THE DEVIL'S RETREAT.
Speaking at Pukerua on Saturday, the Prime Minister said that he asked Mr W. H. Field, M.P., the meaning of the name "Pukerua/' and was told that it meant "between two hills." He had his doubts as to whether the .answer was the correct one. It reminded him that his old home in the north was called "Reotnna," which was interpreted as the "home of eels." Now, the nearest thincr to a serpent known by the Maoris was an eel. and a serpent, judging by the Bible which they all read, was a snake, so that it was a popular belief that the real meaning of "Eeotuna" was ''the devil's retreat." So, as boys, they were known as "the little devils!" who lived at the "Devil's Retreat."
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19260324.2.117
Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 70, 24 March 1926, Page 10
Word Count
130THE DEVIL'S RETREAT. Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 70, 24 March 1926, Page 10
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Auckland Star. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries.