MAORI ROBE AS MASCOT

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1933, Page 4

MAORI ROBE AS MASCOT

ADMIRAL HALSEY’S REVELATION.

Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, Comptroller and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales, when he commanded -i.M.S. New Zealand at the Battle of Heligoland, wore a kiwi robe —“a sort of kiltlike garment made of flax,” to use his own description. This strange breach of naval etiquette was explained by the gallant admiral recently when he was the guest of the Authors’ Club. Ho related that in 1909 the Dominion of New Zealand, realising the burden on the Mother Country of policing the seas, presented a battle-cruiser to the Navy. It cost the population no less than 30s a head, and, recognising the munificence of the gift, the Admiralty named the ship New Zealand and sent it out to the Dominion.

During a three months’ stay it anchored in practically every harbour where there was sufficient water. Onethird of the. population visited the ship. THE CHIEF’S GIFT. The visitors included many Maoris, who loved to bring gifts. One day Sir Lionel received on the quarterdeck a Maori chief who begged him to accept a kiwi robe. “He made a most beautiful speech as he presented the garment to me,” recalled Sir Lionel. T have been in your conning tower,’ he said, ‘and I ask you one thing. When you take this ship into action will you promise me to wear this kiwi robe? It has been worn by my forbears in war but it will not be required again in New Zealand. Promise me that you will wear it if ever you go into action.’ “Never thinking that I would take the ship into action I unhesitatingly gave the chief my promise,” continued Sir Lionel. ‘‘And I also said that when I was succeeded in command I would hand Ihe robe over to my successor. ‘No,’ replied the chief, ‘this is for you. Here is another one for your successor.

“On August 28, 1914, the battle cruisers, under Sir David Beatty, proceeded to the Battle of Heligoland and, in acordance with my promise, I sent down to my cabin for this garment and put it on before going into the conning tower. The German ships were then in action, ami I fear that many of the officers and ratings thought that I had gone demented. After I got into the conning tower I explained the circumstances, and I think they came to the conclusion that all was well. The action was fought, and my ship never received a scratch of any sort or description. After that the garment was looked upon as a mascot. J wore that kiwi robe again on January 24, 1915/ when the German battle-cruiser Blucher was sunk and the New Zealand received uo damage at. all.”

| Here Sir Lionel parenthetically re- | marked that January 2-1 was his wedding day, and when he got back to harbour ho sent a telegram to his wife: “I spent the best wedding day I ever had." "When letters came from home I had a. very angry one,’’ he added. On May 15 1 had to leave the ship, as I was appointed Captain of the Fleet in the Iron Duke. Captain, afterwards Admiral Si r John, Green took over the New Zealand, and as there was not the slightest chance of a Maori chief giving him another of these costumes t turned mine over to him. At the PmtUe ot Jutland, on May 3.1, 1916, <im. Green took the ship into action and wore the costume. Although two up.> in his line, and one of them just i i H -° llK ’ ' vcri ' ‘ sl,llß ’ 11,(1 N( ’- w w'latovr UVCd Pi'actically no damage. Wtiatcvcr, and among the crew there mio no casualties of any sort. After he war the garment was returned to . and it. is now one of my most treasured possessions."