Te Pipiwharauroa 20

Te Pipiwharauroa 20

No. 20
1/10/1899

(Maori Version at NZETC)

[1] Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama

[2] Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama, Number 20, Gisborne, October 1899.

KUI! KUI! WHITIWHITIORA!

We have received many letters from friends asking the price of our paper. Friends, there is no set price, it is left to people to decide what is right. Our desire is not to make money but to inform a person, to point out to him where goodness and joy are found. We will not despise the gift of a shilling from a poor person, nor will we refuse the ten shillings, or the pound or more perhaps of the chief. But it is a wrong thing for a man to give some money, it might be one shilling, while thinking that other people will pay for a paper for him. This is the way foolish people think.

You ought to know that it costs much money to pay those who print the paper and to pay for other matters to do with the paper. If you send money, send a postal note in a letter. If your endeavours don’t amount to much neither will the singing of ‘Te Pipi’.

We are grateful for the many letters sent by friends, but we are sorry that because of the smallness of the paper we will not be able quickly to publish the letters. The Editor will not agree to publish only letters and not our reports from afar or our teaching articles. Make your letters short if you send them and about true things which appeal to people at large.

If you send us an article leave the envelope unsealed and write these letters above the stamp, ‘MSS Only’, then you can put on a penny stamp. Write your article clearly and on one side of the paper only.

We have heard vague rumours of criticism of Te Pipiwharauroa and some words of advice have been written in letters to us. Friends, we appreciate your words of counsel which show how much you value us. We know indeed that we have not yet achieved what we want to. Some say that we have too many articles about worldly things. Some say that there are too many articles about faith. The articles about everyday things have been put in to attract people to read ‘Te Pipi’, they are jam for the potatoes; they sweeten the potato that it may be eaten by weak spirits in order to strengthen them. The Maori newspaper is not like a Pakeha one which devotes itself to the things of the world. Most Maori are indifferent to articles about religion be they laymen or ministers. According to some there are too many religious articles; we have got it wrong. That’s not the case: there are more secular articles in ‘Te Pipi’ than religious ones. You would prefer that there were no religious articles, that you should be given jam only and not potatoes. Friends, let all of us understand this, ‘The most important articles in Te Pipiwharauroa are the ones concerning the faith.’ The greatest, the chiefly aspect of a man is the spiritual side. We know that the good you desire, what you wish for is only a husk, a shell. See our article called ‘The Weak Things’. There are believing people who don’t want articles about religion – a Pharisee’s faith – while the people who do not hear about the faith welcome ‘Te Pipi’. The people who wish to associate with articles about the faith are very supportive of the paper. One man sent £6. Those who don’t like religious articles sent little sustenance, some none at all. That Te Pipiwharauroa takes a stand on the faith is something we bless and I work without pay. Have you forgotten the list: spirit, body, heart and land?

That’s enough my devoted people. An instruction from your bird: do not write letters to the paper using my name; I am going now to Nelson for several months. Those two will be carving our precious object after this. [3] Farewell. Be strong. Be strong in joy, in peace, in life and in the knowledge of God. 

From your servant, 
Reweti T Mokena Kohere.

PARIHAKA

The Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa asked Heta Te Kani-a-takirau for an account of his party’s visit to Parihaka to attend the Ringatu gathering there. Altogether there were 47 in his party. Hoani Ruru was one of the elders who went to Tohu. Heta was full of praise for Parihaka’s poi dances. Six elders stood to do the poi. The cloaks were of white-eye feathers, or white, or of parrot feathers. He also praised the houses with timber floors, the dining halls and the sleeping quarters. The Tohu meeting house has two storeys with four tables upstairs and five below. Te Whiti has the large house with more than 40 rooms. The food was like that of the Pakeha. The cooks, bakers and stewards were separate. Payment was expected for the food even though we were visitors. This is something new in the world, asking visitors to pay. The roads of Parihaka were beautiful, very fine. Words of admiration were spoken for the diligence with which Te Whiti improved his pa. But those at Parihaka who really know are aware of the deficiencies of Te Whiti’s programme. On the outside Parihaka is good to look at but inside it is like a burial cave. The money which was earned by the labour of the men was used to further Te Whiti’s objectives. The money of the people at Parihaka was hidden and they returned with nothing to their wives and children. The children wept with hunger while Te Whiti sat on his throne. In the course of 11 years £7,000 from Ngati Ruanui was lost at Parihaka so that now I hear that those people are broken and they no longer go to Parihaka. One of the Wellington newspapers published an account by a Pakeha who visited Parihaka. According to what the men of Parihaka said to him their god is beer and women. We do not know the reason why the people were rendered submissive, bewitched and childlike by Te Whiti and Tohu. Perhaps it was because of ignorance. The children of that people do not go to school so their hearts are still very Maori. Heta said that according to the speeches Te Whiti and Tohu were praised by their people. According to Tohu, he is the king and the god. Christ is the Messiah of his generation. He is the Messiah of this generation. What person, if he is not weak in the head, will believe this kind of speech? The little children of this area would laugh at such statements. How men blaspheme! The right thing for Tohu, if he is the Messiah, is to consent to be crucified, to be buried for three days and to rise again. But you have to hand it to his people, they still believe and sing ‘Tohu is king and god.’ They are really children. Tohu has prophesied that in three years from now he will rule over the whole of this country (perhaps the Prime Minister will die). We prophesy, if Tohu is alive in three year’s time it will be asked, ‘Why, why were his words wrong?’ Te Whiti and Tohu know that their works are deceitful. They are careful that the eyes of their people do not see. They do not allow other voices, voices which will enlighten their people, lest their deceits be revealed. Heta said that for one whole day Te Whiti spoke to them (what did he talk about without getting bored?) but Te Whiti did not allow them to reply. Why? A thoughtful heart would have answered him.

