THE MAORI NAMES OF PLACES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3192, 9 October 1867, Page 4

THE MAORI NAMES OF PLACES.

To the Editor of th* Dailt Southjbrk Cross. Six, — I observe with , pleasure that you have in ' recent numbers of your valuable journal corrected ■ereral Maori names of places often mimpelt in advertisements, and in official notifications, for vrhich pains-taking you are certainly entitled to the thanks of all those who are interested in the Maoris and their language. If it be deemed advisable to retain the Maori names of localities, it is of the utmost importance that the orthography should be correct, in which oase a moderate attention to the ordinary rules of phonology will enable most persons to pronounce the Maori words with ease and aoouraoy. Permit me now to call your attention to a few Maori words inaccurately spelt in our daily advertisements forwarded to you for publication by Government, and by business men ; and here let me say that, should you be able to induce your Southern, contemporary to correct the orthography of the Maori appellation he' ha* assumed, you will confer a benefit on the Maori student who hears a word pronounced with an h, and finds that the same word is written without an hin the literary journals of the day. 1 refer to the Chronicle, whose editor persistently clings to " Wangauui," although Dr. Maunsell and the whole Maori nation write and pronounce the word Whanganui. The following are a few of the proper names alluded to above : — Ebh'onbodsly written. Corrected. Mongonui ... ... ... Mangonui Wangarei ... ... ... Whangarei Wangapoa Whangapoua Otea (Great Barrier) ... ... Aotea Waiheki .< Waiheke Waihau (Gold Mine) Waiau Kauaeranga (Thames) Kau waeranga Oraki Orakei Mangarei... ... ... ... Mangere MaungaUwhiri Mangafcawhiri Tuimata Tubimata Waihoinoi (coal mine) Waihoehoe Papatoitoi .; Pap&toetoe Waitakerei Waitakere. There is another olass of Maori words often used and wrongly spelt, such as kumera for kumara, kawai for kahawai, &c.j but, the names of places being of greater importance, I have considered that my remarks should be confined to the latter class of Maori words — the names of places. — I am, &c, C. O. Davis. Auokland, October 8, 1867.