QUEEN VICTORIA'S MAORI GODCHILD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8167, 28 July 1906, Page 2

QUEEN VICTORIA'S MAORI GODCHILD.

ALBERT VICTOR POMARE. HISTORIC BAPTISMAL PRESENTS. In the obituary notice on the death of "Mrs Jenkins, in our issue of Tuesday last, we mentioned that Mr Jenkins, sen., once took a party of Maoris to Engand. We have been shown a most interesting photo in connection with that event. It is a group consisting of H. Pomare, Mrs Harieta Pomaie, with their infant, Albert Victor Pomare (born in England), and Mrs and Miss Colenso. The photo was taken in England in 1863, after the infant was baptised. The photograph is from the collection of Mr W. F. Gordon, to whom we are indebted for the following information on this interesting subject. "The infant son of H. Pomare, one of the chiefs visiting England, was baptised in St. Paul's Tottenham District Church by the Rev. Hugh McSorley. Prior to the baptismal service the Churching of women was read, Mrs Pomare kneeling at the communion rails. The sponsors were Her Majesty the Queen (represented by Miss Dealtry), Mr Wm. Dealtry, private secretary to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, and Mr A. N. Birch, of the Colonial Office. The infant was named by order of its Roya godmoter: Abert Victor. Mrs Colenso, with whom Mr and Mrs Pomare had been staying, acted as interpreter to Mrs Pomare at both services. A very handsome present was made to the infant from Her Majesty, consisting of goblet, spoon, knife and fork, all of pure gold. The goblet and knife bear the inscription: "To Albert Victor Pomare, from his godmother, Queen Victoria, 1863,' " These articles were enclosed in a beautiful case, and accompanied by a note for £25.

On the 4th November, Pomare, his wife and son were favoured with an interview with Her Majesty at Windsor Castle.

Subsequently Pomare and family seceded from Mr Jenkins' party, and were sent out to the colony in the ship Statesman by the Home Government. The vessel touched at Nelson in April, 1864, for provisions, en route for Auckland.

Our informant says he had a conversation on the subject with the late L. Davis, at Putiki, in February last. Davis stated that he, being the next of kin, had a claim on the presents made by Her Majesty to Albert Victor, but he could not prove the death of the latter. He stated that Abert Victor Pomare eft New Zealand years ago for America, and that all traces of him were lost. The articles were held in trust by the late Primate, and were supposed to be in the keeping of the present Bishop of Auckland. "* Under the circumstances we think it a good idea if such objects of historic interest could be placed in a museum or some other public institution in the colony.