THE ROYAL STANDARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2804, 1 February 1871, Page 3

THE ROYAL STANDARD.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir—Many letters have appeared in your columns about the Royal Standard and other flags, and much ignorance on the subject displayed, . I shall not answer any of them, but shall endeavour to state Bhorfaly what the nags are, and how and by whom they are used. .. The Union Jack is the national flag ; in its first form it was adopted upon the union of England with Scotland, its present form was adopted upon the union of Great Britain and Ireland; and is carried only in the army and navy. Merchant shipa are, however, ix» the habit of carrying what is called a Jack, but lit has a white border all round to distinguish ib from the Royal Jack. The Jack is formed by the union of the national emblems of the three kingdoms of England. Scotland, and Ireland, viz., the crosses of Sfc. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick. The other fligs are all particular flags, devoted to special purposes. The Royal Standard is properly the burner of the Royal Family j it is hois'ed usually only where the Sovereign is residing, but on State occasions on other royal residences. It is never hoisted half-mast, high but upon a death in the Royal Fami y, the death of a subject to whom Parliament has decreed a State funeral (as upon the death of the late Duke of Wellington), or upon the death of the sovereign of a friendly State. It is the highest flag in the navy «nd army. The Whi'e Ensign is now appropriated to the Royal Navy, and some yachtß ; the Blue Ensign, to the Na^al Reserve and to merchant ships commanded by officers of the Naval Reserve, and to some yachts j and the Red Ensign to the merchant navy. : There are a host of other official flags of less general use—as those of Port Officers, Customs, Governors, Pilot Boards, &c, with Admiral's and Commodore's pennants, of which I do not pretend here to give any account. , I am of the opinion of your correspondent "Tasman," that the so called Royal Standard, hoisted at the Provincial Buildings, w

| but a "fancy flag;" that the legend of "God Save the Queen" upon it, like the white border upon the merchant Jack, destroys its official identity; and that, therefore, it may without impropriety be hoisted whea and where any other fancy flag may be j so hoisted. To view it aa tbe Royal Standard and hoist it half-mast high, may be likened to putting up your neighbour's shutters and pulling down his Minds (instead of yottr own) because you are in mourning.— T am, &c, Umion Jack.