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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5157, 2 October 1877, Page 2

Now that the no confidence motion has found a place among the other effete efforts of the Opposition to oust the present Ministry, it is amusing to reflect upon the shallow arguments brought forward against the publication of the “ Waka Maori.” In no single instance are we aware of any fault having been found with the leading matter that has appeared in the columns of that paper. It is true that Mr. Stout caused a little momentary mirtli by reading a brief extract about a lusus natures on the Oineo station, which appeared in that paper, and quoted it for the purpose of showing the House the useless matter therein published. Would not the hon. member for Dunedin City have acted more ingenuously had he also stated the fact that the paragraph referred to had. appeared, in many of the Australian papers? Mr. Murray was still weaker in his arguments against the paper. , With a presumption only paramount to the crass ignorance displayed by that hon. member, he proceeded, aftortalkingforsometimeuponthe subject, of which he knew but little, to criticise the Maori map issued by the “ Waka Maori.” He laughed at the manner in which the names of the Eastern places appeared upon that map, and seemed to think that every map should be a fac simile of those seen in common schools. The hon. member’s knowledge of geography is perhaps no more extensive than his acquaintance with Maori. ' The best map of the war, issued by the “ Illustrated London News,” was taken from a German source, and that paper stated'' at the time that the spelling of the names of the different places was so different to the usual form that it would puzzle an English reader. The names wore spelled phonetically, and this is precisely what the “Waka Maori ” did ; yet because the “ Waka Maori” does what the “Illustrated London News” has done the “ Waka Maori” sins. How worthy

is such an argument of the hon. member who advanced it. Again, that hon. member explained with glowing pride how thoroughly pleased the Waikato natives were with the “ Wananga ” instead of the “Waka.” Mr. Murray could not have brought forward a more damaging argument to the cause he was futilely endeavoring to support. The Waikatos were pleased because the paper suited their views. But Mr. Murray did not, fortunately for the House, indict upon his hearers his explanation of the opinions held by the Waikato natives. What would please the Waikato natives wo know too well to our cost is to lock up the Waikato country, get back the lands confiscated, and drive the pakeha into the sea. And yet Mr. Murray says the Waikatos like the “ Wananga.” m