Te Pipiwharauroa 31

Te Pipiwharauroa 31

No. 31

1900/09/01

(Maori Version at NZETC)

[1] Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama, Number 31, Gisborne, September 1900

TE PIPIWHARAUROA

A few words of explanation from us to the supporters of our bird. An elder has written to us requesting us to publish the articles he sent and telling us of the anger of some elders from his area because articles they have sent have not been printed. See Rule 4 of Te Pipiwharauroa. We are not able to print all the articles sent to us by Maori friends. Most of those articles sent to fill up the paper are not of interest to people at large. If they were to be printed by us we would not be able to print overseas news or other articles which we want people to read.
People should understand that though they think their articles are important, perhaps they are not important to people at large. The man who wrote the critical letter to us said that obituaries to the dead should not be published, but the same man wrote about the death of a Pakeha who kept a pub and of his grief for that Pakeha! We publish articles we approve of and we are grateful to those who have written their thoughts – we really appreciate them. Keep your articles short, go straight to the point and don’t wander. People, be patient with the blemishes of our bird.

We have received a letter telling us that some people had not received the paper. This is not our fault only. We suspect that some people have taken others’ papers. Tell the Postmaster to hold onto your papers, or perhaps make one honest person responsible for collecting all the papers.

The red wrappings are not to scare a person but to remind him to send his seeds to feed our bird. It is said that the moa’s food was wind – he has vanished from the face of the earth! People, Te Pipiwharauroa will vanish like the moa if it eats wind, but if it eats the shining fruit of the supplejack its appetite will be undiminished. The diligence of people in feeding our bird will ensure that it spreads many more of its wings and its cry will penetrate our ears. If no sustenance is sent after two editions of the paper have been sent with red wrapping, no more will be sent. We will know then that that person no longer wishes to receive the paper.

IS THIS TRUE?

This strange story comes from Christchurch. Doctor Clayton received a typewritten letter. It was sent by a man who did not sign his name and requested that the doctor give poison to a sick woman who was to come to him. Should the woman die the doctor would receive £200. The second letter urged him on. The third letter was to say to the doctor that Mrs S- was better, and that he should not give her medicine to hasten her death. From this the doctor knew that Mrs Styche was the woman sent to him to be killed. He reported this to the head of police. The woman’s husband was the one arrested. It was found that the type of the machine in that man’s office was identical to that in the letters to the doctor even though he had damaged the machine; he said it had fallen. The woman was very fond of her husband and when he was arrested she pleaded to be taken to prison with him. Now that woman seems to be deranged because of her shock. The Supreme Court will try this case to determine the rights and wrongs. If it is the case that this man wished to kill his wife, one doesn’t have to look far for a motive- another woman had entered his thoughts

[2] 

A GATHERING OF EAGLES

Apirana T Ngata MA LLB.

So we have heard news of the fighting being blown to us from China and of the thunder pounding all parts of the world. The war of the English against the Boers is a major war from one viewpoint, not because of the bravery on the part of many, nor for the benefits England will gain from its confiscations, but for the arousal of the heart of England and her children who rapidly came together as a united family to take up as one her status and her objectives.

But this war which has arisen in China is greater with its flames reaching out to every people on earth.

I think of the words of Scripture where it says, ‘Where the bodies lie, there will the eagles gather.’ The heart says that China is the corpse and the great powers which have gathered to look upon the dead and to kill the Chinese are like eagles. To see that this designation is so right one only has to look at the emblems of the great powers of the world. The eagle is the symbol of the French, as also of the Germans, the Russians, the Americans and the Austrians. Concerning the corpse: China is the veritable corpse amongst the nations having been asleep for nearly 700 years. How it goes about enforcing the law, and attitudes to the body, the land, and religion were settled in that time and nothing has been changed right up to the time when the peoples of Europe, the Pakeha, entered its borders. The great powers of Europe, of the West, sought to change Chinese practices which have been entrenched for countless generations, the practices taken up by four hundred and fifty million (450,000,000) of the one nation and religion. One faith met another when preachers of the Gospel from every Church and nation, man and women, came to China. They were different in the way their churches did things but they were united in their desire that the Chinese should see the light and the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of the preachers of the Gospel were ill-treated, ridiculed and killed. Many of the saints, with persevering hearts, gave their bodies as a sacrifice, to lie to fertilize the riverbanks of China, so that in time to come the true faith may grow, when God chooses to soften the hearts of the people living in darkness.

One way of governing came into contact with another, one legal system with another, one way of making money with another, and other worthwhile practices of the nations: they came together and they clashed. The nations of the West said, ‘Build railways, ships, warships, armies, guns, so that you will be like the Europeans. Turn to selling your treasures to those nations that want them and you will get good things from abroad. Look at how the world is now, in which the nations seek to be at one, with cables carrying messages across the seas and over the face of the earth, like a belt around the world; railways stretch over the hills and plains, ships cross the oceans, bringing together people’s ways so that people seek to have one law and to live with one purpose.’

