BURNS MAUSOLEUM

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 21, 26 January 1938, Page 13

BURNS MAUSOLEUM

RESPONSE TO APPEAL

LONDON REPORT DENIED

An emphatic denial of a message from London, published in "The Post" on Monday, reporting a response of only £570 to the Burns Club's worldwide appeal for funds for the restoration of the Burns mausoleum at Dumfries, was given by Mr. R. H. Nimmo, president of the Wellington Burns Club, at its anniversary supper last evening.

"It is a ridiculous statement," said Mr.- Nimmo, "and 1 have the greatest doubt of its authenticity and accuracy." There were, he pointed out, several people attending the supper who came from other parts of New Zealand and who joined with the Wellington Club in stating that they had no record of receiving a communication for that specific object.

"I1 want with the utmost vigour and indignation to give the lie direct to the statement, as I believe the whole thing is a hoax," he said. "Probably it originated in the Aberdeen joke factory. If. £2500 were required for this purpose, I have no hesitation in saying that the sum could be raised in Glasgow in twenty-four hours. I say that as a Glasgow boy."

There were present in the gathering, he continued, several people who had visited Dumfries and who had inspected the mausoleum and they declared that it was in first-class order. Mr. Nimmo said his father had visited Dumfries s few years ago, and after spending some time carefully inspecting the tomb he stated definitely that it was in a fine state of preservation and he considered that it.was inconceivable that any scheme for the restoration was necessary or desirable.

"I feel certain that Scottish organisations throughout the world who celebrate the anniversary of the immortal bard's name—a name revered by every Scot—will refute this statement with indignation and absolute disbelief," concluded Mr. Nirnrno.