UNSOLVED MYSTERY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1939, Page 3

UNSOLVED MYSTERY

SILVER CANDELABRUM GIVEN TO CHURCH LORD BLEDISLOE’S PURCHASE. POLICE INQUIRIES FAIL. The mystery of the silver candelabrum which was presented by Viscount Bledisloe to the City church of St Lawrence Jewry, and subsequently claimed by Lord Kilbracken. is still unsolved—and likely to remain so, says the “Sunday Times,” London. The story is an interesting one. St Lawrence Jewry-next-Guildhall is regarded as the official church of New Zealand in London. Its rector, the Rev A. Lombardini, is chaplain of the New Zealand Society in London. Lord Bledisloe, Who Was a very popular GoVernor-General of New Zealand from 1930 to 1936, attended the New Zealand service there last year and informed the rector of his desire to present a piece of plate to the church to cement the bond of friendship between it and the Dominion. ' When this desire became known Lord Bledisloe was approached by a London silversmith, who showed him the candelabrum, which he had purchased at a' sale in the city. Its inscription showed that it had been piesented by the Dominion Government to John Robert Godley, the founder of Canterbury, New Zealand, and the first Agent-General of the Dominion in London. In the three lower panels were the arms of Mr Godley, those of the province of Canterbury, and an inscription setting out the occasion of the gift. LORD KILBRACKEN’S PROTEST. .As it seemed appropriate for the purpose, Lord Bledisloe purchased it, added his own arms and those of the City of London, another inscription recording its gift by him on behalf of the Dominion and presented it to the church. The sequel was the publication of a letter from the present Lord Kilbracken, Mr GodlPy’s grandson, asking if Lord Bledisloe could help in clearing up the mystery of the reappearance. of the candelabrum. Lord Kilbracken pointed out that the announcement might give the impression that the candelabrum had “been -sold by some member of the family in flagrant disregard of sentimental considerations,” and added: — “My 1 grandfather died in 1861 and the candelabrum was carefully preserved by my grandmother till her own death in 1907. It was then transferred to the possession of my father, who was never even approximately in the position of having to sell his personal effects, and who, I am convinced, would never have sold this one in any circumstances. Nevertheless, on my father’s death in 1932 it was mysteriously missing.” Lord Bledisloe’s reply from Nyasaland (where he was at the time on ah official mission) gave the facts of the purchase as set out above, and added: — “As so many old families find it necessary nowadays to dispose of their family plate, 1 naturally assumed that the descendant or legatee of the original presentee had done so in this case. In the circumstances L am; requesting the rector by 1 cablegram tb send the candelabrum to Lord Kilbracken, while promising to supply another piece of plate in substitution for it.” In a further letter Lord Kilbracken said he “learned with relief, but Without surprise, that Lord Bledisloe did not assume the mask and jemmy and feloniously enter my father’s house either by Violence or by stealth. . He is not at all that sort of man, and I never suggested that he was. The explanation given by him is what I expected, and there can be little doubt that this object was at some time stolen from triy father and secretly disposed of.” JOINT GIFT ARRANGED. Lord Kilbracken pointed out that he felt bound to put himself and his family right with the New Zealand public, and added:— “Though I would certainly be glad to have the candelabrum back for use in the Irish home for which it was originally intended, I hope the rector will consent to keep it in cold storage for us until Lord Bledisloe’s return, and that an arrangement may then be made I by which it is regarded as a joint gift from Lord Bledisloe and myself to this beautiful and historic church.” That, in fact, is what has happened. Lord Bledisloe has been at home for some time, and the “Sunday Times” is j informed that with the approval of both peers the candelabrum is to remain in possession of the church, to be preserved for the interest of all visitors from New Zealand But the history of the candelabrum between 1932 and 1938 is still a mystery. It had previously been offered to the Government of New Zealand, but owing to lack of funds for such a purpose the purchase was not made. When Lord Bledisloe heard of Lord Kilbracken’s protest he wrote from South Africa to Sir Philip Game, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, asking for the whole matter to be investigated. The most the police were able to find out was that the silversmith who sold the candelabrum to Lord Bledisloe purchased it from a perfectly reputable firm in the city. Unfortunately the head of that firm, apparently the only one who had knowledge of the manner in which the candelabrum came into their possession. had died, and there was no book record in regard to the transaction. There was, however, no reason to believe that the method of its acquisition by them was in any way open to suspicion. Beyond that the most stringent inquiries have revealed nothing.