MAORI GAZETTE.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 5, 5 July 1845, Page 2

MAORI GAZETTE.

In- pursuing occasionally, our study of the Native dialect, we take a lesson in reading and translating from the Official Maori Gazette, as that periodical is presumed to be written in the purest idiom of the language. After perusing to the best of our ability, the various articles in the last numbtr, we come to an advertisement at the end, signed, A'a te Purutana, calling on the Maories to bring Kauri Gum to the Government Printing Office. At first, we were quite at a loss as to the advertiser, until we remembered, that some of the late proclamations for the apprehension oflieki and others contained the transformation of ttie plain English name of the Government Primer, Christopher Fulton, into the Maori patronymic of Kiritopa Purutana* We annex the original advertisement, with our free translation of it, subject of course to the correction of the Regius professors compiling the Gazette. We believe persons are allowed to advertise in the Maori Gazette, on any occasion or for any purpose, that may tend to advance the natives, and to induce them to industrial pursuits ; and certainly to draw their attention to collect Kauri Gum would come within the scope and meaning of such regulations. But what excited our astonishment was, that Mr. Purutana, de.sires the Maories Jo bung the gum to the Printing Office of the Government, and he will be there ready to buy it. This announcement will excite belief among the natives that the Government are about to enter into competition with the merchants and storekeepers in Auckland, and canoes will be flocking into Mechanic's Bay, laden with gum to obtain " the great quantities of money," from Kiritopa Purutuna, If Mr. Fulton .chooses to deal in gum or anything else, we presume he is at perfect liberty to do so, provided tie does not neglect his duty} but to turn the Printing Office of the Government into a mart and [store for Kauri Gum is a stretch of petty official presumption that we consider ought to be immediately stopped.