THE MAORI BIBLE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4663, 18 February 1924, Page 1

THE MAORI BIBLE.

TO BE REPRINTED IN ENGLAND. It has been decided to reprint the 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 the cost will be ,£3OOO. In connection with the proposal, Mr. Alec J. 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, well known all over New Zealand as superintendent of Maori schools. Mr. Rutherford referred to him as “ a real friend of the Maori people ; who had passed to his rest,” and added : “ Before he died he handed me a small sum of money, parts of the proceeds from a book he had written 0 Health of the Maori’), asking me td look after the money and use it as I thought best in preserving the purity of the Maori language. There is an opportunity now. The edition of the Old Testament in Maori is out of' print, the type bfok'en up, and it, is proposed to reprint it, with corrections from the best Maori scholars in New Zealand. So I propose to hand over the money which nbw amounts to between £5O and’£6o, to the British ahd foreign Bible'Society, as a help towards the great expense tney are incurring in this matter. Before doing so, I wish to get your consent on behalf of the Maori people, and to suggest that the gift be made in memory of our good old friend, the late Mr. James H. Pope.” The Maoris cordially and unaminously approved of the proposal.