DENIED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1937, Page 8

DENIED.

ALLEGED SLANDER.

ADMIRAL SIR JOSEPH NIAS.

SISTERS VISIT NEW ZEALAND. With the one object of correcting alleged slanders on her father, the late Admiral Sir Joseph Nias, K.C.8., contained in certain literature on the Treaty of Waitangi, Miss Carolin Nias, of London, lias arrived in New Zealand, and is ut present visiting Auckland. Slh> is accompanied Tiy her sister, Mrs. Bavncs. wife of Admiral Bavncs.

Miss Nias' father, who was in command of 11.M.5. Herald, brought Governor Holison to New Zealand and, with Hobson, was a party to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. "My father was born in 17!K?," said Miss Nias. "l'eople begin to count on their fingers when T tell them that. He joined the Navy in ISO 7, and had had a long and distinguished career."' After three celebrated voyages in the Arctic, young Nias was at the Battle of Navarino which freed Greece from the Turks in 1827. lie was then a first lieutenant on H.M.S. Asia. under Admiral Collingwootl. fn that battle the whole of the enemy llect was sunk or burned. Hunted Pirates. "Kur sotne time after that my father hunted pirates in the Mediterranean," continued Miss Nias. "Then he was promoted to the rank of captain, and was appointed to the command of H.M.S. Herald. He was dispatched to the first China War. but on his way he was detailed to bring Captain Hobson from Sydney to New Zealand. He was present at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and his signature appears on it. After that he went round the South Island and obtained the signatures of all the Maori chiefs. Hobson was ill, and my father was accompanied on that mission by Major Bunburv." When that mission was completed. Captain Nias went on to Stewart Island, but finding 110 natives there, he annexed the island by the right of Captain Cook's earlier discovery. He buried a bottle containing the proclamation, and less than ,12 months ago a party of bluejackets of H.M.S. Dunedin made an effort to find the bottle. Their efforts followed a request to Miss Nias from the Admiralty for any of her father's j old records. Service in China. Captain Nias was in New Zealand for about six months. He then fought in China for three years and was at the siege ojf Canton. Eventually he was promoted to the rank of Admiral and decorated by Queen Victoria. He died in 1879 at the age of 86. "I have come chiefly to refute statements concerning my father's actions in New Zealand contained in certain literature," continued Miss Nias after she had traced Admiral Nias' long and distinguished career. "Apparently the writer took statements from anonymous letters published in the 'Sydney Gazette' and the 'Sydney Morning Herald.' These statements, are entirely without foundation. In fact, I have brought I with me the records of the Admiralty to I straighten this matter out. I have been able to trace all these statements to one man."

Miss Nias' sifter, Mrs. Bayncs, is the wife of Admiral Bavnes, who commanded the H.M.S. Madiera in 1900. Admiral Baynes took Lord Ranfurly, then Governor . of. . New Zealand, to annexe the Cook Islands on behalf of New Zealand

"I have delved into all sorts of records 'with officials in Wellington," said Miss Njas, "and I think I will be able to prove to everybody's satisfaction that the statements are incorrect."

Miss Nias leaves 011 a visit to Rotorua to-morrow. 'She will then return to Wellington and sail from there for Sydney on February 22 on her way back to England.