LYING

Mr Hawkins, the judge in a case, alleged that some of the witnesses had lied. He spoke very strongly about how disgusting this sin of lying is. He said: ‘False witness has been given in a court of law. It was designed to subvert the law, however this practice was not abhorred by people. I truly wish that most people would turn away from and abhor lying, this practice of scoundrels, disgusting and abhorrent as it is at all times and especially wicked when practised in a court of law. This practice is prevalent because most people do not condemn the evil. Falsehood is the hiding place of the slave, of the cur, which makes a slave of a person.’ Maori people, does this point to us? How do we conduct ourselves in the places of judgement, in the law courts? ‘Lord, preserve my spirit from lying lips, from a dishonest tongue.’ [Psalm 120.2]

[4]

 DREYFUS

In the last edition of Te Pipiwharauroa we reported on the outcome of the second trial of Captain Dreyfus, and in the August edition we wrote a few words about this famous man. There is not a comparable story about power and love. That the supporters of Te Pipiwharauroa may better know the background to this story our story will turn to the birth of Dreyfus. The French and the Germans are still contending over the territories called Alsace and Lorraine on the borders of France and Germany.. They fought large-scale wars for these. In the last battle the French lost and now Alsace and Lorraine belong to Germany. These lands remain a cause of contention between these two peoples. On the defeat of the French the people of Alsace were asked to choose which side they wanted to be on – France or Germany. Of the four children of Dreyfus, a leading Jew, three opted for France. The last of these three was Alfred, the subject of this history.

Alfred wanted to be a soldier and by his efforts and industry he gained the knowledge of soldiering and was the first Jew to seek to be a captain in the French army. Although he was wealthy he worked hard at his studies, studying through the night. When some of his officer friends were out enjoying themselves Captain Dreyfus was studying. He had no time for drinking or playing cards and soon his friends began to despise him. One reason his friends despised him was his great wealth, another was his Jewishness. The affairs of the military academy were corruptly run; the money designated for spying was used by the officers for food. To conceal their wrongdoing, Captain Dreyfus was accused of being a German spy. In 1894 a document was found being taken to Germany which revealed the purposes and the secret workings of the French military school. That document had been written by Major Esterhazy for his own amusement. He was an influential man and so his friends were afraid to accuse him, instead they said that Captain Dreyfus had written the document. They were swift to accuse Dreyfus because Jews were very much out of favour in France at that time. Some knowing people said that only Dreyfus had written the document.

On the day of his arrest he was very sad because he dearly loved his country, she was like a lover. These are some of his words in a letter to his wife when he was arrested: ‘Alas, my beloved France, whom I love in spirit, heart and soul, why are you accusing me of this disgusting sin? God is my hope and it is not possible to suppress the truth. My fellow soldiers will see my innocence and will listen to me. They will see the innocence of my eyes, of my spirit, of my whole disposition, because they all know me. So, my dearest, do not be distressed on my account.’ However, because of the wickedness of the soldiers, the Court Martial brought down a guilty verdict upon him.

When his sentence was announced there were 10,000 soldiers watching, 100,000 people listening, and jeering at him. Four soldiers conducted him to the parade ground. When he was standing on the parade ground they left him there alone. When the one who was to proclaim his guilt came, he said: ‘Dreyfus, you are not fit to be a soldier and are now reduced to the ranks. When Dreyfus heard this he raised his hand and called out, ‘I have done nothing wrong. I swear I have done nothing wrong. Vive la France!’ The badges of rank and the medals were cut off his uniform, his sword was broken and thrown to the ground. Afterwards he was paraded around to be seen by the assembled soldiers. But he held himself upright and was not ashamed. When he was confronted with his own soldiers he said to his accusers, ‘You are imprisoning an innocent man.’ When he saw the newspaper reporters he called out, ‘Tell France I have done nothing wrong.’ But those conducting him around forced him on. People called out, ‘Be quiet! Jew! Scoundrel! Disgusting Jew!’

