AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL RELIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10300, 27 November 1896, Page 3 (Supplement)

AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL RELIC.

A relic of great) historical importance has just been presented to the Auckland Museum. It is an old Tower musket, and the following note is attached to the stock: —" This musket was given to Hongi Hika, afterwards known as 'The Maneater' by George IV. of England in the year 1820. It was used by him in the battles of lkaranganui, Mokoia, and Matakitaki,.and many other lesser engagements. lb was named by Hongi ' Patu Iwi 1 or ' Slay the people,' and was his favourite weapon. After Hongi'g death it passed into the hands of the Hikutu tribe of Hokianga, and being very tapu, was preserved when other historical weapons have long since disappeared. Presented to the Auckland Museum by S. Percy Smith, F.R.G.S., Surveyor . General.' Hongi went to England in 1820, and was roceived with great honour by George IV. The New Zealand chief had seen the' effect of firearms,. and he knew that if he could arm a body of his warriors with guns, he might march as a conqueror from one end of New Zealand to the other. He said there was only one King in England, and ho whs determined there should only be one King in New Zealand. Ho used all his means to obtain firearms, and King George presented him with a number of muekets, amongst them this one, " Patuiwi." hen he reached New Zealand Hongi at once set to word to train his men, and for almost a generation he devastated New Zealand. Ikarauganui, where one of his battles took place, is in the Kaipara district, and there Hongi came in contact with the tribes inhabiting the Auckland isthmus and their allies. Tim fight of Mokoia was ' on the well-known island in Lake Rotorua, where the Ngapuhi under Hongi slaughtered the Arawas. Hongi had brought' bis canoes up to Rotoiti, and thus was enabled to cross to Mokoia. Matakitaki was the famous battle near where Alexandra now stands, and whore the WaikatOß were routed with terrible slaughter. The musket is in an exceedingly good state of preservation, and the lock acts as well as over, it did. The weapon has evidently been well taken care of in every respect. There is no question as to its having beon the very weapon handled by the formidable Hongi. ' "