MAORI ROBE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 11

MAORI ROBE.

HISTORIC GARMENT. WORN AT JUTLAND. JtFTUMV TO DOMINION. Two distinguished sailors went into •ction in the Great War wearing a Maori robe over their uniforms, a robe that had been worn by generations of Maori warriors. Its owner is Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, who has decided to •end it back to New Zealand for exhibition at the Centennial Exhibition at ■Wellington. The story of the historic garment goes back to 1913, when the battleeruiser New Zealand, which was presented by the Dominion to the Mother Country, visited New Zealand in command of Sir Lionel, who at that stage was Captain Ilalsey. On one occasion, when a party of Maoris was shown over the vessel, a chief was so impressed that he gave Sir Lionel a kiwi robe and greenstone tiki — a talisman to wear round the neck — ■nd the chief asked for a promise that both robe and tiki would be worn if ever the battle-cruiser went into action. That promise was kept. The Great War came two years later. In August of 1914, the New Zealand, in company ■with other British battle-cruisers, was in action off the island of Heligoland, and through that action Sir Lionel wore the robe. Five months later, when the New Zealand and her sister battlecruisers were in the Dogger Bank action with enemy battle-cruisers, Sir Lionel again wore it. Sir Lionel left the New Zealand on promotion, and passed the robe on to the New Zealand's new commander. Captain (later admiral) Sir John Green, telling him of his promise to the Maori chief in New Zealand.

In 1010 came the historic naval battle of Jutland, between the British and German fleets. On that occasion Captain Green wore the robe as his ship went into action. Two of the British battlecruisers in the line werp blown up and sank, but the New Zealand came through without a casualty, and no more damage than was caused by a shell, when it burst on one of the turrets. After the war the robe was returned to Sir Lionel and he has regarded it as one of his most treasured possessions. The legend associated with the robe is that the wearer is immune from danger. It will be returned to England after the exhibition. It will never be worn again in naval action. There is no battle-cruiser New Zealand now. I