In the end he was taken into the court and then carried to the ship which would take him to Devil’s Island, a small island off South America. It was decreed that he should suffer on that island. Dreyfus spent four years imprisoned on Devil’s Island, he was beaten continually, suffering from the ill-will of his guards They sought to kill him and persisted in beating him. He was not given any books. He did not hear any news of home, of the world. He did not know how his wife and children were faring. When he was afflicted with fever he was handcuffed and tied to his bed. However, in his mind he knew that he was innocent and he would not succumb. [5] In the time he was living as a prisoner his feet were in irons and presently the iron pierced his flesh. While he was in this state a warship arrived sent by the government of France to fetch him to stand trial again. He left behind him the island of the Devil and the devil’s people.

When Dreyfus landed on Devil’s Island with a life sentence, no one imagined that he would return to the wide world, but, afterwards new evidence emerged. It was found that that man had been attacked and betrayed by his fellow officers. This injustice affected all the French. The great nation was divided. The person who battled most for a second trial for Dreyfus was his wife. She petitioned the government; she spoke with powerful people and to the top soldiers. An outstanding author, Zola, helped her. He wrote in the newspapers of the false accusations against Dreyfus. When this appeared he was banished from France. The strength of this led one of the leading witnesses, Prince Henry, to deny it. When the Supreme Court enquired about Dreyfus’ misdemeanour, it was revealed that that man was not guilty but that the document had been written by Major Esterhazy, and that his wrongdoing should be investigated. At this point Esterhazy fled to England. The return of Dreyfus to France was discussed.

When his warship arrived there was a storm but he was brought safely to shore, but secretly lest he be discovered by others. He was able to see his wife. His wife came to meet him. When they saw each other they talked and cried and sighed while the guards looked on. Dreyfus looked very different, he had gone grey, and he was very thin, although he was only 39. He wept when he heard of the anger of the people after he had left, and of the determination of his wife. During the four years he lived on Devil’s Island he heard nothing of the world’s news.

The second trial was held at Rennes, a small town in the far south of France. He was taken there so that there would not be many people. Dreyfus was clothed in his officer’s uniform. His badges of rank and his medals which had been cut off had been sewn back on by his wife. When he left the prison for the law courts and on his return there was a company of soldiers to guide and protect him against ambush by his enemies. He had two lawyers, Demange and Labori, two of the best French lawyers. Dreyfus fiercely maintained his innocence. If he heard a false statement, he answered it. The powerfulness of one of his lawyers, Labori, led to him being shot. The enemy were so keen to be rid of him and to steal the documents. He did not die; a doctor took out the bullet. While he was lying ill, Demange carried on the case, but after a week he was up and fighting once again against Dreyfus’ attackers. The whole world was now awaiting the favourable judgement, believing that there was nothing crooked about Dreyfus’ life, confident in the great ability of his lawyers, and reassured by the good testimonies of some of the witnesses. In his summing-up before the judgement, Demange spoke for eight and a half hours. That man’s speech was very wonderful; he used all his powers to save his friend. He called upon God to enlighten the minds of the judges and the people, that they may be established in the truth. Because his friend spoke so well Labori did not speak. Dreyfus was extremely grateful to Demange. The judges consulted for four and a half hours. Dreyfus was taken to a different room before the judgement was given. When it was declared that Dreyfus was guilty and that he should serve ten years in prison, thousands of people were distressed and Demange sobbed loudly. Labori stood and went to tell Dreyfus of his fate. That soldier entered weeping, embraced Dreyfus, and said, ‘You have been condemned again, but you are not to be returned to Devil’s Island.’ Hearing this, Dreyfus said, ‘Comfort my wife.’ He lay down in a faint.

The anger of the world flared up against France. It was believed that it was obvious that Dreyfus was innocent. England and America were most angry. The telegram from London said, ‘The heart of London is in a state of shock.’ The Times newspaper said, ‘This is a disgusting abasement of the law.’ Ministers preached about the injustice of the sentence. A Jewish Rabbi said, ‘Neither the defeat of the French by the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo not their defeat at Sedan were as shameful as this, the destruction of a man.’ The people of America set up a boycott of the great exposition, that is, the Paris Exhibition, that year. The American flag was burned. The German Emperor declared that they could not hold on to Dreyfus. Some groups in Italy and Austria tried to attack the French embassies in their countries. They were prevented by the police. The Parliaments of Australia and New Zealand sent telegrams to the wife of [6] Dreyfus saying, ‘You have our sympathy.’ The Pakeha folk of Te Aroha smeared the French flag with oil and set it alight calling out ‘God save the Queen – Groans for France.’

