THE MAORI BIBLE.

Shannon News, 5 February 1924, Page 4

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 Alex J, Rutherford, at a reoeut meeting of the Maori Synod at Otaki, made an interesting statement re-, garding the work of the late Mr James B. Pope, well known all over New Zealand as superintendent of Maori schools. Mjr Rutherford referred to i 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 the sale of a book he had written (‘Health of the Maori’), asking me to look after the money’ and usq 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 broken, up. and it is proposed to reprint it, with corrections from the best Maori scholars in Ney Zealand. So I propose to hand over the money which now amounts to between £SO and £6O, to the British and Foreign Bible Society, as a help towards the great expense they arc incurring in this matter. Before doing so, I wish to get your consent on behalf of Iho Maori people, and 1o suggest that the gift-be. made in memory of our good old friend, (the .Hate Mr damps If. POipe.” The Maoris cordially and •unanimously appiroyedl oT ljhe( proposal, y •‘i ?! Iffl