FAMILY BIBLE RESTORED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2319, 23 August 1921, Page 3

FAMILY BIBLE RESTORED.

RELIC OF THE AFRICAN WAR

RETURNED TO A SPRINGBOIv

The restoration of a family Bible which bad been taken from South Africa during the war was a unique incident occurring during the function held at the Star Hotel, Auckland, on Friday evening (says the Herald), when the South African veterans of Auckland made a pre : scutation to the Springboks, One of the veterans present, a member of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent, on returning from the war, brought'with him to New Zealand the Bible which had been taken from ii Boer farm. Ho had travelled übout considerably since that.time, and had carried it with him all the lime. His wife had a superstitious feeling that bad luck would pursue him until it was returned to its rigid fill owner. Whether or no, he had experienced some hard times since the end of Jiis war experiences. Some little time ago the wife died, but the man si ill remembered her wish that the Bible should go to its rightful owner.

The possessor of the hook noticed I lie name of Air J. S. Olivier among I he footballers arriving in Auckland. From the name in the Bible he concluded that Mr Olivier might be a relative of the owner, and took the hook to the hotel on the off-chance. Very brief inquiry showed Mr Olivier to bo a relative, and also that the Bible had been a cherished family possession. It was consequently handed over to Mr Olivier, and now, after over 20 years’ wandering, is well on the way to being restored to its original owner.