HONOLULU GETS ANNOYED WITH N.Z. PUBLICITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18381, 6 February 1928, Page 8

HONOLULU GETS ANNOYED WITH N.Z. PUBLICITY.

DIFFERENCE OVER TITLE OF PACIFIC “PARADISE.” (Special to the “ Star. ” ) WELLINGTON, February 4. An amusing attack upon the New Zealand Government publicity work iff contained in a copy of the “ Honolulu Advertiser,” which has just reached the Dominion. The outburst is provoked by “ New Zealand, the Paradise of the Pacific,” a booklet which the Publicity Service has recently issued, and the dispute centres about the word “ Parar dise.” “ It is somewhat of a shock to discover this attempt in one fell swoop to rob Hawaii of a most appropriate name for her heavenly' attributes.” says the “ Honolulu Advertiser.” “We have been at some trouble to look up the reports and records bearing on the exclusive right of Hawaii to the phrase. The earliest use in print we could find appeared in an article in the 4 New York Observer,’ of March 19, 1872. In 4 A Trip to Hawaii,’ William R. Bliss refers to Hawaii as a 4 Paradise of the Pacific.’ In 1887 the 4 Paradise of the Pacific ’ magazine was founded. Perhaps, if the letters of the first missionaries to friends at home could be searched, the phrase by which these islands have come to be known the world around would be found employ*cd in describing the natural heavenly climate and the beauties thereof in the quaint language of that day. 44 New Zealand can profit little by the use of this phrase. Whatever right it may claim to it as having been casually used to describe that country Hawaii long ago had it stamped on its character and individuality'. As well try to filch 4 Aloha ’ from us as ‘ The Paradise of the Pacific.* It is a title which no other spot on earth can fill to completeness.” It is of interest that the first use of the phrase in New Zealand was in a publication issued in connection with immigration to the country as far back as 1869.