AN HISTORIC FLAG.

Shannon News, 2 December 1921, Page 3

AN HISTORIC FLAG.

THE HUIA UNION JACK

The large Union Jack displayed over the reception stand in Levin during the Governor-General's visit en Monday, with the word 'Huia" in large letters across its centre, was lent, for the occasion by Mr Rere Nicholson on behalf of the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatihuia tribes. The Sag has an historical association, as it was presented to the present owners by the then Hon. Huia Onslow, a son of Lord Onslow, a former Governor of New Zealand. The son Huia was born in the Dominion, and shortly afterwards, when Lord Onslow and Sir Walter Buller passed through this district, his Excellency expressed a wish that he would like a Maori name for his son. When the visitors were returning from Foxton they called in at Poroutawhao, where they met the old chief Karanama Kapuki. Lord Onslow told the chief of his desire to get a Maori name for his son, and the old warrior said: "Yes, I will give you a Maori name. Call him Huia, after the Ngatihuia tribe." Ngatihuia with Ngatiraukawa have historic associations on this coast for their fighting prowess, and their descendants are found among the chiefs of many other of the tribes of these districts. Lord Onslow was much taken with the name, and accepted it at once, and the son was duly christened with great ceremony at Otaki. When the Onslow family returned to England, a Union Jack was sent out to the Ngatihuias as a gift from the Honourable Huia. When the latter had attained the age of 14 years, in company with Lady Onslow and his sister, he visited New Zealand, bringing with him another Union Jack, a gold watch and a portrait, of himself to present to the tribe whose name he bore. The presentation was made at Otaki, among the large concourse present being the late Hon. R. J- Seddon, Sir Joseph Ward, the Bishop of Wellington, and many other celebrities of the day. T£e Honourable Huia made a speech, expressing the great pleasure he felt at being able to revisit the place where he was christened. He added: "In honour of that event, I have brought out a Union Jack, a photo and a gold watch to present to the Huia people, but who is to receive them " Mr Rere Nicholson at once said he was the right one to receive the gifts on behalf of the tribe, and they were duly handed to him, and remain in his'possession to-day. The flag flown on that occasion was the one displayed at Monday's reception, and is loanto members of tribe in the adjacent distracts to drspTay on special occasions. It was taken to Rotorua when the present King visited New Zealand in 1904, and again when the Prince of Wales was here last year, when it was used to mark the site of the camp of the Maori visitors from the Livin district.