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Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 258, 30 July 1927, Page 7

“Te Uira” (“Tlie Flash of Lightning”) is the significant name of a handsome greenstone mere which has just been deposited with the Auckland Museum, through the kind offices of Mr. G. Graham (says the Auckland “Star”). 1 This fine mere is an example of the sort of treasures he has been instrumental in having given into tlie safe keeping of the museum. “Te Uira”—every historic mere has a name, and is as well known as such an heirloom as the Portland Vase is among pakelias—figured in the_ disastrous raid on Hongi Ikn and his Ngapuhi warriors, being given as a peace offering to the bloodthirsty leader when he sacked the Totara Pa st Thames about the year 1821. The old-time Maori, however, was a gentleman as well as a bit of a desperado, and af the famous Kohimarama conference of 1856 the Ngapuhi people restored “Te Uira” to the Hauraki folk. We next hear of it in the Maori War, when it was carried by the noted chief, Ngakapa Whanaunga, through the Waikato campaign. Ngakapa was one of the defenders of the immensely strong pa at Rangiri.ri, which cost so many British lives when it was stormed in November, 18G4. When he saw how things were going, and that the pa would have to be abandoned, lie hid “Te Uira” in the parapet, where it was afterwards recovered. It was not surprising that he should cache the tribal heirloom, as the garrison, in vacating , the pa, had to struggle through a swamp and other obstacles where a man would have enough to do to save his skin.