St Publius' 1960 Valletta visit cancelled

I refer to the letter by Edward Torpiano (July 6) under the heading A Memorable Event.

The information regarding the procession with the statue of St Publius from Floriana to the church of St Paul's Shipwreck in Valletta, reproduced from Herbert Ganado's book Rajt Malta Tinbidel Vol. IV, page 283, is incorrect and should be amended (for posterity's sake). The activity announced in the commemorative booklet to mark the centenary festivities of St Publius M., in June 1960 (from where Dr Ganado most probably quoted) never materialised due to some differences at the last moment. I was able to trace the information in the minutes' book of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament and St Publius M., of Floriana, which is available at the archives of the Archbishop's Curia.

My late father, Comm. Antonio Agius, who was the rector of the confraternity and secretary of the organising committee of the celebrations, called an urgent meeting for the confraternity members on June 19, 1960, to inform them that the activity which was scheduled for the following day was cancelled due to some differences that cropped up at the last moment with the bearers of the statue of St Paul. This was stated by the rector to clarify the position that neither the organisers nor the Chapter of St Paul's church were involved in the dispute.

This information should be noted and corrected by the owners of the original edition of the book Rajt Malta Tinbidel by Dr Ganado.