Here is a small prayer printed by Te Pipiwharauroa in the August edition. ‘O God, bless those who are wrongly punished.’ Because of the French government’s fear of the anger of these great powers and because they were aware of the innocence of Dreyfus, Dreyfus was released. And now, although he has been physically ravaged by sadness, he is joyful at having been returned from hell to his loving wife and treasured children. R T M K.

WEAK THINGS

(The first part of this article appeared in Number 19.)

7. A little girl (2 Kings 5.2) 

She indeed was the one who showed the way of life to the great Syrian official Naaman. A child who knows Christ is more able than a preacher who does not know him to show the way of life to the man who is being eaten up by the leprosy of sin. ‘A little child shall lead them’ Isaiah 11.6.

8. A little boy (John 6.9) 

With this boy’s five loaves and two small fish the five thousand were fed and were all satisfied. So although I have little power or little wealth with which to feed the thousands of the world, if I give that little to Christ, he will cause it to abound. If this child had not presented his food to Christ but had thought that it was for him to feed the 5000 then they would not have embraced life. Many people think that they will feed people. With what?

9. An Uneducated Man (Acts 4.13) 

The disciples of Christ were not people of status, they were only fishermen. They had not been to colleges. But it was these very men who were sent to preach the Gospel to the whole world, to overthrow the rule of Caesar. If they had been of our time these fishermen would have been laughed at and jeered at for setting out to preach the Gospel to the whole world. People would have said, ‘First go to college and when you come out you can preach to us. It is useless for a potato to preach!’ Perhaps, but they reached out to the whole world and they learned to preach. People trembled at their words. On the day of Pentecost 3000 people repented in response to one sermon by Peter and this was not the greatest sermon. Now, although 3000 sermons are delivered perhaps not one person repents. Why is this? ‘All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”’ These people had not been to colleges but they were taught by Christ. What did he teach? Prayer. There is not one instruction by Christ to his disciples about preaching. Why is this? The Apostles were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. ‘Go! (Matthew 28.19)’ But he also said soon after, ‘But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you receive power from on high (Luke 24.49)’ – that is, the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1.8). We must wait to receive ‘the power from on high’, and when that happens preaching will pierce and overturn people’s hearts. Amen. See also John 15.5, Philippians 4.13 and 1 Corinthians 1.27-29. ‘Whoever has despised the day of small things? (Zechariah 4.10)’. ‘Do not despise the little one; a little man but widely known.’

TO TE PIPIWHARAUROA

Bird, write this recitation of Scripture as an address to the flock of Christ. It is not a sermon but something uncovered from the Bible one stormy Sunday. My heart has received much enlightenment from looking at that sacred Word. A Christian will not grow if he does not feed his spirit with the words of God. ‘Desire the unadulterated milk of the word for by it you will grow. (1 Peter 2.2).’ ‘Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart.' (Jer. 15.16) I am not a minister but like those in John 5.39.

[My beloved friends, this is a great example to us, as John wrote (John 5.39). We depend on his saying that a Christian will not grow if he does not, like Jeremiah, eat the word of God. What happens to the one who eats? The good parts of our food are taken by the blood the give sustenance to every part of the person. [7] So the food of God’s word is to strengthen our spiritual being. And look closely at John 5.39 and recite his words. It is good for people in general, for families, for individuals to observe what John shows us in John 5.39. Greetings, all of you. - Te Pipiwharauroa.]

SLEEP

Those people who go to sleep in services while I am preaching to them should not be mistaken; this is what I have to say to them. In a service you shouldn’t lie wrapped in a blanket or lean on something but should sit upright. The person wrapped in a blanket is inviting sleep to come to him. There is a time for waking and a time for sleeping, a time for living and a time for dying. To sleep on some occasions is disastrous. While Samson slept his wife cut off his hair; while Saul slept David stole his spear and water-jar; while the disciples slept they entered into temptation. ‘Stay awake and pray lest you enter into temptation.’ [Matthew 26.41] This is the word of the Lord to those who are asleep in sin, ‘Arise, the one who sleeps, that is, who is dead, and Christ will enlighten you.’ [Ephesians 5.14] However sleep is a beautiful thing, a wonderful medicine. When there is frost or rain, the bed is warm and one doesn’t want to wake up. A Pakeha poet says, 

‘Something attempted, something done 
Has earned a night’s repose.’  [The Village Blacksmith - Longfellow]

Certainly a farmer knows how good sleep is. He returns wearily from work, sleeps soundly, and is woken by the song of the rooster. Solomon knew about this. He wrote: ‘Whether a little or much his food, the sleep of the labourer is sweet, but the treasures of the rich will not allow him to rest' (Eccl. 5.12) because he is always thinking of his possessions. The desire for this (for money) has led some to wander from the faith and they have been pierced by many pains. (1 Timothy 6.10) Most people say that if you have much money you will have happiness. That is not so. It comes from a spirit that has found peace with God. ‘He gives sleep to those he loves.’[Psalm 127.2]