It is true that one does not throw out the net when a bird is watching. The principles which enhance the lives of the nations lie awkwardly together. The Chinese are astute and recognise when expressions of goodwill towards them are seasoned with avarice and envy. The nations’ greedy actions are reasons for their reluctance. The nations demanded that the rivers and towns along the coast be opened up to shipping and traders, and the prospect of fighting led them to be opened. Now the Chinese learned as they went of the value of the West’s ways, of the desirability of making money under the shelter of European laws, and so began their dispersion as they went quickly to foreign lands. How did the nations respond? They closed the roads to those lands and said that were the Chinese to pay a large sum of money to the governments of the nations they would then be able to land in their lands. The main reason was fear and disdain; fear, because they knew what the Chinese are like, a hard-working people who can achieve things that the Europeans cannot, spending little and eating little to satisfy the wishes of their bodies, and if they are in competition with European labour then the latter will not survive. The Chinese are easy-going as to the rewards they will be given and they are not disgusted by dirt and other things unpalatable to the Europeans. There is a patronising attitude, a disdain for the dirtiness of the Chinese and for the difference [3] of their building. We the Maori are quite ignorant when compared to the Chinese, but as far as the Pakeha are concerned we are much superior and not abhorred or disdained. The Europeans are spoken of as ‘white’ people and the Chinese as ‘yellow’. When compared in this way it is clear to me that friends when they use such words are showing that the white is afraid of the yellow. When white is painted over yellow the yellow is seen to be stronger. If yellow is painted over white then the white disappears. Now red is said to be the symbol of these Europeans.. If you mix red and yellow you get a dirty brown colour. Likewise, according to some knowledgeable Europeans, if these 450,000,000 people bestir themselves and take up the practices and the weapons of the European peoples the world will be turned upside down. No land would be safe from the invading countless multitude. Food, people and land would be extinguished.

Let’s turn now to the greed of the nations. Russia disputed the ownership of the land in the far north of China and seized it. Japan fought against China in 1894-5 and, had not Russia and France bestirred themselves, would have taken part of China by conquest. The French, Germans and English pinched off areas on the coast of China as bases for themselves, close enough to trade with the Chinese. England has annexed land in the south of that country against the time when the boundaries of the Sovereign Territory of China will be defined amongst the European nations. If the Chinese Government demands money from the European nations it will be given [?whao – put into, fill, or whaaoo – take greedily] to enhance their standing, (they have great wealth), in order that they may have power over the Chinese Government. This came about through the avarice, the envy and the ill-will of the nations towards them.

This is the place of which it was said at the beginning of this article that the war was greater than that of the Boers and the English. But let me narrow down what I said so that it may be comprehended by readers of future editions. This new war is a major one, for the following reasons:

(a) It is a veritable struggle between two great ways: there is the Western way which wants the peoples of the world in future to travel on the same way, a good way which has as its foundation the Christian faith, and the way of the Chinese who seek to be left asleep in the ways of their ancestors. Should the world behave in this way it would be like swampy water which stagnates because no fresh water flows in and no water flows out to the outside world.

(b) All the great nations of the world have gathered together to uphold their principles, and when they are fighting the Chinese they maintain this unity.

(c) Perhaps the greedy and envious heart will get its reward afterwards. When the corpse is stretched out on the ground it will be torn apart by the eagles, each after what it can get for itself. They will not strike or chew on or turn to lacerating themselves. Who is the outsider amongst the stealthy birds of the air or the voracious dogs of the desert? We will in time think about these things. If the great nations of the world turn to fighting each other what will become of the world?

It is for our Maori papers to give full accounts of the stories and the investigations into this war. If I were one of the Maori prophets of the recent past I would raise my voice and make some gratuitous statements to amaze the country. Sadly, my friend, the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa, will not allow the people of this country to be deceived. I think that these good announcements will be wasted and will die inside me. Waikato says, ‘Wonderful! Yes, let that happen!’

A NOTICE

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa. 

Friend, greetings!

Here are a few words which I send to be inserted into the wings of our bird to be taken to friends, brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren. On 16th of this month a meeting was held to discuss holding a Christmas Celebration at Kuri-a-Tuatai this December. It was the idea of the Poho-a-Materoa meeting house at Kuri-a-Tuatai, and that meeting approved the idea. Invitations will be sent out in the coming months. Enough, 

Noa Whakatere, 
Hapi Kiniha. 
Gisborne 
August.

[4] 

 ETERNAL LIFE (Part III)

‘Let our hearing, our speaking, our thinking be right, and learn those words.’

I What is eternal life? It is to know God and also Jesus Christ (John 17.3).

II When can a person have eternal life? Now. The very time a person puts his faith in Jesus Christ he passes from death to life. (John 5.24 See Number 28)

III How does a person get eternal life? Only by faith. This answer is strongly supported by Scripture.

IV What is faith? It is one person relying on another. Faith is not something that depends on seeking or working; it is a matter of the heart, it cannot be seen, it has no body.

