SIGHTLESS VETERAN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 November 1927, Page 5

SIGHTLESS VETERAN

GUARDS HIS FLAG ON TE KOOTI’S TRAIL. RELIC OF HONE HEKE S JEALOUSY. (Special to “Tribune") Auckland, Nov. 30. “You see, sir, this is a British ensign I” The old man paused, peering with his sightless eyes. “If it belongs to anyone, sir,” he added, “it is the property of His Majesty's Government. “Look at it. Look at it!” The flag spread across his knees, and his fingers tenderly plucking at it, Walter Rutherford, once of the loyal 43rd, and now one of the few remaining links with those troublous days of the '6o’s when Te Kooti terrorised both Pakeha and Maori alike, told its story. The ensign, said the old man, came to this country with the Rev. Samuel Marsden. “Bishop,” he called him, but we all’ know that the. doughty colonial chaplain was never raised to that dignity, but had to eat humble pie before the first Bishop of Australia. He went on to say that Samuel Marsden raised this ensign on that memorable Christmas morning when New Zealand’s first sermon was preached. That may be so, or it may not be so; but we do know that eventually the flag came into the possession of Patuone, the brother of Tamati Waka Nene. FORGOTTEN IN LOFT. Hone Heke jealously regarded Patuone’s possession of the flag and eventually, by force, took it from him. Vi'e next hear of the ensign in the custody of Archdeacon Henry Williams, who handed it on to his son. Judge E. M. Williams. The Judge brought it to Auckland For many years it lay. forgotten, in a loft at the stable of his Mount Eden home.

It was there that Walter Rutherford round it. and Miss Williams, the judge’s daughter, gave it to him. Eighty-eight and sightless—one eye was left in the Urewera wheu chasing Te Kooti—the flag is now part and parcel of the old man’s life. For some years he has thought of depositing it in some suitable place. Lord Jellicoe. when Governor-Gene-ral, agreed that the Veterans’ Home would do. , “But it was iust shortly before his Lordship left New Zealand for good—the ven’ last week before lie went—that I received his Lordship's own letter. Since then no one has bothered about the flag.” Again his fingers caressed the folds. “I do not knoiv so much as I could part with it now,” he added. “Perhaps I will get them to fold it under my head when I fall asleep. They tell me it is very torn now.” The old man chuckled “Perhaps I will take it with mo to another planet and unfold it there! . . . Like myself, it is very shaky, and has been buffeted a bit.” William Rutherford and his Brother Henry one day early in -, the reign of Queen Victoria found themselves in Liverpool. They were on their wav to “the American war.” Liverpool's attractions. however, proved rather too much for them. Before long they were “broke to .he wide.” There was onlv only one thing to do. Both enlisted in the 43rd. “And that is how we came to New Zealand. We landed in ’64 at Auckland, and then we went to Taranaki where the trouble with the Maoris had broken out again. I was the first man where Normanby now is.” ON TE KOOTI’S TRAIL. The brothers took part in the illfated attack on the Weraroa Pa. fell back in the retreat on Kai Iwi, helped “chase Tetokowaru round tho mountain,” and with Sir George Whitmore followed the trail of Te Kooti after the Povert- Bay massacre. They were in Tauranga with the 43rd ;e penerated fastnesses of the Urewera, which, little known to-day, was almost impassable then, and, eventually returning to New Plymouth. there purchased their discharges. Despite his arduous life in the infant colony, Walter Rutherford’s brain is remarkably clear at the age of 88. With the exception of his sight, which he retained until 10 years ago. he basal) his faculties. “Yes. sir. yes, sir . . . This flag should be looked after by someone. If it belongs to anyone of course, it belongs to His Majesty’s Government, though they did only give me sixpence a day instead of the shilling they should have done. “Wei. well. 1 don’t know as I could part with it. . . . It’s a British ensign sir, a British ensign!”