Solomon was a man of wealth but he knew that it was not his possessions that would give him rest. Many kings in this world do not sleep sweetly because of their anxieties at all times. Henry IV of England was a great king but he was unable to sleep because of all his troubles. He sought in vain to sleep and got up in the middle of the night to address sleep:

‘Sleep, sleep! How many thousands of my poor subjects sleep at this hour! Sleep, gentle sleep, God’s kind medicine, why are you afraid of me, that you do not return to press down my eyelids and engulf my thoughts in the place of forgetfulness? Why, sleep, do you rather go to sooty beds and stretch yourself out on hard beds, beguiled to sleep by the buzzing of a fly? You leave the perfumed houses of the great, the beds spread out under canopies of gold and the song made with sweet melodies? What a trifling God, embracing the fool on loathsome beds. Why leave behind the king’s bed like a watch-case or an alarm bell? Will you rather climb up the tall mast to close the eyes of the young sailor and turn his spirit to sleep upon the surging bed of the sea, not to be aroused by anything, even the violent winds who seize the crests of the huge swirling waves, causing their large heads to bend; they are suspended there in the spray. His ears are deaf to the roar of the many voices of the sea which will not fail even ro awaken death? And can you do this, friendly sleep, beguile this drenched lad amidst the [?whakapakepake] [English Version – ‘in an hour so rude] and deny it to me, the king, even though the night is peaceful and calm, having perhaps many things to render it calm. Enough, sleep all you low-born. There will be no sound sleep for the head that wears a crown. [English Version - Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.]

King Henry IV, Part II, Act III, Scene 1.

These words were put by William Shakespeare into the mouth of the king. He was an extremely knowledgeable Englishman who has died. Think carefully about his intentions. The king was angry at sleep because it visited lowly people, soiled beds, the young sailor perhaps on the seas, whereas for him, the king, there was no thought of sleep. The final saying is a great one: ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.’

Moeau Te Karaunakore.

[8] 

THE FIGHTING IN TRANSVAAL

The English against the Boer.

In Number 19 of Te Pipiwharauroa you will find our article about this land, Transvaal, and the explanations given for the troubles that have arisen between the English and the Boers.

The Multitude of Fighters has Arisen.

On the evening of Thursday,12th of this month the news came that fighting had really broken out; the news was sent out to the four corners of this world. The Boers sent a telegram to England on the 9th day of this month. Some of the words of this telegram were as follows: ‘Let the dispute that has arisen between us be sent to a Select Committee to resolve. All the English soldiers near the Transvaal border should be quickly withdrawn. Those soldiers coming by sea should not be landed but sent back out to sea… If this request is not implemented by the 11th of this month then the Boers issue a challenge to fight to England and a war will begin.’

When the English saw the exulting character of the Boer words they set about implementing their goals. Now the fighting has begun. The other great powers wonder at the recklessness of the Boers to engage the English in war. They do not take account of the saying concerning the power of England which says: ‘The lion will eat the person who treads on his tail.’

There are almost 18,000 English soldiers in Transvaal now. General White is one of the leaders of the English side. He is a senior officer and has fought in many conflicts and has been awarded ‘The Queen’s Cross’ [The Victoria Cross]. (This is the medal given to the bravest of all the soldiers in the English army.) But General Buller is the man chosen as supreme commander by the English Government to direct this war. General Buller is a man who has wielded weapons since boyhood and he also wears on his chest ‘The Queen’s Cross’. At present he is still at sea with many of his soldiers. There will perhaps be 80,000 soldiers altogether under him.

The Preparations

All the Queen’s territories are bestirring themselves to send soldiers to the land where there is fighting, with the agreement of the Government of England. All the peoples have agreed to participate under the authority of the Queen; a reminder that all are one people, older and younger brothers, although scattered throughout the world. If there are troubles in one part the others come to help. God save the Queen!

The New Zealand Contingent.

200 New Zealand soldiers set out for Transvaal on Saturday on board the Waiwera, a large P & O Company ship. These soldiers were chosen from all the military units in New Zealand. A great many people went to Wellington, men, women and children, to see the departure of the soldiers for Transvaal. Fourteen ships accompanied the Waiwera to the Wellington Heads with bands playing, gun salutes, and flags flying. Those boats were full of people. According to some, nearly 50,000 people came to Wellington that day. There is a Maori waiata to encourage those going to fight. These are some of the words: ‘Be strong, New Zealand! Fight for the Queen, for home, for ever!’

News of the Fighting.