V What kind of faith saves a person? ‘It is assenting that Christ is Saviour and putting one’s trust in him.’ Putting one’s trust in Christ is like trusting a person; the difference for those believing is that one is a man and the other God, one is powerless, the other is powerful. (Romans 10.10. See Number 28)

VI What happens if a person does not choose eternal life? People have thought of many ways of getting to the city of eternal life, but God has arranged for only one way, Christ. ‘I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father without me.’ (John 14.6) ‘There is a way that appears right to a man, but the end of that road is death.’ (Proverbs 14.12)

(1) A man is not saved by his own goodness. All a man’s good is contaminated by sin. There is not one righteous man, not even one. (Romans 3.10-12,23) A person’s wickedness is far greater than his good deeds and all his righteousness doings are offensive in the sight of God. ‘But all of us are like something unclean and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.’ (Isaiah 64.6) If it were by a person’s righteous deeds that he was saved, then salvation would not be the same for all people because not all people are equally upright; some are better than others and some are very good. So perhaps salvation would be shorter for those who were not very good and salvation would last very much longer for those who were very good, but at the end when all the goodness was used up they would be thrown into hell. The wedding garments are not from the guests themselves but are given by the master of the wedding. However the goodness that covers us, that strengthens us to stand in the presence of Jehovah, is the righteousness of Christ through his death for sinners. ‘He who did not know sin (that is, Christ) was made sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.’ (2 Corinthians 5.21) ‘The righteous for the unrighteous ….’ (1 Peter 3.18) If all a person’s sins and also all his good deeds were to be weighed in balances, then the end of the balance holding his sins would go down like stone into the sea, but it would be brought up again by Christ sitting in balance at the end where the good things were. Friend, don’t boast that your own good deeds will save you, do not be [?taupapahake - ?shallow].

(2) A person is not saved by his works. ‘Not by works, lest a person should boast, (but by faith alone).’ (Ephesians 2.8-9) If it were by works that a person is saved then perhaps on arrival in heaven he would boast, saying, ‘Was it not because I did this and that that I am now in heaven?’ See Romans 4.4,5; 2 Timothy 1.9; Titus 3.5.

(3) A person is not saved by keeping the laws because not a single person in this world is able to keep all the laws of God. ‘If a person keeps all the laws of God and breaks just one of them, then he has failed in all.’ (James 2.10 See Galatians 3.10-13) Let not a person deceive himself in his heart that he can keep the law in the way God has laid down. However Christ has kept the law for those who believe in him; he was cursed by the law for us (Galatians 3.13 See Romans 10.4). In no way will a man be saved by his works; he will never achieve the reward, eternal life, except he has only faith. Eternal life is something given freely by God, but it must be taken by people. See Romans 6.23; Ephesians 2.8; John 4.10; Revelation 22.17.

VII The place of works. Let a person not mistakenly think that, since it is not by his righteousness or his works or his observance of the law that he is saved, that he can continue living in sin. If a person has a true faith - faith, as said by Paul, which ‘works through love’ (Galatians 5.6) – [5] he will not fail to seek to do God’s will, to hold on to God’s laws, not in order to be saved but because he is saved and because he is constrained by the love of Christ who died for him. (See 2 Corinthians 5.14,15; John 15.14) We are drawn by love to work for God and this makes his laws easy (1 John 5.3). ‘We loved him because he first loved us.’ (1John 4.19)

VIII Authentic eternal life is not going to heaven or escaping from hell; rather it is the saving of a person’s spirit, raising him above the desires and the works of the world, the flesh and the devil. He has vanquished sin and the power of sin and his enslavement to sin is ended. See Romans 6.11-14. Christ said, ‘I came that they might have life in all its fullness.’ (John 10.10)

The things ordained by God to enhance a person’s eternal life:

(1) Reading and learning his Word. 1 Peter 2.2; John 6.63; Jeremiah 15.16

(2) Prayer. 1Thessalonians 5.17; Psalm 55.17; Romans 12.12

(3) The Lord’s Supper. By this means our spirits are strengthened and heartened. See John 6.53

(4) The Holy Spirit to sanctify, and to strengthen a person, as he allows his heart and every part to be indwelt by him. See Romans 12.1; Galatians 5.22.

(The End)

Friends, eternal life has been fully explained to you. Think about yourself and your soul, and about those who look to you as an example. Do not despise the grace of God. Do not condemn yourself. Eternal life is seen to be easy.

THE SALE OF LIQUOR IN THE KING COUNTRY

The Government has said that Maori and Pakeha will be given a vote on whether to permit the sale of liquor in the Waikato King Country or to leave in place the old law which forbids the sale of liquor. The Government is bringing forward this proposal because of the massive illegal sales of liquor in the King Country. When it was agreed that Waikato should be opened to the Pakeha a law was passed that no public house should be built in the King Country. In the first years that law was enforced and was respected but with the increase in numbers of Pakeha living in the Waikato a greatly increasing amount of liquor came in and now we hear that more liquor is bought by both Maori and Pakeha and there is more drunkenness there than in those places where one is free to purchase liquor. Waikato is an area where it is difficult to stop trading in liquor. Although it was strongly forbidden, the law against bringing liquor into the King Country was not implemented. If liquor is brought in it is very easy to sell it. But the law is very ineffective given the strength of Waikato Maori support for the illegal sale of liquor. Many people have been penalised for the illegal sale of liquor; many of those people are Maori. We are sad that Maori have taken to undermining the law made for their well-being – law passed by Parliament at the instigation of Wahanui and all Waikato. They are after money, tainted money, and they despise the good of the people at large, their own good and the good of their children after them. Many Pakeha have presented to the Government their idea that the sale of liquor should be allowed in Waikato. Perhaps the Government will not listen. We think Waikato now think differently and want liquor. If you suffer, Waikato, it is you alone who sought out this suffering. Wahanui was alert to battle against this great monster which if permitted in Waikato will be the cause of pain, devastation and death to people. But if Waikato decide to prevent this blight from being established in their territory then perhaps it will be banished. Is this a job for Mahuta? If a leader [gives a lead] then perhaps that leader will be heard by all Waikato.

