THE MAORI BIBLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 15

THE MAORI BIBLE.

TO BE RE-PRINTED IN ENGLA)ND. (From Otjb Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 10. I* l has been decided to re-print (he Old Testament in the Maori language, and it is understood that with this object in view Archdeacon Williams will proceed to London at his own expense in Order to superintend the work. It is estimated that (he cost will be £3OOO. In connection with the proposal Mr Alex. Rutherford, at a recent meeting of “The Maori Synod ” at Otaki, made an interesting statement regarding the work of the late Mr James H. Pope, who was well known all over New Zealand as superintendent of Maori schools. Mr Rutherford referred io him as “ a real friend of the Maori people who had passed to his rest ” and added, “ before ho died he handed me a small sum of moneypart of (bo proceeds from (ho sale of a book ( ; ‘ Health of the Maori ”) he had written, asking mo to look after the money and use it as I thought, best n {preserving the purity of the Maori language.. There, is ar opportunity now. The edition of the Old Testament in Moari is out. of print, the typo broken up, and it is proposed to re-print it with corrections from the , best Maori scholars in New,- Zealand. so 1 propose to hand over -his money, which now amounts to between £SO and £6O. to the British and Foreign Bible Society as a help towards the great expense it is incurring in this matter. Before doing so T wish to get, your consent on behalf of the Maori pnork. and to s-igrrest. iha* the gift I'o made in memory of our "end old friend, the late Mr James H. Pone.” Tlie Maoris cordially and unanimously approved of the proposal.