TESTIMONIAL TO COL. GORE BROWNE, LATE GOVERNOR OP NEW ZEALAND.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 32, 13 August 1864, Page 2

TESTIMONIAL TO COL. GORE BROWNE, LATE GOVERNOR OP NEW ZEALAND.

The handsome testimonial destined to be shortly presented to our late highly esteemed Governor, . Colonel Gore Browne, now Governor of Tasmania, has arrived at Auckland. It will be on view this day, and for some little time, at the show-rooms of Messrs Newman and Ewen, Queen-street. The residents of Auckland and neighbourhood will doubtless be glad to avail themselves of the opportunity tnus afforded them of viewinga magnificent piece of workmanship, and more especially when it is destined to grace the table of Governor Browne, and with its; " silent eloquence" proclaim, in unmistakeable language, .the high opinion in which that highly respected gentleman was held by the; people whom he so long governed/ •;, > ; The testimonial is, a very beautful piece of workmanship, as might naturally be expected from its manufacturers, the reno.wed. -silversmiths, Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, of, New Bond-street, Loodon. It consisfcof an Epergne or centre-piece^ with two silver mediaeval fashioned stands, of smaller size. The Epergne is of frosted silver, with gilt ornamen--.tations,'arid is an appropriate and chaste 'remembrance of New Zealand. Its base is nearly triangular, with circular projecting corners, on reach of/J which is the figure of a New Zealand bird, one representingthe somewhat rare kakapo (thevNew.- i Zealand• ground parrot), pne the curious „ kiwi (apteryx), and the weka. (woodheh}.' -'Between' 1 rtnese, ,and forming the immediate base tof -' the £- columh^ are three compartments containing ddisi 1 relievi of the cities of i Auckland^Wellington, and Nelson, very, tastefully .executed, and ineack of, wTiich-tMprominent^u'ildings are »and form" readily clistinguisliable 6bjects,"rendering^ each easily recognisabler"""l lrom the interstices between these < ;compartinents,. spring, i the ograeSS full/'bendmg^'tepis:of the (CyafcheailC Medallafis)', the^ kauri pinoj[Dainmara Australes], and cabbage plant [Corpliya^SuslTales].. Qn th» c6lumn, wluch terminates in a'foh^teH capitil,Tests a {basket with engraved glass dish for flowers, the vrim of the basket being^ divided, by abieldj? coni \ •iirxiZ'iTi'i oj. .v.^s& ■•'•' ' •' '■'.'- /■■■■■■ ' i ': * " '•■"■■■" .'.. '■*&&..■"■'■■:■:. --'-r

taibing^dlterliately raised . cyphers — T. Gk 8., and Ci^ss'bfitheißktlL—intdsii-panels embossed with .floral ornamentations, composed from glory: pea [Nesbdaphae Teraine], clustered leaved myrtle [Myrteas Vallata], 1 and ! sweet pqtatoe [Convolvulus Bbtataj Above the crystal flower dish, on a filagrreci aud chased .pedestal^ around which native itui leaves twine, stands the figure, in Wought silver, of a Maoi-i cliief,' the lineaments of whose ialioocd visage are well mailed.. In ..his' fight hand he holds a paddle, ; arid- in the other tl'.e t;:ft(;d ppoajr of his race, while te leans his' left arm on the- exquisitely carved prow of a war canoe. The following-I nscription, in quaint old letters, appears on (lie shield above the representation pf •the city of Auckland :• — ' 7-'V> ; '■'■'; ' ■':• : ; "'..'." PBESENTED , •._'.' i ' ; .■' !."'■""' TO '" ' . ,' ..' ; "COI.OK.ETj T. GOBE BBOWNE, C3.JJ 3n recognition of an Honorable, Enlightened, ; ■'" :; ' irad Impartial Administration of :■ . the Colony of New Zealand,' ! From September 5, 1855, to October 1861, ■■■■• * • ";' ■.-' And ; \ln testimony of private worth." The two stands correspond in form and decprafiou with tlie centre .ornament, and. have each Ihrce panels, on which, are respectfully,, reserved initials T. . G\ 8., seal of the, colony, and arms and crest of Colonel T. Gr. Browne, C.B. The testimonial, which is very handsome, consists of a i entre epergne and two dessert stands, appropriately embellished with birds, animals, and plants proper to the country. It is of frosted silver, polished, and of finest workmanship, and has been manufactured by Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, of New Bond-street. — New Zealand Herald.