THE WAR IN CHINA

The Europeans in Peking are safe. In August the army of the allied powers arrived there at the largest city of China, the city where the Emperor [6] and the ambassadors of the great nations of the world live. The army was five miles from Peking where they were to rest, however, on hearing the noise of guns within the city, and surmising that the Europeans would be killed by the Boxers before the relieving army entered, they did not sleep but attacked the many gates of Peking, one national group to each gate. Although the English were hampered by their large guns, they were the first to enter the European houses. General Gaselee chose 70 men, all Indians. When the gates were smashed down they crossed a deep moat and having crossed went to the English Residence. The Chinese fled.

There was fierce fighting. The Japanese left many dead but the Chinese fought a [?pakatua] fight. When the allies entered Peking there was fighting in the streets, but the Queen had fled inland with 3000 guards. There was thought of following that wicked queen but because of the vastness of the land they let her go. The Europeans who had been besieged were delighted to see the light of day. In all 65 of them had died and 160 were wounded. They had seen the whole world’s accounts of their murders and perhaps they laughed.

Since Peking had been taken and the government of China had taken refuge in the hinterland, what were the Powers to do? Should they cut up their whale? Would the eagles start to peck at their corpse? What is feared is that some of the eagles will [?horoau] and some will attack others, then they will start to scratch, to peck and to devour each other. Russia has said that Peking should be abandoned and that the allies should return to the coast. This is troubling. It is recognised that should the allies return then the Boxers would again start killing. Russia thinks differently. Perhaps they want to ill-treat the Chinese and have a reason for taking over the country for themselves. The English have also announced that they will not pull out of Peking. Another battalion of English soldiers has been sent from India to China.

THE WAR IN TRANSVAAL

There is not much news of the fighting in Africa. The fighting seems to be taking place in scattered places. De Wet is one of the leading Boer generals; he is causing many problems for the English. When Roberts captured Cronje, the Boer section serving under De Wet survived. He also seized 40 wagons laden with food for Roberts’ army. Afterwards he seized the train carrying clothing for Roberts’ army and burned the clothes in the fire. He took many English prisoners. He travelled stealthily. He observed the weak spots in the English army and attacked there.

Roberts was determined to capture that man and sent Lord Kitchener, General Methuen and General Mahon to get him. When Kitchener was only fifteen miles distant De Wet and his army ran away. They pursued him but in vain. They could not catch him even though Kitchener had chosen only the best horses for his army. The reason he was not captured was that the Boers were aware of his wanderings and consequently travelled only at night while the English would only travel in daylight because they were strangers in that land. De Wet let all his prisoners go so that he might travel light. Roberts said that although De Wet had not been taken his army was broken and his guns buried. He has 300 men with him now and he is no longer a force.

Only General Buller’s name is being celebrated these days. With the fall of Pretoria the Boers built a fort at [?Makatoopu]. Roberts sent General Buller there. It was not long before it fell and the Boers fled, settling eventually at Lydenburg where they built a fort. This was a very strong fort but it did not withstand Buller although the fighting was fierce. As on the day before yesterday General Buller was in a valley and surrounded by thousands of Boers and being fired on by Boer guns. At night Buller went away. He and his army are now in the Boer fort at Lydenburg. The Boers have gone to find themselves a strong fort.

At the trial of [?Katana - ?Gordon] (the man who had the idea of kidnapping Roberts) he was sentenced to death. He has been shot.

Kruger has arrived at Delagoa Bay, a Portuguese territory. He is perhaps going to Europe. The English will have no power to arrest him there given the laws of the great powers.

[7] 

 MAJOR-GENERAL BADEN-POWELL

Baden-Powell was born in England in 1857; he is now 43. His father is a minister. His elder brothers all hold various high positions. He was a soldier in India for many years. On the outbreak of war in Transvaal he was one of the senior officers in Africa, Baden-Powell was famous – very famous – for his indomitability in holding on to Mafeking and preventing it being taken by the Boers. We have published accounts of the assault on this remote town, and of how few soldiers held it. It survived because of the stout-heartedness of Baden-Powell. It is said that that man hardly slept during the time Mafeking was under siege. When he emerged Powell did not take a rest but went on fighting. He is a pleasant, capable and very brave man. In days to come perhaps he will attain the highest rank in the army. One of the most gratifying things for the English about this war is what the soldiers and young officers have been taught about fighting for the future. The sailors are surfing the seas and the soldiers roaming the land.

‘A WAR FOR FAITH AND TRUTH’

These are the words of Miss Louise, the daughter of the Prime Minister of Cape Colony, a man who supports the Boers even though he is under the jurisdiction of the English. His daughter’s thoughts differ from his. That lady said: ‘If this is a war for the God of Hosts, if it is a war for faith and truth, for the suppression of ill-treatment and wickedness, for the salvation of a native people powerless to help themselves, the voice of whose sufferings has reached the heavens so that the Lord is coming down to save – then, this is our war…. Wicked violations come together under the rule of Transvaal – the violation of the law, the violation by contempt, physical violation of the black people who are unable to ward off the blows, whether inside or outside Transvaal, and finding no saviour – until now. When a caring person, a person of integrity, saw such violations it was like a very bad nightmare. However in these enlightened days, in a land at one end of which the English flag flies, one people is ill-treating another with great wickedness, and the heart realises that a helpless people is being destroyed without reason and not by a faithless people but by one of the peoples who call themselves Christian, by a people who boast of the strength of their faith and cherish the Bible, who always pray to God, but who are killing the native people in time of war and in time of peace, and that even the barbarians of this world do not so ill-treat Europeans in time of war – what a terrible thing!’

