BAFFLING RELIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 750, 24 August 1929, Page 1

BAFFLING RELIC

No Light Yet on Quaint Maori Flag TE PUEA”S INQUIRIES • T\7'HAT the meaning is of the * ’ ' curious bunting which is said to have been taken from Potatau. first King of the Maoris, and which has been lent to the Auckland Museum by Archbishop Aver--111, who recently received it from a clergyman in England, still remains a mystery. Details of the relic were submitted by The Sun to Princess Te Puea, of Ngaruawahia, who has gone to considerable trouble, but unsuccessfully, to throw some light on the curio. In its way the flag, which measures some 20ft by Bft, is a striking piece of cloth. It is of calico heavily bordered in black, and bears a large black cross. Near the cross are the sombre letters P.R. H. h.a. At the flying end is the device of a star surmounted by the crescent moon, both in blue. Also are inlaid two geometrical designs called “whetu.” To the editor of The Sun Princess Te Puea replies:—“l have questioned all my old people here at Ngaruawahia, but as yet I have not been successful in throwing any light on the matter.” The princess has doubts about, the relic being connected with Potatau. She says the markings and letterings do not coincide with “Tapaua,” Potatau’s own flag. Another feature causing difficulty, she remarks, is the wording of the note attached to the bunting by the Rev. A. Clementson, who secured the relic in the later

’eighties and took it to England. The notes states: —“Native New Zealand flag taken from Potatau, King of Hori Horis.” “ ‘Hori Horis’ is not at all a good word in the Maori language,” Te Puea declares. “ ‘Hori Horis’ means ‘ail lies.’ In this case a flag with those words would never be placed on Potatau’s coffin as it would be a great Insult. Even had it been ‘Hau Hau.' which means ‘Kingite,’ it would not then be correct, because ‘Hau Hau’ was only created during the Maori War in Tawhiao’s time. ‘Kupapa’ meant ‘Queenite.’ ” On the occasion of the tangi at the burial of Te Marae Mabuta a fortnight ago the question was discussed by the elders, says the princess in a further letter. None, however, had any knowledge of the flag. The Waikato Maoris knew of only two flags connected with. Potatau, and both were buried.