WITH OR WITHOUT THE “H”?

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 153, 25 March 1938, Page 8

WITH OR WITHOUT THE “H”?

Spelling' Of Wanganui Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, March 24. An attempt to have the name of Wanganui altered to its original form, “Whanganui,” is to be made by a number of residents who are interested _ in early historical associations of the city, and subject matter . will be discussed at a meeting next week. The original Maori name means “great harbour. Likewise Wangaehu should also lie “Whanghehu” (turbid waters). In the original deed of purchase of Wanganui the name is spelt both with aud without the “b,” the letter being omitted in the translation from the Maori into English. In the text of tbe deed both Wanganui and Wangaehu are spelt without the ‘‘h,” but in the margins tbe names appear in their correct form. When the deed was drawn up in 1848, it was written by Mr. Donald McLean, then inspector of police, and not being, a Maori scholar, it is not likely that he would be aware that he was spelling the name incorrectly. ' . An authority on Maori states that Wanganui district Maoris stressed the “h” sound but slightly, aud though tbe consonant was always pronounced, it was not as distinct' to the ear as in the cage of the northern and East Coast pronunciations. In those districts the "wh”. sound was pronounced more as “f.” in Wanganui, however, “wh” was given its true phonetic value, but to the untrained English ear tbe “h” was not always audible Hence when the name “Wbanganui” was spelt by Europeans, the “h” was dropped because, most people were hot aware of its presence in the Maori word. ' . “Wanganui” has no meaning, and many people are of the opinion that the name should revert,to its original form.