THE PRICE OF WOOL

This report comes from the branch of the Bank of New Zealand, London, England.

London, June 27th, 1900. The price of wool has not yet begun to improve but continues to go down and there are no signs of improvement at this time. It is merino wool that has dropped most while receipts for cross breed have remained stable. Many were unlucky in that they endeavoured to sell their wool in the recent summer while the price was high in England. Then it was a year in which there was a very similar improvement in the price of this commodity. Those selling wool did not know whether to hold on to their wool until there was a better market or to send their wool for sale now lest the price go down later. It is difficult to see the lie of the land. But wool is a fickle commodity; one doesn’t know when it will go up or down.

Prices Now

Merino scoured 1s 10d top of range 1s 3d bottom of range

greasy 1s 1d 7d

pieces 1s 8d 5d

Crossbreed scoured 1s 7d 6d

greasy 1s 0d 5d

pieces 9d 9d

We still sit and wait for a rising in the price of wool.

We hope we’ll be able to publish any news that comes to us in the coming days, knowing that the time is coming to send the produce to the ship. We also have in mind the bad weather of August for lambing. We are baffled.

THE TRAGEDY AT MOTU

Friend, greeting. 

I will load onto the wings of Te Pipiwharauroa the account below to be carried to all the people of Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu.

This concerns a terrible disaster in which the children of the Omaio school died having been overturned into the Motu River.

On the evening of Friday 3rd August those children returned to their parents here at Maraenui. Maraenui is six miles from Omaio, however love for their parents carried them there!

On Sunday 5th after breakfast those children set out for their school at Omaio. Pani Retimana, an adult, went to ferry those children across the Motu River. Te Waiora, an adult woman, also accompanied them. When they arrived at the river they decided to make only one crossing; had there been two crossings some would have survived. Here were 18 persons – 16 children and 2 adults. The canoe was 23 feet long and 3 feet across and was inadequate to ferry 18 in one crossing. We don’t know what discussion took place before this disaster because no-one saw it and there were no survivors to tell us what happened. It is thought that during the crossing the canoe overturned and was carried by the current of the Motu out into the Moana-nui-a-Kiwa [Pacific]. There it foundered in the water while the adults were at home unaware of it all.

Motu is perhaps half a mile from the village of Maraenui. It would not be spotted because of the darkness of the wood and the distance.

Some children travelled by horse. They left before those who died, and arrived at Omaio. Those responsible for the children who died waited from dawn until sunrise. Those living at Omaio who were responsible for the children wondered shy the children were delayed. They thought they were alive. Meanwhile we, the parents of the children remained at Maraenui unaware. We all thought that those children had arrived in the evening at Omaio. It was not so; they were sleeping the sleep of misfortune, in the cold. Who decreed that the home of the fish should be a bed for Kahurangi?

On the morning of Monday 6th the men from the east came saying, ‘These children have not arrived at the east. They are all missing.’ Here on our marae we were uncertain and distressed. The Whanau-a-Apanui people here are engaged in building a large house. Then some of the parents of the children, Te Mate Rangatira, a woman, and Arapeta Erueti Tiketikeirangi went to the mouth of the Motu to search. They arrived at the river and went to look at the mooring place of the canoe. When they reached it, the canoe was not there. Then they ran to the beach. Te Mate Rangatira ran ahead of Arapeta. Reaching the shore she came upon one of her children called Peeti, a boy of seven. Crying out she went and fell weeping onto her son. Arapeta ran and came to the weeping woman. He ran on to another part of the beach where he came upon Kereopa, a boy of 13, who had been washed ashore. He carried him to that woman’s side then went to look for others. He came upon Makere, a girl of seven, cast ashore. Fifteen were lost to the sea. We saw them calling out and knew that the children were dead. Men, women and children went crying to the shore. You can have no idea what people were like that day. They were all beside themselves and bewildered.

Eventually those children were carried and laid on a platform in the porch of the meeting house, ‘Te Poho-o-Apanui’. One could hear great lamentations, distressed wailings from all parts of the Apanui marae. And let us not fail, my friends, to lament this shocking death, this terrible disaster. Who can comprehend this kind of death? ‘

‘Rest, my friends, within the house of misfortune, the house of darkness, the house of Tangaroa. Who knows the thoughts of the great chiefs of those peoples – of Ururoa [shark], of Tamure [snapper], of Takiara [shark], of the myriads of peoples of the sea. Here is a different place for you to lie, dear ones, the bosom of your ancestor Apanui.’

