ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 680, 20 October 1852, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the New Zeataxder. Sir, — Youv correspondent A. B. in Saturday's number, labours under a mistake when hechaiges the Missionaries \\ itli delinquency in not giving the whole Word of God to the native race in their own language. As the accusation is one of a serious nature, I think it vight to make a few remarks in vindication of their labours. Firstly, I would observe that in the early history of this Mi&sion, its agents were unsettled and even in danger of life for a number of yoirs, from the wild customs' and habits of the the natives, and a protracted warfare between their various tribes. But as soon as the Missionaries could, with any degree of safety, enter upon their duties, they undertook the necessary and laborious task of rendering to writing a crude, oral language of of several dialects ; and they performed this work on principles which have stood the test of criticism, conferring a great boon on the country at largo. Secondly, the translation of the New Testament engaged next their primary attention. In the year 1837, a beautiful edition was carried through the Mission Press, by the Missionaries themselves. Besides this, they published a number of elementary, religious, and historical books in the Maori language, which have been the means of bringing the great bulk of the native race to read and wrUe, and of diffusing among them much useful and saiutaiy knowledge. Thirdly, the translation of the Old Testament was never neglected. Portion-) of Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy appeared in print in 1840. These portions were considerably enlarged, together with some of the most interesting chapters from the Prophets, during the years 1844, and 45. Soon after, a more complete tionslation of the Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua was forwarded to the British and Foi'eign Bible Society, by whose liberality 5,000 copies were printed in the year 1848 for the use of the natives of New Zealand. These copies, in addition to morfj than 50,000 Maori New Testaments, have been circulated among the native converts or used in their Schools ; a small portion only remaining on hand. Fourthly, the Maori New Testament, the Psalms, and the Book of Common Prayer have been carefully revised, and a new edition stereotyped is now expected from home. * Fifthly, The remaining portions of the Old Testament have received the careful and anxious attention of the Missionaries ; their hands have not been idle, nor has the Press been standing still. Little more than the minor Prophets are wanting, I believe, to render the Bible in Maori complete, as far as translation from the original text is concerned. The protraction and difficulties arising from printing in a colony circumstanced and situated like this cannot be fairly charged on the Missionaries of New Zealand. Sixthly, the "Word of God requires a true and faithful translation, which, considering the poverty of language at the transla'o 's disposal, must naturally occupy a considerable time. By the way, has your Cone^pondent ever heard of the loss which a Missionary at Waikato sustained from the destruction by fire of valuable manuscript \ He might have borne this in mind when he brought his charge of delinquency against the Missionaries. Furthermore, is your Correspondent aware of the peculiar difficulty attending the Press from the nature of the Maori language^ when an omission, or addition, or substitution -of one single letter by a mistake of the printer, j not only alters the sense of a whole passage, but often endangers the doctrine of Scripture itself to a very great extent I In short, does your Corresdondent know that to make a faithful translation of the Bible is, in fact, forming the standard and genius of a language for the nation? And has he ever calculated the time it occupied the translators of the English Bible before they produced a true and faithful version for the public use ! I trust that A. 8., when he considers these points, and many others which may easily suggest themselves to his mind, will from a sense of justice withdraw his imputation of neglect against the Missionaries of the colony. — I am, &c, G. A. Kisslixg. Auckland, Oct. 18th, 1852.