HISTORIC CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21717, 5 February 1934, Page 12

HISTORIC CUP

GIFT TO WAAKA NENE DEPOSITED IN MUSEUM An interesting historical relic at present in the Auckland War Memorial Museum is a silver cup presented by Queen Victoria to the noted loyalist chief, Tamati Waaka Nene, and later deeded by him to the late Mr. John Webster, of Hokianga, a well-known pioneer of the North, and his family. Mr. J. C. Webster, for many years town clerk of Devonport, is a son of the Webster. The cup was brought from England by Sir John Grey in 1860, and presented to Nene from the Queen in recognition of his valuable services. When the cup arrived, there was a great gathering of Nene's people, and much rejoicing. The cup was taken from house to house, and a series of celebrations began which led to very considerable dissipation among Nene's people. Neno realised the danger of this, and eventually handed the cup over to the late Mr. John of whom he was a personal friend. "You have a fine house in which to display the cup to Governors and other raugatira pakelias, but it has led my people into dissipation," Neno said, according to a personal note taken of the occurrence at the time by the late Mr. Webster. Nene then handed the cup over into the keeping of Mr. Webster and his family. Several times in later years, when Governors came to Hokianga, the Queen's cup was filled and the health of the reigning sovereign drunk in it. The cup is therefore of very considerable interest, and its presence in the museum is gratifying.