On Thursday 9th two more bodies were washed ashore, those of Pani Retimana (the one who ferried the children), aged 26, and Tawhi Arapeta, a girl aged 6. These were carried to the porch of ‘Te Poho-o-Apanui’ to the side of those lying on the platform, but Pani Retimana’s body was set apart. His wife groaned over him for one hour and then he was taken and buried. On Saturday 11th two were cast ashore - Mere Heni Te Waewae, a girl [9] of 13, who was washed ashore at Wai-o-Mahau, and Paora Arapeta Erueti, aged 5, who was washed ashore at ‘Te Ana-o-Hine-te-Kahu. Mihi Arapeta Erueti, 12, was cast ashore at Hano at Torere, rwelve miles from Motu.

On Sunday 12th, one was cast up – Iritana Mita, 12, who came ashore at Torere. It is thought that these may have clung to the canoe since it was washed up at Torere.

Altogether nine have been cast ashore and nine are lost at sea. Whale boats are still searching at sea and people on horseback are doing the same on the coast. These children were the pride of Te Whanau-a-Apanui, gathering together the chiefly blood of the peoples of the East Coast here (not including Pani Retimana). [One child was found by a ship 40 miles out to sea, - Editor]

On Sunday 12th they were buried in the cemetery at Omaio. Hakaraia Pahewa was the minister who buried them. Their teacher came to see his children buried. He was very distressed.

These are the names of the parents of the dead children and the names of those children. The children marked with a K have been found; those marked with N are still lost to the sea.

Parent / Child  / Age

Paratene te Waewae / Mereheni /13 K

                                        Tamahou /6 N

Wiremu Hape / Kereopa / 13 K

                            Te Waaka / 8 N

Henare Akuhata / Wiremu / 10 N

                                 Makere /7 K

Arapeta Tiketikeirangi / Mihi / 12 K

                                            Paora/ 5 K

Te Pukepuke te Kouorehua / Tupuke / 13 N

                                                    Te Amokura /12 N

Toopi Hamiora / Te Rutene / 9 N

                               Peeti 7 K

Arapeta te Rua / Tawhi / 6 K

Akuhata Reweti / Hariata /12 N

Mita Marino / Iritana / 12 K

Pani Retimana /Erina / 8 N

(Pani Retimana died) / 26 K

Ani Taramea / 38 N

Altogether this disaster claimed eighteen.

News of the disaster reached the people of the East Coast and of the North and it was not long before people arrived at Maraenui. The people from the North arrived and the people from the East came to the other side of the Motu River. They sounded a volley of shots. Wow! It was as if they were firing in Africa. The powder settled on the hills. Awe settled upon the local people. The news had arrived that no-one had survived and this is the Maori custom in such circumstances of death. The local people remained wary. Then they crossed over. When the party drew near there was much apprehension. We stood above the company. We were five hundred, gathered from Ngaitai and Whakatohea. 

We took up our haka of greeting. ‘It is the bull, the bull indeed, preparing to shake, to quiver with anger. Anger shall not come here by order of the Governor, a chiefly command that there be no disputes. Yours will be a terrible death, and evil death, the death of a slave. Perhaps you will die at the hands of a war party. Albatrosses are assembled and navigating the sea…!’

When the [?taataa] were finished, Ngati Awa and Ngati Pukeko arrived weeping. Whakatohea and Tuhoe came. Soon one could not see the ground for people.

There were many speeches, but two important matters were agreed by this gathering of the peoples of the East Coast as a result of this tragedy.

(1) The Government to be requested to build a bridge over the Motu River as a memorial to the deaths of these children.

(2) The sea was placed under a tapu from this day, 15th August, 1900. The boundaries of the tapu begin at Toka-a-Kuku, and go on to Waiorore, Te wanui, Omaio, Whitianga, Motu, Maraenui, Hawai, Torere, and end at Hauriri. Maori and Pakeha in this area are not to fish in the sea or gather mussels, sea urchins, molluscs, paua or other sea foods. If anyone transgresses this ordinance he will be punished by all the people. The chiefs of the East Coast will set a date for raising this tapu, after which the area will be free of tapu, except perhaps one area.

The sympathy of the Governor of the Colony and his wife, the Prime Minister and the members of the Government was expressed in a telegram of 13th August to children’s parents and all the people of Te Whanau-a-Apanui; it was sent by the Honourable Timi Kara, Minister of Maori Affairs. There were also condolences from the officials of the New Zealand Education Department. Perhaps there will be some response to those lamentations. Enough. 

Your friend 
Timi Waata Rimini, 
Maraenui, 
8th [sic] August, 1900.

[10] 

 WAIHORA [LAKE ELLESMERE]

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa. 

Greetings, Bird. 

I wish to point out to the Maori and Pakeha of these two islands of Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu a lake at Waihora close to Taumutu in the Province of Canterbury. That lake was claimed in former times by Te Ruahikihiki in the time when Ngati Mamoe were the rulers of Te Waipounamu. Ngati Mamoe were slaughtered by Ngaitahu following the murder by Ngati Mamoe of Manawa, the father of Ruahikihiki. This is the reason Ngati Mamoe disappeared from Tarere, Whenua –uta and Murihiku. One of the descendants of Te Ruahikihiki is the Hon. H K Taiaroa.

