CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1569, 28 December 1883, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor; Friend,—Salutations to you. I have been a letter iu your newspaper signed 'Maori,", bui as there was no mail from Pahiatua, between the time that I wrote and that letter appearing in your paper, I make a guess who the writer is who is trying to what the European calls" bluff" we. Please tell him his name is Huruhuru Potete, and I know him well. Well then,:fluruliuru Potate asks me to give him the, literal translations of the names Fabiatua and what he spoils "Tutaekra," and he says l am not ?n educated Maori, If an European interpreter is asked to explain Maori, he ii sure to ask for a fee. I therefore say '■ Oti roe whenel koia an me ta kihikihi o papaki noa iho ana J" and leave Pahiatua to find out what that means. I will now tell you what the word Pahiatua moans. There is an old legend of my people which says that an itinerant fairy called a Birio was in the habit of frequenting that spot, and amused himself by interfering with the good luck of parties of men who were out eel-fishing, or oa a pis?" hunting expedition. If, In:his travels over the plain or through the forest he chanced to 'come aoross parties so engaged, lie would call out,at the top of his voice, " Kati ra mahie !' Haere e hokie 1" The meaning of this iB" cease your pursuits (of eel fishing or pig hunting), will yoa?" "Be off with you, do you hear?" If no heed was paid'to his authoratative ; Buggeation,' -he' Would then, uttor an. incantation, which would have' the immediate effect of preventing the eels from entering the eel weirs, and the pigs from coming near the locality until the hauling party had aupewed. The meaning of (he words

therefore, isthe occasional halting place of the fairy." My friend, who has undertaken to act for the real "Pahiatua" who wrote first has in his letter displayed gavo.him oredit for whV hfmTke^suoh a sorry attempt to correct my spelling of Tutaekara -—and for his information I fflau to. tell him-that there is not in the Maofj angnage any such combination as traniiiuior of, the meaning of t)le latter name. Well, I must decline to do this, but if he will send me his address I will send him a note of the ingredients of a meal which will, if he partakes freely of it, 'make him have such an intimate personal knowledge of its meaning as will last him for the rest of liia natural'life. lam&c., i'i < > h.'i Maow.