Institutional Awards

Lot 1961    Day 2    Institutional Awards

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

QUEENS STATUE EXECUTIVE, 1897, lapel badge, handcrafted in gold (9ct, 3.34g, 25x26.5mm), by Kohn (Kohn & Co, Wellington), on one end of a central rod is a 6-pointed star featuring an engraved image of Queen Victoria, on the other end is a disc inscribed 'Queens Statue/Executive' around the edge and in the centre 'N.Z./Auckland/1897'. Extremely fine and rare.

The bronze Queen's statue was erected at Albert Park in central Auckland and the unveiling ceremony, conducted by Lord Ranfurly, was held in March 1899.^^The following courtesy of National Library of New Zealand - Papers Past - from New Zealand Herald, 7 August 1897, page 5. ^QUEEN'S STATUE FUND.^A circular has been prepared by the hon. secretary of the Queen's Statue Fund (Mr. Albert J. Allom), which will be forwarded by to-day's mail to the Agent-General for New Zealand and a number of other colonists at Home. A list of the members of the executive committee is given as follows :-^Committee: Peter Dignan, Esq., Mayor, (Chairman), John Abbott, Lieut-Col. Banks, Rev. W. Beatty, M.A., C. E. Button (Mayor of Birkenhead), W. J. Courtney, George Fowlds, J H. Rees-George, George Higgins, G. D. Ingall, A. Kidd, J. C. Macky (Mayor of Devonport), J. W. Shackleford (Mayor of Newton), D. Sutherland (Mayor of Onehunga), Albert J. Allom, W. R. Bloomfield, Col. Burton, Wm. Crowther, M.H.R., Robert Farrell, George Fraser, F. Hull, J. J. Holland, M.H.R., Bart. Kent (Chairman Chamber of Commerce), J. M. Laxon (Mayor of Newmarket), P. A. Philips (Town Clerk), Hon. W. Swanson, M.L.C., Joseph Thornes (Mayor of Parnell), Dr. Wilkins. Bankers: The Bank of New Zealand, Auckland and London. Office: The Municipal Chambers, Auckland. Hon. Treasurer: John Abbott, Hon. Secretary: Albert J. Allom.^^The circular then proceeds: "This committee has been formed for the purpose of collecting funds for, and erecting, a statue of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, on some one of the beautiful sites to be found in the city of Auckland. For some months prior to the celebrations in June, some difference of opinion had existed in Auckland as to the most fitting mode of commemorating this the record year of Her Majesty's reign. Many projects were discussed, but nothing suitable appeared to result. At last it was shown by an extemporised poll of the readers of the New Zealand Herald that a great majority of people favoured the statue. Other public meetings were held, and on the 14th June, 1897, at one of the most influential and enthusiastic public meetings ever held in Auckland, it was finally determined that the erection of a statue of the Queen is the most fitting mode of commemorating Her Majesty's record reign. The above executive is one of the results of that meeting. Without any systematic canvass, nearly ?900 has been collected to date. The committee have no doubt that before they are in a position to order the statue they will be in possession of ample funds.- Albert J. Allom, Hon. Secretary."