TITORI'S ARMOUR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 602, 2 September 1909, Page 6

TITORI'S ARMOUR.

SOME INTERESTING .CORRESPONDENCE. "Hongi's Armour" was the title of a paper, tabled by Mr. A. Hamilton at this meting of the Philosophical,-Society last evening.■ Mr.-Hamilton-believes that there'is no doubt, however/ that the' rusty armour now. in tho museum,- which was ■brought to light' some montlis ngo by Dr. Pomnre, and with which.the paper dealt, is nof the famous suit which George IV gave Hongi, but a. set of armour given-by Willium IV. to nnother Nganuhi chief, Titoi:i. Hare Hongi, % a descendant of the great Hongi, ha? been able to show' Mr- Hamilton'a letter from Titori to Kinß William, written probabiy in 183i;'of which the following ; is a- translation-.— , - /

. "King-'WiUiam.-Horo' am, I, tho' friend of Captain. Saciler. The Bhip is iull and is now about to sail. I have heard that you, aforetime, wcro tho captain of a ship, lio you,' therefore, exuinino the eparr., whether they --arc'good or. whether they are W. ' Shoula you and the. French quarrel here -. aro eoaio trees for your battleships. ■ lam now beginning-to think about a Bhip for, myself. A native, canoo is iny vessel, and I have nothing olsc. The native canoos upset when they, are filled with potatoes and other matters for our people. I havo'put on , iboard the Buffalo a mere pounamu and two garments. Theso are., all tho things which New Zealanders possess. If I had anything better 1 would give it to Captain Sadler for. ■ you. This is all mine to you—mine. Titori to . William, King-of; England.".. ~,■-.- :■ • To this naive epistle the following reply was sent:- 7 . - . . - .-:.■•. "Tho Earl of Aberdeen, one of His Majesty's , principal Secretaries of State, to hia iiighness 'x'ltori.'. i'nend and broiaer,—l-naro received the conimandH of my most I'racious Sovereign,;lving William tho I'ourtn, toiaauk you for your letter, brought to him by the hands of Captain Sadler, 'couimandor of Hie Majesty's ship tho Buffalo, -and for the aseistanco whicli you rendered to him in obI tainine tho articles for which that ship was • expressly eent to your country. King Wil- ■ liaui-will'not forget this proof of your Iriondship, and he trusts that such mutual stood . omees will continue .to be .iuterchangea between Bis Majesty's eubjects and tho chiefs' and people of-New-Zealand as may cement tho friendship already:so happily existine be--tween the two countries, and advance tho commercial interests and wealth of both. Tho' King, my master, further commands mo to thank yon for your present, and in return"> he desires you will accept a suit of armour, such aa was worn in former times by his warriors, but which are now only used by hisi own bodyguard. This letter, , as well as' His Majesty's ■ royal present, will be conveyed to you through James' Buahby,.Esq.,- ' His Majesty's.authorised Resident at the Bay of Islands, whoso esteem and friendahio you will .do. veil'to cultivate, and who, in his turn, .will;'do. nil in his power to promote your welfare,' and that of your'countrymen 1 am, your friend and brother (siened). Aberdeen. Colonial Office. Janunry 31, 1835." ' The armour in the museum, Mr. Hamilton stilted, is undoubtedly the suit presented (o Titori. ■. •■■; ■■. -.-. ■ ■■■ ■ • .: •'•' "The question of the whereabouts of Hongi's armour wm discussed by fome of tho chiefs of the Ngapuhi lately, but the armour seems to liavo disappeared. It is supposed by. somo to have been stolen by two-slaves. Being chain armour, it would difappear more quickly in a mass of rust than plate armour.