The Boers have taken Van Reenan Pass, one of the ways into Transvaal. Transvaal is fenced about by mountains; there are three or four ways of entering it and this way, taken by the Boers, is one of them.

Two English trains have been seized by the Boers. They were carrying guns, powder and dynamite. Some railway lines have been attacked by the Boers and the wires cut.

A German ship was sailing to Transvaal. A very fast ship. When it reached open sea it was sighted by an English man-o-war. The captain decided to follow it and observe. After some hours the man-o-war drew alongside and conducted the ship to Port Said, an Egyptian town. It was found to be carrying 4000 cases of rifles, powder, and other weapons for the conflict. These things were transferred to another ship and it was sent back to Germany, the country that had sent it.

The Boers have taken an English train. Some officers and soldiers on board were taken prisoner.

[9]

 Later News

The Vicious English Assault.

This Saturday morning, the 21st of this month, the English attacked Elands Laagte, an English town which had been taken by the Boers because no English soldiers had reached it. The battle was long and hard. From the initial engagement the English bayonets were ruthless. 160 English fell and 800 Boers, not counting the wounded on both sides.

Glencoe.

That same Saturday the Boers attacked Glencoe, an English town on the plain. The Boer army numbered 9000; the English garrison was 4000. The Boer encampment was on a hill three miles from the town. The Boers fired continuously into the town. The English would have been wiped out had it not been for the leadership of Colonel Simon. (He was the commanding officer of the Glencoe soldiers.) He gave instructions to train all the English cannons on the Boer cannons. Before long the Boer cannons were destroyed and the battery ceased. Then orders were given to charge. The shooting of the Boers was very accurate as the English ascended the hill, and the English quickly fell. Eventually the English got to the top. The Boers were brought down with bayonets. People wondered at the fall of this strong encampment. 45 English died and 200 were wounded. This was a great calamity for the Boers; nearly 1200 fell including one of their generals.

The Fall of Colonel Simon.

In the middle of the battle, as the Boer encampment began to fall, Colonel Simon, the English commanding officer, stood. He mistakenly thought that he could do so without danger. When the news of this battle reached the Queen, including the excellent direction of Colonel Simon, she gave her supreme order that Colonel Simon should be made a General. But his promotion was not to be as it became known that he was no longer alive. The Queen and all the people were very sad at the death of this great warrior. ‘How are the mighty fallen!’ (This is all the news that has reached us.)

A PRAYER FOR THE TIME OF WAR - H K Te Awarau

Almighty God, you are the King of all the rulers of the peoples, you make wars to cease in all parts of the world. We pray to you that you will soon bring to an end the fighting in the southern part of Africa. Bring about a change in the craftiness of men that your will may be done and your kingdom come; bring swiftly the time when one people will not raise up swords against another and no longer learn the arts of war. We ask you to do this, remembering the good works and the defence provided by the Prince of Peace, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

PARLIAMENT

The Board Bill is progressing rapidly with the Prime Minister pressing for it to be completed soon. It will perhaps be completed this year, or not, for the benefit or perhaps the detriment of the Maori! Because Maori are well aware of the provisions of that Bill we will not outline them. Kaihau is persevering with his Council Bill.

Some Pakeha members have voiced their opposition to the Maori members. They desire the end of voting for Maori representatives saying that there is no reason for them to be in the House. They are not paying attention or doing anything, but when it comes to matters affecting Maori such as voting on the Bill then they bestir themselves. If they vote, whatever the matter, they always vote on the Government side, except for Heke who takes an interest in all that is happening and votes as he sees fit.

These are the men standing for election this year:

Te Tai Rawhiti: Wi Pere, Mohi Te Atahikoia Taare Mete.

Te Tai Tuaraki: Hone Heke, Te Aho.

Te Tai Hauauru: Waata Hipango, Wi Ngapaki, Te Aohau Nikitini, Eruera Te Kahu, Takarangi Metekingi, Heuheu Tukino, Ropata Te Ao. King Mahuta has withdrawn his support from Kaihau and is now supporting Ngarangi.

Te Waipounamu: Tame Parata. Perhaps soon we will have more to say.

[10] 

OTHER ITEMS

The new teacher at Hurere had the idea of making artefacts for sale with the proceeds being given to the Maori Church. The initial hope was to raise just £1, after that £5, and after that £10. After the sale it was found that £25 had been raised. The Pakeha gave some items for sale and they purchased most of the things. This was a great effort.

Mrs Reweti is holding a sale at her home at Kaiti, Gisborne, with part of the money going to support the Maori ministers and part going to spread the Gospel in Melanesia. It will probably take place on 6th November. Maori people, she is eager for you to send her your artefacts if you have not done so..

We still have copies of ‘Te Tui’ and we are waiting for orders. Where are the many young people who were educated at Te Aute? We have set the price at 3d. We want these copies used.

