PLACE NAMES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18673, 23 April 1926, Page 11

PLACE NAMES.

TO THE FDITOR OF "TBI PRESS." Sir,—Your correspondent, "One Who Knows Him," no doubt wrote with the best of intentions the letter which appears in-this morning's "Press," but I cannot sail under false colours, nor take credit for what I am not entitled to. I never spoko Welsh fluently, my knowledge of this language being chiefly academic. I certainly could read it fairly well, and at oue time sang in a Welsh choir, but as it is now nearly 50 years sim-.e I was in Wales, even that limited . knowledge has pretty well evaporated. With regard to Maori, that is quite another matter, for the first few years I spent in New Zealand were passed in a Kainga Maori, iu tho north of Auckland. In those distant days the Xortbern natives were not Europeauised, they lived much as their forbears did, with the exception that poaka roa was no longer on their menu. Barelegged, and bare-footed, the chief garment of both sexes was a gay-coloured shawl, worn kilt fashion—your humble servant has often worn the same—thev'lived in the whare puni, knives, forks, etc., didu't trouble them, their cooking was done in the Kohun, or in the' hangi Maori. In short, they lived a "dolce far niente" style of existence, and, not being too fond of hard work in the winter, often had to go on verv short commons. As very few of them had anything but just a fewwords of English, one had either to hold one's tongue, or acquire their language, but seeing that 43 years have passed since I idled away my time in those primitive parts, my knowledge of the reo is now exceedingly rusty. I may say that in those days I never knew what it was to sleep on a bed; rolling myself a la mummy in a blanket, I slept" on the floor on a couple of mats, and usually slept the sleep of tho just. Wonderfully tattooed the Maori chiefs were in those days—simply from head to foot, one mass of tattooing. I re-

member visiting the King Country once when King Tawhiao was negotiating terms with the Government. What a big meeting it was, at least 6000 natives were present, and I had the privilege of rubbing noses with his Majesty, and very rough his nose was too, from the excessive tattooing. The natives I was with were accommodated in a very long rimanga house, and there we had to stay, since to wander about find look at things would have been a great breach of native etiquette in those days. I have trespassed too much on your space, but as fond memory brings the light of other days around me, so much rushes into one's mind. However, hcoi ano.—Yours, etc., C. A. TOBIX. Glan-yr-Afon, April 22nd,■ 1926.