MAORI WORD FOR GOLD
TO THE EDITOR OF THR PRESS, Sir, —In the, article by your contributor, “Kaumatua,” published in “The Press” of September 17, “Who First Found Gold,” the statement is made that the Maori name for gold is “whiro.” I should be pleased if “Kaumatua” would give some substantial authority for his assertion that the Maori name for gold is “whiro.” I know that some Maori words have several meanings; the word “.whiro”
is one of them, but there is no such meaning as “gold.” The meanings of "whiro,” as far as my limited knowledge serves me, is; I, Lean unproductive, poor soli. 11, Evil, bad. 111, Malevolent Atua. IV, Tile moon on the first day. V, Sweep away. Trusting “Kaumatua” will enlighten us as to where he obtained the authority that the word “whiro” means “gold.”—Yours, etc., TAITAMAIKI. September 19, 1938.
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Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 24
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144MAORI WORD FOR GOLD Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 24
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