WILLIAMS MAORI DICTIONARY

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28359, 19 August 1957, Page 8

WILLIAMS MAORI DICTIONARY

Revised Edition Published

"The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, August 18. After seven years’ research and preparation a new edition of the Williams standard Maori dictionary has been published. With the printing of this sixth edition the dictionary is now readily available for the first time in 25 years.

A group of Maori language experts working under the auspices of the Polynesian Society was rc-ponsible’ for the editorial work of the new edition. The first—published in 1844 and second editions were edited by Bishop W. Williams, the third and fourth were the work of his son. Bishop W L. Williams, and his grandson, Bishop H. W. Williams, edited the last edition, published in 1917 and reprinted iri 1921 and 1932.

The production cost of-approxi-mately £6OOO for the latest and greatly augmented edition —it lists more than 2000 additional words or meanings—was met by the Maori Purposes,Fund Board and the Maori Land Boards. ’

Since 1948 the earlier editions have been almost unprocurable. The new editioi was first suggested by the late Sir Apiran# Ngata in 1949 after the completion of the revised Maori .Bibles As president of the Polynesian Society. Sir Apirana Ngati convened a meeting to discuss the matter and - this meeting decided to