It is thought that there are six generations between Te Ruahikihiki and Hori K Taiaroa. The size of Lake Waihora is length 30 miles, breadth 25 miles, or perhaps more. Fish are the food in this lake. Myriads of fish – of flounder, of eels, of whitebait and other fish. There are many thousands of birds on the lake – grey duck, paradise duck, swamp hen and other birds. The foods growing on the shore are fern, bulrushes, carrageen, cordyline with edible stems (ti tree) and other foods. The foods grown on the farms at the back, that is, those grown by people, are turnips, potatoes, taro and kumara. These are now fertile places for Pakeha works such as growing wheat, barley, oats and other Pakeha foods.

Waihora is the only lake fished by the Pakeha every year for fish to send to all the towns of New Zealand. The people of the Ngai Tahu tribe in former days had a saying: 

Ko nga hau ki te whenua, ko nga kai ki Orariki. 
‘Winds in other placesa, but food at Orariki.’ [cf Nga Pepeha 1442] 

This proverb is known throughout Te Waipounamu. When a person sees eels, flounders and other food coming from Taumutu they say the above proverb.

I bring to an end my account of these aspects of Waihora, its chiefly connections and its food enjoyed by the Maori.

There is another good thing about Waihora we are now aware of. In the last two years crayfish have been seen on the sands of the shore and on the sea cliffs, extending along the coast for 90 miles to Taumutu. However, because there was no water flowing from the land in which to wash them they were not worked. The work would not be worthwhile.

On 4th of last May a large number of crayfish were seen in Waihora. The Pakeha hurried madly to bang in claim posts for themselves so that the shores of Waihora were full of their posts, and there were also posts in Lake Waihora for crayfish fishing boats. The Maori of Taumutu did not think to put up posts for themselves, but with the Pakeha posts standing in front of the houses and in the paddocks, the Maori stood up to argue about why the Pakeha was continuing to do this, carrying his post and his licence in his hand. The Maori complained saying, ‘The Pakeha is doing wrong!’

This is the time for those trading companies selling shares in the crayfish industry to stand up and to remember that there are many Maori who want shares for themselves.

Greetings, Maori and young Maori from the large colleges, strive for excellence and assert yourselves!  

Your friend, 
Tini Kerei Taiaroa, 
Taumutu, 
Te Waipounamu.

THE PARLIAMENT

The total amount of tax money and other money belonging to the Colony in the year 1899-1900 is £5,699,618. Altogether the money spent on Government work is £5,140,128. The amount remaining in the hands of the Government is £605,351! From the past, then this figure is arrived at. This amount would be larger had the Colony not had some major issues arise in these years:

Supporting the elderly £200,000

Soldiers in Africa £258,000

Indian Famine & Ottawa Fire £10,000

Precautions against Bubonic Plague £5,000

Surveys of Government Lands £140,000

Because of the strength of the Colony and the large amount of money available, taxes on people’s necessities have been lowered. Things on which the taxes have been lowered are: tea, currants, some medicines, candles, matches. These are the things which will not be taxed: [hinu whenua - cj. petrol, oil], rice, salt, coffee, cocoa, farm machinery, crayfishing equipment. The price of these things has been very much eased. [11] The price of [hinu whenua] will fall by two shillings. On 18th August this regulation comes into force, but traders will keep the old price until all the goods they have acquired when the tax was high are gone, then they will reduce the price.

One thing of which the cost has really gone down is travel on Government Railways. It is one penny a mile for second class. From the coming January the cost of sending a letter by mail will be one penny. All these are signs of the increasing autonomy of New Zealand.

In the speech made by the Right Honourable R J Seddon, the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence for the Colony, he expressed his ideas for the increasing of the number of soldiers, the number of guns and other things to defend our land. He also said, ‘Many Maori men are ready to carry arms. In days gone by we saw the bravery of Maori in carrying weapons, and now many of them wish to defend the honour of our gracious Queen, and they are sad that they were not permitted to go with our sons in the contingent which went to Africa. The time has come for us to trust those Maori who have become soldiers and to give them a permanent place in the Queen’s army.’ The Prime Minister believes that New Zealand should have 10,000 soldiers of whom 2000 should be Maori. The cost would go up to perhaps £100,000.

(We have received a letter from Tuhaka Mokena Kohere revealing his unease about the progression of the Board Bill dealing with the administering of the remnants of Maori land. He believes that the provisions of the bill will be bad for Maori. We are not able to print his letter in full lest those words become an occasion for squabbling over the wings of Te Pipiwharauroa. Tuhaka Kohere said: ‘I don’t want those men looking after my wife and all my possessions because I am managing all my things well myself.’ Tuhaka Kohere has also asked that we explain the meaning of a Pakeha word which appears in the Board Bill. His writing of that word is not clear but we think it is fee simple, meaning that a person has real power under the Crown to have an interest in a piece of land and to have the right to dispose of that land and all its produce. But sometimes, if the land is passed on to another there may be written into the deed a provision preventing the seller from acting autonomously. If the Board takes to itself the disposal of Maori lands then the Board will have acquired the fee simple; it will – will it not? – have complete autonomy of action. We are not sure about this.)

Perhaps the Government has not yet reached a decision about putting together a bill about the disposal of Maori land. Surely the right thing is to prepare that bill. The Pakeha are pressing for a swift passage of a law. – Editor.

NEWS REPORTS

The King of Persia has been visiting various countries. While he was in France someone shot at him, but he was not killed. What is so bad about kings that people follow them to assassinate them? We see from this the truth of the words of William Shakespeare: ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.’

