HISTORIC SWORD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 93, 6 May 1937, Page 4

HISTORIC SWORD

-Press AifoQtftioB.)

Maori War Relic To CbanKO Hands PRESENTED TO ROTORUA

(Bv Telegraph

ROTORUA, Last Night. A sword of honour, assQQiated with two British Sovereigns and with the most troubled period of New ^ealand history, will be publicly delivered mt-Q the safe keeping of the Rotorua, Borough Council in the course of the civie ceremony on Coronation Day. The woapon was preseuted by Queen Victoria to Major Fqx, a noted leader of loyal native forcgs in the Mao?i War, and particularly iu the Cftm* paign again Te Kooti. The aw&?d was made in. recognition of hi* eom spieuous gallantry aud ingeuuity » sayiug a party of British soldiCTS f?em death during a surprise attack. The sword eventually e'ame iuto the keep» ing of Hemaua Pokiha (Fox), of Maketu, who is a desqendant of Mftjfef Fox, du the occasion of the visit to Ohinemutu iu 1901 of the late Kiug George V. and Queen Mary, a* Duke and Duchess of Cornwall aueYork, th* sword wa?, iu accordauce with- oative custom, handed ' back to the Duke, a* a desceudaut of . the originel dopor. Aftfcr holdiug it for a feW miuute* the Duke returned it to Hemaua Pokih*, to be retained as a permanent gift, Foeling that the" histo?ieal aisegi*» tions which the sword possesses con« cem. the pakaha population of the Rotorua and Bay of Fleoty distriqt* as much as the Maori, Hemana Pokiha uow desires that it shall be placed in the safe keeping of the Rotorua Borough Council, to be preservcd and exhibited in the museum which will ultimately1 be established by the council iu Rotorua. It is with this objeqt that the presentation will be .made ou Coronation Day.