MAORI NAMES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2088, 14 January 1908, Page 1

MAORI NAMES.

UNION S.S. COMPANY AT FAULT Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Jan. 13. It appears from a correspondent who writes to tho “New Zealand Times” that..tho Union Company has not- quite got tlie proper word or rather right meaning of tho Aiaori names for some of their recent additions to the fleet. “Kaitangata,” says this authority, literally means ‘cannibal” or to “eat human flesh” —just that and nothing more. The “Times” version “powerful man s food” is a very pleasant cuphemismn for “long pig.” Kaitangata, the coal mining district (and lake), after which the steamer was evidently called was so named by the Ala oris 1 «- cause of a cannibal least which was the sequel to Am inter-tribal battle fought. Then, as to the name Alakura, this is a combination of two words “ma” and “kura,” wnicit hardly form an equivalent lor “all aed.”’ “White and red” is a literally correct interpretation of the name. “Ala” also as a conjunction means “by way of” or “by means oi” or “for,”’ but it straining the capacity of the much abused Aiaori tongue rather too far to use “AI ikur.v” as an equivalent for “all red.” A more accurate translation of “all red” would be either “kura katoa” or “wliereo katoa.”