EARLY HISTORY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13869, 21 October 1910, Page 7

EARLY HISTORY.

MR McNAB'S RESEARCHES. (press association telegram.) PALMERSTON NORTH, October 20. Mr Robert McNab read a paper t.t the Philosophical Society's meeting tonight dealing with his recent researches in Europe and Australia into the raid of Raunaraha upon Akaroa in 1830 and tho alleged race for the declaration . f sovereignty over tho South Island :it Akaroa in 1840. lie gave extracts ii'oiu his materials regarding these two incidents, which are to be published <n a new edition of Murihiku. With regard to the Rauparuha raid, Mr McNab snid he found very little material in Kydney. Tho Sydney papers of that timo wero silent on tho subject, but at Hobart ho found fikvs of papers full of it, and in London he found from the archives full accounts. With regard to the aliened hoisting of tho British flag at Akaroa by Captain Stanley, of tho Britqmart, by order of Captain Hobson, in anticipation of Ca,;:t. Lavelle. Mr McNab showed from tho Britomart's log, which ho had searched in London, from liobson's despatches and papers, and from Captain Lavello's confidential despatches to his king, which ho found in tho .archives of the French Navy, that no such incident had occurred aa mentioned on the monument at Akaroa, and that tho story was a myth. Captain Stanley's leg shows that Captain Lavelto wa-s actually anchored at Akaroa before tho date alleged on tho monument of British sovereignty being declared, the Britomart's boat.? having assisted to tew him in, and that Jio had mo intention of declaring French sovereignty or Captain Stanley of declaring Pritish sovereignty whk-h had been declared at Cloudy Bay some timo previously. There wa.-j no raco and no historical incident as was taught in New Zealand history.