QUAINT FLAG

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 30 July 1929, Page 8

QUAINT FLAG

ENGLISH CLERGYMAN'S GIFT TO N.2. CHURCH "TAKEN FROM KING POTATAU" A curious flag, said to have been taken from Potitau, first king of tlio Maoris, is jLJiq latest acquisition to the Auckland Museum (says the "Sun."). The bunting was taken to England in the early clays and lias been sept back by the High Commissioner, through the. Prime Minister, to Archbishop Averill, who" 1 has been asked to accept it as a gift ,to the Church in the Dominion. His Grace has place it on loan in the museum. The history of the (lag. if it is a Hag. is obscure. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the High Commissioner states he was approached by the Rev. J. S. Clenientson, rector of- Staplehursl, Kent, about the Hag, which had confe into his possession and he wished to know whether it had any historical interest. It was left to him by the Rev. A. Clementson, who went to New Zealand in 1865 and was a curate at Ashburton. Upon his return lje brought the Hag with him and at his death left it to the inquirer. The., elder clergyman had attached this note: "Native New Zealand flag taken from Potatau, King of Hori Horis." Captain T. E. Donne, C.M.G., examined the relic and stated that it might he the original Hag as claimed, or a replica. In any case, it would lie of historical interest in New Zealand. Mr Clenientson thereupon decided it should be presented to the Church of England in New Zealand and asked that it be sen! to the archbishop. MIGHT BE FUNERAL FLAG 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 boars a large black cross. Near the cross are the sombre letters P.R, II (or M) 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 "whelu." Mr Tldiapi and Mi: Wlihro Mahihi, who are engaged on Maori reconstruction work at the Museum, declare the flag to be a token of mourning. They say the cloth was probably used to drape Potatau's coffin or was flown at the burial. Their interpretation of the lettering is that the "P" denotes l'o tatau, and (he rest initials of the family name. The cross, they say, is Mie'Cliris tian symbol aud (he star and crescent the Maori evening star. Mr George. Graham, the Auckland authority on native .subjects, does nut concur altogether. Tie believes (ho cloth a Hag and not a pall. He is of opinion that the lettering is incomplete and that tke "P" does not necessarily signify Potatau. The whetu, he considers, are symbolic of the North and South Islands. ■ Here, then, is a riddle of no little interest. What the flag means, what the 'events leading to its acquisition by the Rev. A. Clementson were, are questions which the museum authorities would be glad to have answered