FLAGS AND THEIR USES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 146, 21 June 1901, Page 2

FLAGS AND THEIR USES.

(To the Editor.)

g; Fi it is certainly time that the British public as ' represented in Auckland, should be educated in the use of our national flag, the absurditys exhibited during the recent week's gaiety having called forth much ridiculefrom our naval visitors, in the first place the Union Flag, flying on the most prominent building in Queen-street (the Victoria Arcade) was flying upside down. One could hardly' cast their eyes across the street but an upside down national flag would catch the eye. At Potter's Paddock those responsible for the placing of the Union Flag at the saluting point, at which the H.R.H. the Duke of York received the salutes from the passing corps, and at which point medals were presented, was upside down. The racing club managed to get two out of three Union Flags right, but the third was wrong. The national flag- flying wrongly is a pitiful sight, it being always looked upon as being a sign of distress. Another absurdity occurred when the Royal Standard was hoisted at Potter's— this went up wrong end first. Whilst speaking of the Royal Standard it would be as well if people knew that in flying this, a most distinctly private "and not a national flag-, that a serious and unpardonable breach of etiquette is being committed, and that it is practically an insult to the Royal representatives instead of a compliment. For the information of. those who do not know, I may say that the wide white bar in the cross should always be uppermost, next the staff from which the flag is flown. — I am, etc., AJt,