Lord Galway’s Interest in Native Chiefs Sword

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 105, 5 May 1937, Page 4

Lord Galway’s Interest in Native Chiefs Sword

REPLACEMENT OF MAORI WAR RELIC From Our Own Correspondent. NAPIER, May 4. Members of the Te Araroa-Hicks Bay section of the Ngatiporou tribe have been delighted by a further manifestation by the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, in the request placed before His Excellency during his recent visit to the East Coast, concerning the pos Bible replacement of a sword of honour which was damaged by fire in recent years. The weapon was presented to Mokena Kohfcre, a leading Ngatiporou chief, in recognition of his services to Queen Victoria and the New Zealand Government during the years of the Maori wars. Its associations had given it a peculiar significance to the people of Mokena Kohere’s district, and when it Buffered serious damage in the recent fire, much concern was felt. It was suggested to Lord Galway during his visit to the Coast that through his influence the Home Government might be induced to replace the sword with another, and His Excellency promised that he would give consideration to the matter. By official instruction, tlie sword has now been forwarded by the descendants of Mohena Kohere to the GovernorGeneral at Auckland, with the object of having it dispatched to London for examination. Though the weapon has lost its handsome decorations, and doubtless also its temper, in t)he ordeal by fire, it is thought that it might be possible to restore it to its original condition. Naturally, if this is possible, the tribal owners of the relic will value it more highly than they would another sword, since Mokena Kohere’s weapon carries with it historic associations which could attach to no other. The damaged sword is one of four presented to chiefs of the East Coast and Wairoa districts. Those who shared with Mokena Kohere this signal mark of Queen Victoria’s regard were Major Ropata Wahawaha, of the Waiapu, Tuta Nihoniho, of Waipiro Bay, and Ihaha Wthaanga, of Nuhaka, The descendants of each of these chiefs treasure the tokens of a record of loyalty and sustained courage, which with each decade acquire additional significance.