We have heard about an eel-catching cat at Whangara! That cat is one of the crew for his owners. When he catches the eel he does not eat it but carries it to his owners as a relish for their potatoes. Truly a demon cat! Does it not bring rats and lizards to its owners? In America there is a demon horse which dives but it doesn’t catch eels. This horse has been trained since it was small. If it dives, when it rises to the surface it is given sugar as a reward.

A LETTER FROM HUKARERE

Hukarere, 
25th July, 1899.

To our brothers at Te Aute. 

Boys, greetings, and blessings from our Father in heaven. We indeed received your letter but were hesitant about replying. We are very grateful for your thoughts which you set down for us. We realize how important it is to you that we should unite in seeking means for the welfare of our people, the Maori. We agree that we should work together to raise up the remnant of our people, we who have learned the good things of the Pakeha. We see that this is an immense task that has been set before us as we return to our homes. However, although we are weak let us set about the work, looking to the one who empowers and who said, ‘my strength is made perfect in weakness’. [2 Corinthians 12.9] Farewell, boys. May our Father help and strengthen us for this work. 

From your sisters at Hukarere. 

M A Gage and 52 other signatories.

A LETTER

To Were Mati. 

Greetings, friend. The shilling you sent as a wing to fly me to you has not arrived. How did you send it? 

Te Pipwharauroa.

THE PRICE OF WOOL

Wool is fetching a very high price at present. This is the first time we have reached this price over the past 20 years. In December 1898 the return for each type of wool was as follows:

Good cross-breed – 8½d.

Poor cross-breed - 5¾d.

Merino – 8d.

The current amount received for each type of wool is:

Good cross-breed – 11d.

Poor cross-breed - 6½d.

Merino – 12d. 

(The above prices are for 1lb.)

These prices are those received at the final sale in London. We have put this information in our paper at the request of the supporters of Te Pipiwharauroa. We know this will be very good news for sheep farmers. 

H K Te Awarau.

[11] 

THE PRESENT

It is said that when a corpse was placed in the coffin in the presence of Haare Tawha, one of the first Maori clergy, he would stand and say to that corpse, ‘Sir, when you are placed in the wooden box, do you come to me? When I rang my bell you did not come. Are you listening?’ It is not for me to commend Haare Tawha’s practice but to point out what this saying teaches us. Many people work towards hell during their lives, then, when they near death, have a great desire to climb to heaven. This is a despicable practice, a deceitful thing. Friends, don’t wait until you are on your deathbed to turn to God, but do so now, while the body is strong and one is determined to do our Saviour’s work. It cannot be known if our repentance is sincere if we are dying and perhaps terrified of death. I heard of a man who said that he repented when he felt death was near, but then he did not die but got well, and when he recovered he forgot his repentance, and went back to his old habits. Because of his fear of death he pretended to repent. There is a Pakeha saying: ‘Leave not for tomorrow what you can do today.’ The sacred Word says: ‘Behold, now is the desirable time; see, now is the day of salvation.’ [2 Corinthians 6.2] The present! Don’t delay lest you delay for ever! 

Te Awangawanga

SHIPWRECKS

The Waikato sailed from England to New Zealand. On 5th June, nearing Capetown, Africa, the propeller broke. The steamer drifted for 4450 miles. Four sailing ships sighted her. One tried to tow her without success. A steamer, the Asloun succeeded. It was a real battle for that steamer as it was much smaller than the Waikato. It towed the Waikato for more than 2000 miles. The tow-rope broke twice. On one occasion when it broke it was almost two days before the ships made contact. On 8th October the ships arrived at Western Australia. Although the ocean is so vast the lost steamer was found. The owners of the Asloun demanded £50,000 for their ship!

It was believed that the Envy had perished, a small vessel which sailed from Wellington to Auckland. Off East Cape (Waiapu) a storm sprang up and the ship was tossed back and forth like a pipi shell. Beyond Moehau with the wind battering the bulwarks and the deckhouse, the captain thought that they would not survive. Then a note was put into a bottle which was thrown into the sea. This is the message in the bottle which came to land at Moehau: ‘The wind is bad. We are afraid we may be driven onto land. We are perhaps 30 miles from Moehau. We are battling against the north wind. Only He can save us. Our trust is in the Lord Jesus. The bulwarks and the deckhouse have been destroyed. Captain Champion.’ When this note was discovered everyone said that the Envy had perished, but, one week later that brave little warrior came into Auckland, having returned from beyond Te Rerenga Wairua. It survived because bags of oil were attached to the sides to calm the sea. The captain’s prayer was answered: ‘We trust in the Lord Jesus.’

