Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

Inangahua Times, Volume V, Issue 50, 1 July 1878, Page 2

Thero h a French lady up in Auck«« land wl.o pretends to tell the fortunes of foolish young women, and relioyoa them of choir money as her foe for sodoing. Thia lady was recently proao* cuted under the Vagrant Act for doing this, nnd duly made her appear* mice in the Auckland Police Court., Mr Purdy said tho defendant had boon in the habit of telling fortunes to em-pty-headed young women, nud froqnontly to foolish men, who wantod to divo into tho mysteries of tho future. Defendant had pretended totell tho fortunes of some of her dupes, who had crowed her hand with n pioco of silver. He did not wish to pros* the charge, but it was nocossary for her to know that ouch practices must bo stopped. Tho Magistrate cautioned and discharged tho aefcudant. It it* astonishing how mauy foolish and superstitious people exist in this ago of onlightomneut. The Maoris, too, it appears go in for " The Book of Fate," a catch penny publication that used to bo sold in the streets at Homo. Tho Auckland Star saya: — "During, last scssiou tho Maori members might frequently bo seen in out of the way parts of the Parliament buildings at Wellington engaged in the study of a mysterious M.S.S. On examination this would prove to bo • N.i;>olo »n'n Book of Fate,' which had hncn trails^ lated in Maori by nn interpreter, to the order of tho lion- Uoaui Xahe, Wo lenrn that the catch-penny book, tho authorship of which was attributed toNapoleou by some speculative mounto* bank, has taken a strong hold on tho minds of tho natives, who now propogo to havo it printed in the Maori language for general circulation. Tho plan of the book is so ingenious as to* easily deceive any ignorant and creduuI ooa pooplo liko the Maoris.! '— Eoit.