In the aftermath of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, a brass eagle rose like a phoenix from the rubble and ashes of St John's Cathedral in Napier.



It was all that survived the great tremors and the fires that followed – but not all its valuable limbs were recovered.



Two of the 2m-high eagle lectern's four supporting feet, shaped like crouching lions, went missing from the rubble.



"The eagle needs to land," the acting Dean, Bishop John Bluck, said today.

It has long been thought that the "maned pair" of feet were taken by a looter – albeit a kindly one who took them home for safekeeping.


The cathedral was rebuilt and re-opened, but the two brass lions failed to find their way back and the eagle statue has teetered since. 

Bishop John, who is acting Dean until Helen Jacobi's replacement arrives later in the year, said the timing for the return of the lion's feet was now ideal.

 "What better present for for a new dean than a pair of happy feet."



So the church has declared an unconditional amnesty to get the 108-year-old statue, once described as the finest piece of church furniture in the colonies, fully restored.



"All that's needed is to drop the little brass beauties back inside the cathedral in a brown paper bag and no questions will be asked or charges laid," Bishop John said.

"In our view, two lions in the stand is worth more than 10 in the bush ... and the eagle will be very happy."



Bishop John speculated that the lion's feet may be in someone's home decorating a mantelpiece, serving as a door-stop or bookending a row of novels.

"Somewhere they are waiting patiently to return to their proper home and their proper job – of keeping an eagle off the ground."



Bishop John also speculated the present generation may have no idea where they came from.

"Maybe they thought their grandparents or great aunts would never think of dealing in illegal pets."



But none of that mattered any more, he added. "The congregation simply want their animals to come back to where they belong."