CUSTODY OF A FLAG

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18399, 17 May 1934, Page 7

CUSTODY OF A FLAG

CASE TAKEN TO COURT MAORI BATTLE RECALLED The- resting place of the historic Moutoa, flag, presented to the Wanganui tribe by pakelias following the battle on .Moutoa Island in 1864, as a resuit of which Wanganui was saved from attack by a largo force of ■ fanatical Hauhaus, was the subject of a dispute heard in the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court. The plaintiff was Toia Barnes, a Maori woman of rank, who sought the return of the flag to the Wanganui Museum, and the defendant was Henure Pmnipi. Mr. A. D. Brodies for defendant, said he. had a. testimonial signed by at least 115 members of the Wanganui tribe, disputing .Mrs. Barnes’ authority. These people said the plaintiff had no right to speak for them in the matter of having tho ilag restored to the museum. Mr. B. Withers, for plaintiff, said Mrs. Barnes was suing on behalf of representative members of the Wanganui tribe. Mr. J. Hewitt, S.M., said he thought the matter was one for the natives themselves to settle, lie could not see that it would do any good to go on with the ease, and, if he did, it would •probably take a. week delving into thu relationships and ancestry of the various parties. After consulting his client, Mr. Withers said he had been instructed to withdraw the proceedings. The plaintiff realised it was a matter to liesettled by the natives themselves. No doubt, the feeling of the court that the flag should ho placed in some public place would be given due consideration by those concerned. By a strange coincidence it was 70 years ago to the day that the battle of Moutoa was fought on Moutoa Island in the Wanganui River between friendly Wanganui Maoris and the Hauhaus. llie latter tribe were coining down the river to attack the settlement, their advance being checked at Moutoa by the natives of Putiki. A desperate fight took place, and the invaders were dispersed. Jn March, 1865, the ladies of Wanganui, Rangitikei and Manawatu presented a white silk flag to the loyal natives who had fought in the battle. The flag was later used to drape the coffin of the late John Williams Ilipango. _ It was made of white silk, it had a Union Jack in the top hoist, and in the centre there was an Imperial Crown between two sprays of bay, below which was a Maori hand clasping a European hand.