imperial Defence Conference in August last lie received an ofler 'of n number of interesting relics of Queen Victoria from Mrs. R. M. Maslin, Stratford-on-Avon, who designed, by presenting, tliese relics to the Dominion, to • mark her recognition' of-the offer of ' a' . Dreadnought to tho Home GovernmeEt. The' articles presented by Mrs. Maslin, which have now reachcd-New Zealand, - are. Royal, gifts to Mr. Stephen Maslin. who for sixty years was in tho service of the Households of ber late Majesty Queen ' Victoria and of her mother, H.R.H. thai" ' Duohess of Kent. An autograph letter! by her late Majesty, which is included ini the collection, is of special, interest. It' was written in 1888, and expresses heri Majesty's regret that Mr. Maslin wasi retiring from lier Majesty's service, ana! stated that the event severed the last' link with lier, childhood. The relics, which number twenty-eight, also include a handsome gold watch, pre-., sented by Queen Victoria, medals, Royal autograph photographs, a portion of a wreath made by her late Majesty's' own'.,, hands, and also of; a wreath from the Prince of Wales ,on , tho occasion of' Mr.' .Maslin's death in 1891. There was a brief discussion in tho! . House of Representatives yesterday ns to whore the gifts should be shown. - '' Mr. Russell (Avon) urged tho claims of\ .. the Canterbury Museum. ■Mr.' Colvin: The gifts should be sent, to the..West Coast. ; ■ / ~ Tho Premier said that a suitable acknowledgment of the gifts would be sent,; and later the question as to where they, I should be housed would be settled,