GIFT FOR THE PRINCE GIFT FOR THE PRINCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 177, 22 April 1920, Page 6

GIFT FOR THE PRINCE

RARE CASKET OF N.Z. WOODS AS RECEPTACLE FOR GOVERNMENT'S ADDRESS FINE PIECE OF WORK

Of exquisito fancy and delicate workmanship is tho casket "which is to contain tho address to be presented to H.R.H. tho Prince of Wales at Auckland on Saturday next. Apart from its historical significance tho casket alone is a most beautiful bit of artistic cabinetmaking, reflecting the highest credit on tho expert workmen of tho Post and Telegraph Department's workshops. The casket, or cabinet, is constructed wholly of New Zealand woods, the only wood not strictly of New Zealand origin being Chatham Island ake ake, which mav be said to represent the people of the Chathams in this notable connection. The casket stands 22 inches high, is 20 inches in breadth, and 10 in depth, and is of square finish top and bottom. The baso is of polished puriri. i the dark wavy crain and tono of which contrasts very artistically with the rich warm brown of the totara knot front, the dividing lines of bright yellow being of the ake (ike above-mentioned. Quito original, too, is the design of the doors, which aro rtwung on silver hinges that, travel from the back top to the front bottom corners. s,o that the doors consist of an oblique section of the cube. It is the throwing back of the two doors that reveals completelv tho art cmploved in the manufacture of the casket. The centre panel at the back reminds, one that not only are there "tonsues in the trees," hut pictures, too, waiting to bo fashioned by the cunning hand out of the natural grain markings. The central panel then is a far-extending landscape (the perspective is admirably conveyed), with a rising sun peeping over the distant hills, encompassed in a halo of glory. Above is a wonderfully convincing. sen of clouds, worked out in wavy kauri, whilst in the ake ake foreground stands a flagpole, on which flutters the New Zealand ensign. The four side panels, too, are so ingeniously inlaid that one might almost Ray the workman responsible lias been able "to snatch a grace beyond the rules of aTt." In one panel, on a rata background, is engrafted a Union Jack; on the one below are the four stars of the Southern Cross. The remaining 6ide panels show a frond of silver fern against a background of smooth polished rata, with the letters "N.Z." boldly . emblazoned, nnd a New Zealand ensign flying a stsff..head. Such acumen has been displayed in selecting the wood to represent the bunting that it looks as thowrh it were the sport of a merry breeze. The recentacle for the address, Jined in velvet of Royal Duvple shade, is across the cnslcet at the foot of the central panel; and in. the centre of that panel is a vrfvct-lined Tecess where there is to Hie suspended an historical greenstone tiki, selected bv the Government from the Dominion Museum. The tiki is 4J inches Ion? and about 3 inches wide.

The casket contains no fewer than 2300 pieces of wood, and 2G varieties have been used, chiefly totnra knot, totara, root, wavy finiu and kauri, ake ake. tiuriri, rema. rema. and rata. Beautifullv engraved emblems in the form of the. Prince of Wales's feathers fold and new style) in silver are attached to the casket, within and without, and centred on the base is a silver pMe bearing tho followin? inscription:—"Presented to His J!oval Hiclmess thn Prince of AVale«, K.G., G.M.M.G.. M.C., etc. etc.. by the Now Kenlnnd Government on, behalf of tlm peonl® of the Dominion, ,-ipril 24. 1920."

The casket is tho work of Mr. .T. Williamson, of the Post and Telegraph Worl-chons, -who had th<* assistance of Mr. ,T. Slade and Mr. Hinns (polisher), whilst Mr. H. GodtPoh-ilk engraved the "feathers." Th n address, excniisitely illuminated by Mr. W. E. Hock in n manner richlv al'egorial. will be enclosed in a solid silver cylindrical holder (emblazoned with thft\ Prince's nrrts), which will lie in its velvet-bed uithin the casket.

Cnrpfullv enshrouded in black sheetwaddinpr. the easkst with the address will lie dispatched to Auckland to-day. After the nresentation to His P.ovai; Highness has been ,made on Saturday, the pvblie may have opportunities of inspecting the casket and address.