FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15649, 1 July 1914, Page 13

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

(TROPHIES FROM THE MAORIS.

.TAKEN AT MOUTOUA.

(From the HERALD of July '~ 1364.)

I•• 5j the Wellington Spectator of June 22 '•WO receive the following interesting de- ; Bcriftion of some trophies token from the rebels after the fight at Moutoua:— "Iu mo (ID." the reply to His Honor's address ! Ufij week, Mr. Fitzherbert referred to the flag which had been taken from tho rebels after the Qght at Moutoua, and presented by tho friendly natives to the Superintendent. A description of it may not prove uninteresting. The flag, which belonged to Pehi, is 9y<ls long and 3yds wide, am' is made of white- calico and red Bilk and merino. Tho materials were bought at Wanganui, and sent to Waikato, where the flag was made by the native "iris, who hr.-.-j been taught iht> use of ■ their needle '; (lie mission seh-v-ls. The upper Iu; ' is •. •rhite field bordered with red, on ahiil. '.- a blue cross at'. three stars. 'Hip lower half is read.. • Tho workmanship is excellent. The flag was found in a canoe belonging to the rebels after the battle, and, as we have said, was given to the Superintendent by tho friendly natives. On His Honor expressing his intention to send the flag as a trophy to His Excellency- Sir George Grey the natives assented to the proposal, but intimated a desire that the flag should be retained in the province as a- memorial of the fight. Besides the flag there was also presented to His Honor a parawa made of the jawbone of a sperm whale, the handle handsomely carved, and the whole highly polished, which belonged to Tupohia, son of Pehi, and was brought from Waikato. Also two tahias ornamented with feathers -me belonging to Manilla, of Taranaki, the other to a near relative of Hare Tip-sue. chief of Xgnknnianu, of the Waitara block These will be deposited in the Wellington museum. Pehi's flag was hoisted yesterday, under the Union Jack. on the li igstaff in front of Government Horse, and to-day is 'spreading its, ample folds to the wind, under the ensign of British authority."