OUR FIRST FLAG

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 168, 15 October 1941, Page 3

OUR FIRST FLAG

DOMINION ENSIGN

CHOSEN BY THREE, MAORI CHIEFS

The first Standard of New Zealand came into, being about the year 1834, on the authority of Governor Bourke of New South Wales. It was chosen by the native chiefs out of three submitted to them, and has been described as one of the prettiest flags to be sleen. It was a white flag bearing the red cross of St. George, while the upper canton, next to the hoist, held a smaller St. George Cross on a white field on a blue ground, having in each quarter of ivhite star symbolising the Southern Cross. This flag minus the white field in the canton is now the house flag of the Shaw Savill and Albion Shipping Co., the oldest company trading to New Zealand. According to Yates' "New Zealand, 1827 to 1835," the history of the flag is given thus: "A few miles up the river from Holiianga an establishment was set on foot by Messrs Raine and Browne, and here were built two vessels, one a schooner of about 120 tons, and the other a ship of about 300 tons, both beautiful models and strongly built. These vessels could not have a British register nor carry the British ensign as there was then no acknowledged flag of the nation. A flag was, however, presented by the British Government and accepted by the natives, so that any vessel bearing a register from a native chief, countersigned by the British resident in New Zealand, would be allowed to hoist the national standard, trade to all His. Majesty's ports, and have the protection of the flag of Ensland. It is understood thai, the first seagoing vessel to fly the New Zealand flag was the Tokirau (a hundred rocks), a barque wrecked in the Bay of Islands and subsequently floated and refitted by the whalers living in the vicinity. This fact is mentioned by the Wakefields during their visit to Kapiti on behalf of the New Zealand Company.