On 19th August, Hamiora Hei and Kataraina Rangiuia were married by the Rev Matenga Waaka at the carved church at Manutuke, Gisborne. Hamiora Hei was taught at Te Aute and went on to University at Auckland. He is learning to become a lawyer and is working in a lawyer’s office now. Katarina Rangiuia is a well-educated young person. She knows English, sings waiata, and plays the piano. She is descended from chiefs and belongs in Gisborne. She was given away by Heta te Kani.

This December there will be an exhibition in Christchurch to celebrate the town’s fiftieth anniversary. They have asked that Maori group go there to provide entertainment and to stage a war canoe race. There are canoes here in Aotearoa. This will be a big gathering.

A large hui was held at Papawai, Wairarapa. The Governor came, and some Members of Parliament. The purpose of the hui was the presentation by the Government of swords to Colonel Pitt of Nelson, Captain Tunuiarangi of Wairarapa, Lieutenant Pringle of Palmerston, and Sergeant Major Kurupo Tareha of Heretaunga. These swords are not signs of bravery, (unlike the swords given to Major Roberts, Major Keepa, Mokena Kohere, and Henare Tomoana; these are given by the Queen for stout-heartedness and bravery), but in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria attended by a party of New Zealand soldiers, and these men were the officers of that contingent.

[12] 

THE STUDENT CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT

Last year we wrote a length about this united body, the World Student Christian Movement. The number of branches of this movement has climbed to eleven. (1) Great Britain (England, Scotland and Ireland); (2) America; (3) Sweden, Norway and Denmark; (4) Germany; (5) Turkey, Canaan and Egypt; (6) India and Ceylon; (7) Australia and New Zealand; (8) China; (9) Japan; (10) South Africa; (11) France, Holland, Belgium and Switzerland.

More than 55,000 college students, men and women, have joined this group even though it is only five years since its birth. Only larger colleges are able to join, not small schools; and Te Aute is the only Maori school in New Zealand to have joined.

The object of the movement is to bind together the students of the world, to strengthen the faith within the colleges, and to promote the faith in their own countries and throughout the world. While the governments of the world may be fighting each other, the Christian people in the colleges of whatever government, of whatever authority, of whatever country, are joining hands and binding together hearts by the love of Christ. It is appropriate to use of them the words used by outsiders of Christians in ancient times: ‘See how these Christians love one another.’

We reported on the holding of the gathering last year at Nelson, of the New Zealand branch of this large group. It was attended by some Te Aute students and others. The second gathering has been held. One hundred college students attended, some from Australia. It was a great success. The organisers of that hui asked for someone to explain the position of and the problems facing the Maori people of New Zealand. In the absence of a knowledgeable Maori, Miss Keith of Te Aute spoke. Some of the college students asked if there was some way in which they could teach the Maori. The Pakeha have a great concern for the souls of the Maori, while the Maori are indifferent. But their ultimate concern is with the salvation of the world, that it might find everlasting life.

It is not that there are only 55,000 believing students in the world; these are the ones who have signed up. People, take note! This matter, the faith, is valued by wise people while we don’t want it. Who is at fault, God or us, that we have not come to know the joy, the happiness, the good, the peace of the faith? Don’t mistakenly think that all Pakeha in the world are the same, like some we know who are degraded, godless, foul-mouthed, and bowing down to money as their god.

A NOTICE to people wishing to have the Book of Common Prayer and Hymn Book. I have many copies of these books now. The price: Large, paperback – 2/6. Large hardback – 4/. Small paperback – 1/-. Small hardback – 2/6. Small superior hardback – 3/6. Hymn Book – 1/-. I will pay the postage to send the book to you. H W Williams, Te Rau, Gisborne

The Hymn Books have all been purchased. We will notify you when some more arrive.

RULES OF TE PIPIWHARAUROA

1. Te Pipiwharauroa is published monthly.

2. The cost of the paper is 5/- a year, payable by Postal Note or stamps.

3. When the shillings sent in by someone are used up then his paper will be wrapped in red; after two such postings of the paper it will cease to be sent.

4. It is acceptable to contribute articles from anywhere in the land, but it is for the Editor to decide whether to print them or not. Write clearly.

5. Address your letter like this: TO TE PIPIWHARAUROA, TE RAU, GISBORNE.

SUPPLEJACK SEEDS FOR OUR BIRD

£1 Mrs Goldsmith. 10/- Mrs Carroll, Hemi Matenga. 7/- Heni McDonell. 5/- Mrs Fairlie, Wi Rangirangi Nierahi Tamaki, Raharuhi Tuanehu, Riwai Hiwinui, Matiu Harawira, Tamihana Wairuamate, Kurumoa, Tuparoa Reading Room, Hakopa Kahi, Huta Paaka, Hare Heterewika, Hohepa te Piri, Panapa Waihopi, Kepa Pomare, Hori Korohina, Raniera Tahu, Hare Kawenga, Tautahi Pohatu, Harehare, J Hardiman, Karaka Tarawhiti, Rawiri Tikahita, Manaaki Areta, W H Pehimana. 5/- A H Pokai. 2/6 Taiwera Rawiri, Alex Mackenzie.

H W Williams, TE Rau Press, Gisborne