RARE MAORI BOOK.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19014, 3 August 1933, Page 3

RARE MAORI BOOK.

WANGANUI SCHOLAR’S OOPY. AN ADVOCACY OF PEACE, A recent paragraph from New Plymouth stated that a rare book, written by the Rev. John Whitely in 1847, and entitled “He Rongo Mau, He Rongo Mau, Ka Pai Kia Mau te Rongo ” (Peace, Pea'ce, let Peace and goodwill be upheld) was considered to be the only cbpy in existence. Wellington Dominion representative saw a copy In Wellington last week, the property of Mr. A. McDonnell, the well-known Maori scholar. Mr. M'cDonnell said the little book of less than 50 ‘pages is written in most classical Maori. He supplied a translation of the first few pages, which runs thus: “ Friends, Maori Chiefs, Oh, all ye clans you. All North, South, Central of each sea coast, and of all the mainland, attention. Listen you all of each and every church and creed. Attend all of you and read my book and poner over my words. It is not a Book of Prayer, but a book of Love and Peace, and Goodwill that warfare should be abolished.”

Mr Whitely sets out the four matters to be considered:—(l) The causes of warfare; (2) the evils of war; (3) the principles of ending wars; (4) the advantages of peace. Mr. Whitley' was stationed for many years at Kawhia and Waikato, and it is considered that his influence was responsible for the liberating of some of Ngatiawa people and their safe return to Taranaki.

The native logic of the Maori is aptly illustrated by this tale: One Sunday in a Maori village a missionary preached a sermon entitled “War.” At its conclusion. Hone Heka courteously recommended the missionary to go and deliver the same sermon in the British camp, as it was more applicable there than for the Maori people. As a proof of the sincerity of his wishes for peace, lie told the missionary' that had released Lieutenant Philpotts uninjured.