IN MEMORY

There was great sorrow her in Turanga on the part of both Pakeha and Maori at the death of Wutupaina Honehana (Mr Woodbine Johnson) on 10th of this month. He was a leading figure in Gisborne. He married a chiefly Maori woman, Meri, a granddaughter of Te Whata on the Te Wairoa side and Tawheo on her Turanga side. He was the son of a Church of England minister in England. He had four children; three were present to grieve for their father. Johnson’s death was sudden, hence the great grief felt for him and for those he has left behind. He was a man with a loving and kindly spirit towards Pakeha and Maori. When he slaughtered a cattle-beast he would send much food to those Maori in difficulty. He was generous in all he did, a support and a father to the Maori of his district. When he was carried from Muriwai to the grave at Turanga very many Maori and Pakeha followed his coffin. When they came to a settlement the Maori would get greenery and begin to lament. A Maori woman covered the coffin with a korowai cloak. Farewell, Sir! Leave your family in the care of the God of the orphan and the sorrowful, to ‘the God of every consolation’. [Romans 15.5] We who live are in the midst of death. 

Roimata.

[12] 

A VERY REMARKABLE MACHINE

A lady came from Melbourne to Gisborne to advocate the ending of the sale of liquor. Her name is Mrs Harrison Lee. Many people went to hear that lady and were also full of praise for her. She spoke well, what she said was right, her speeches were entertaining, her objective was beautiful, and we were sorry when she left. We will not write at length about what that warrior said but we do compliment and thank her. But let us speak about one of her illustrations. Two white Americans met, one from the North and one from the South. The one from the North boasted about their amazing machine. If a live pig was put into one end of the machine sausages would come out the other end. Whereupon one of those Pakeha said, ‘Is that all there is to your wonderful machine? It is not a patch on ours. With our machine, if you put sausages in at one end a live pig comes out the other, and if the sausage is bad you are able to restore the pig to life.’ The first machine set up by the Government was public houses for selling liquor, and they were licensed by the Government. It was fine for a young person when it was something which gave him pleasure. He went alive into the public house, but when he came out he had fallen, he was in a bad way, he had become a sausage. Then he was picked up by the Government’s policeman and stuffed into the second machine, the gaol, in order to restore him to life, to restore him to what he was before. But the second machine had no power to restore him. The drunkard emerged from the gaol, got drunk, returned again and remained a sausage. What should be done? Close down the first machine, the sausage machine. That is, shut down the public houses. The Pakeha have been given the power to shut or open liquor outlets. Our cry to the Pakeha is that these houses of temptation should be hidden from people. At the Te Aute hui held at Taumata-o-Mihi, the elders of Ngati Porou stood and spoke of their distress over liquor outlets: while they stand before people’s eyes a person is powerless to fight the temptations they offer. We know well enough that if there is no liquor outlet then the children will not learn to drink beer. You half-castes, demand that your names be registered so that you are able to vote on the matter of liquor. On polling day two tickets are given to a person, a ticket for voting for a member and a ticket for voting about liquor. In the vote to do away with liquor, strike out with the pen the first line only. These are the lines:

I vote that the number of licenses existing in the district continue.

I vote that the number of licenses existing in the district be reduced.

I vote that no licenses be granted.

Be very clear that only the first line is to be struck out, i.e., I vote that the number of licenses existing in the district continue. If most people strike out the first line then the public houses will continue but the sale of liquor will cease. People, this way is life! Be strong in driving away this offensive drink, this murderous drink, this drink that makes men mad, that leads to poverty, that beguiles children, that plunges the spirits of thousands into darkness. Although a person may drink we say that he will agree to vote to end the liquor trade.

[A HYMN]

Beer is made in order to make money 
and it is taxed 
and there is no satisfaction in swallowing it. 
Alas! The evil of beer! 
Alas! The fermenting! 
Alas! How Satan uses this liquid to entice! 
Alas! Pursuing that wrong road leads to death!  

Te Ngakau-pouri.

CANNIBALISM

When a certain ship was wrecked, four of the people got on a raft they had constructed. They sailed a vast distance. They suffered hunger and thirst. Then they cast lots as to which of them to kill. When the lot fell on one of them he was killed for food and his blood was drunk by his friends as water! How terrible is cannibalism.

SEEDS FOR OUR BIRD

6/6 Roka Ruka; 5/- Iharaira Meihana, Rev. Hone Papahia, Rapata Paraire, Wi Tako; 4/- Winiata Te Hata; 2/6 Rev. Reihana Ngatote; Hare Heterewika, Potene Tuhiwai, Wi Tupaea, H Pahau; 2/- Wiremu Hunia, Maihi Ngaki, Herewini Te Toko’ Iehu Ngawaka; 1/- Ruka Huru, Hohepa Wahangu, Eriha Waata, Heta Rawiri, J Hardiman, Tare Kemara.

PRINTED BY H W WILLIAMS, TE RAU PRESS, GISBORNE