MAORI HISTORY. An Indecent Book Published by the Government (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 217, 27 August 1887, Page 1

MAORI HISTORY. An Indecent Book Published by the Government (BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION. )

Wellinktox, August- 22. The first volume of the work entitled **' Ancient History of the Maori," written •by Mr John White, has just been issued from the Government printing office. It .purports to be authorised by a former Government, and to give the traditions and ■legends of the Maori race, which it does in such a manner that one of the local paper**, ■reviewing the work, is led to remark : " The .presence of what polite society calls ' broad" language may to some extent bo excusable in such a history in, older to convey to the .reader the ideas of the people treated ■of, but the presence of whole pages containing indecent allusions is assuredly without excuse, and certainly renders the volume before us unsuitable for general perusal. When we read the legend of the creation of woman in language which is positively disgusting we shudder when we reflect that the author, who makes the New Zealander speak for himself, lias promised that the shall give us the meaning of the names of mountains, livers, and headlands." The book was only issued this week, and it is understand that the Government, on learning the objectionable language of the letterpress, has already suppressed the publication, at ary rate, till it shall have been expurgated.