BIBLES OF THE BOERS.
AN APPEAL FOR RESTORATIONS ■Mr J. "W. S. Leonard, writing' from th< New Treasury Hotel, Melbourne, addressed us as follows: — \ Members of' the contingents- which left' Australasia 'to serve in Africa during ther Boer war have in their possession Dutch family Bibles. -Theee Bibles are extremely precious possessions among tho Boers, mainly, of course, on account of their sacred ;* nature. In addition, they axe the Teposi- , tories of family records, such as those -of births, deaths, and marriages. It is probable that the eoldiers whar brought them away actually rendered great^service to the owners in so doing, in that they thereby saved them from perishing amid - the wastes of -war. Now, however, that peace has been established; and the Boers- admitted on the fullest terms to fellow-citizenship with us, 1 venture to think that it would be an aol of a noble nature to do everything in jjut power to restore all such books to -thos« who, but for war, would be the actual owners. I am confident .that the men who risked their lives for their country's caus« will be only too willing to respond to anj appeal to them which would have 6ucn. i. restoration as it 6 aim. ~May I, as, * British South African, ,«.nd one -who:, it intimately acquainted with Boer views ' qn these subjects, be allowed to make that } apneal? . , , " t I would venture to suggest that.'ahy £** member of any Australasian ."contingent , who may havo in his possession such .sacred books as I have referred lo should notifi that' fact to the head of the Defence "De< partment of bis State or Domin{on^(N.2.]f?~ I have already written to " the Colonial Secretary of" the Transvaal (Mr' 'Snmtsty infoiming him- of my intention to. publish! this appeal, and suggesting that his Gxv vernment should communicate with tha Australasian authorities as to defraying expenses and other detail matters. As far as I am able I shall be only; too willing to assist in what appears to me to be a matter of pure justice. I am' sending copies of this letter to the daily papers both here and in New Zealand, and others, where, I hope, they may find both ' publication and a ready response.
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Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 3
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371BIBLES OF THE BOERS. Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 3
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