THE LATEST WELLINGTON SENSATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1708, 22 August 1887, Page 3

THE LATEST WELLINGTON SENSATION.

An INDECENT PUBLICATION FROM THE GOVEBNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.')

WELLINGTON, August 21.

The first volume of a work entitled " Ancient History of the Maori," and written by John White, has just been issued from the Government printing office. It purports to be authorised by a former Government, and to give the traditions and legends of the Maori race, which it does in such a manner that one of the local papers, reviewing the work, is led lo remark : — " The presence of what polite society calls 'broad language' may, to some extent, be excusable in such a history in order to convey to tfae reader the ideas of the people treated of; but the presence of whole pages containing indecent allusions' is assuredly without excuse, and certainly renders the volume before us unsuitable for general perusal. When we read the legend of the creation of woman in language which is positively disgusting, we shudder when we reflect that the author who makes ' the New Ze&fabWieT' speak for himself has promised that the Maori shall give us the meaning of names of mountains, rivers, and headlands." The book was only issued this week, and it is understood that the Government, on learning the objectionable character of the letter-press, has already suppressed its publication — at any rate, ii}) h sba)) bave been expurgated.