CHAPTER OF EARLY HISTORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 86

CHAPTER OF EARLY HISTORY.

ANNEXATION OF THE SOUTH X . ISLAND. V,, (Fbom Otjh Ows Cobbesfondbnt.) ; WEIXINGTON, August 21. An interesting inciident of the oft told . story lof- th^ annexation of the- South, Island as British territory ie narrated m a petition, presented: to PaFliament by Mv C. S. Izard on behalf of Abner Clough., of the Chatham Islands. In 1840 the • North Island was British territory, but fche South. Island had not been formally annexed. However, Captain Stanley, of H.M.S. Britdmart, then at Auckland, heard that the 3?renoh warship Laube was proceeding to Akaroa for the purpose of pjanting the French flap there, and a race : ensued, in which tb» British vessel was victorious. Robinson Clough, father of tkev petitioner, was fishing- in Akaroa harbour when the Britomart arrived. Being friendly with the Natives, and a person of influence among them, he was .fiworn in as Native interpreter, provided with a British ensign, and received instructions to assist in the formal annexation of the South Island. He arranged a | gathering of the Natives, explained the proposal to them, and obtained their approval. A tall kahikatea tree was cut for c, flagstaff, the ensign hoisted and saluted. "The guns of fche Britomart caused great excitement; among the Natives," continues the petition, " but they were quietened .by the said Robinson Cloxigh." After the conclusion of the ceremony; your petitioner's - father and several of the chiefs went aboard the - warship, and a banquet was held, at "which your petitioner's father was- pfcesentedt • with » ' lieutenant's nnif orm for his services. Five days afterwards the Laube* arrived, only to be informed that the island was British territory. Clough, the petitioner, was with his father in the fishing boat when the Britomart arrivedat Akaroa. But for the giict of_ the * lieutenant's uniform his father received no reward for his services, and his son is 69 years of age, and in poor health and eircum c tances. He asks that the Government should make some recompense to the only surviving child of a man who acted a, prominenifc part in an important episode of the Dominion's history. I The Albert medal for rewarding acts of heroism by land or sea was instituted in. tho year 1866. The first class is an ovalehaped badge of gold, the second a bronze badge.