Te Pipiwharauroa 64

Te Pipiwharauroa 64

No. 64

1903/06/1

(Maori Version at NZETC.)

[1] Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama, Number 64, Gisborne, June 1903

THE TONGUE

(Psalm 141.3)

The tongue is a part of the body which can do great good or great evil; the tongue is very small but very powerful. A person’s words are like a match which sets something alight; much firewood can be consumed by a small fire. Words fall from the mouth but they fall for many days. The words of a good person are like seeds which bear fruit even after the death of the speaker.

The words of a wicked person, though, are the source of ongoing hatred, or of quarrels after the speaker has gone secretly to the afterlife. The words of Jesus bring life to numerous people in these days even though it is nearly two thousand years since he uttered them for the first time.

The thinking of many people is besmirched by the foul words of wicked people who speak wickedly. The tongue is able to achieve great wickedness or great good. It is as James wrote, like the rudder of a ship, which, although it is small, is able to turn a huge ship; likewise the tongue may be small but it has great power. There are many things said in Scripture about the tongue. Let us read Scripture so that we may learn to discern the voice of God there. James said, ‘If a person does not stumble in what he says then he is a very upright person.’ [3.2] David knew that it was a difficult thing to bridle one’s tongue. That is the object of this prayer, ‘Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips.’ [Psalm 141.3] He believed that God would help him. So let us listen to what the Scripture lays down about the tongue.

1. It is likened to a young horse in James’ epistle. He says, ‘If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.’ [1.20] He also says, ‘Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle, etc.’ (James 3.2-8). But what a person cannot do, God can do. Think what a new horse is like; if there is no bridle then he will not go straight. It is like this with the tongue that speaks wickedly; in uttering treacherous words and thoughtless words it is like the new horse without a bridle. If our tongues are like that, let us pray to God as David prayed, ‘Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips.’

2. The tongue, according to the Word of God, is like a sharp sword. David said in the Book of Psalms, ‘I lie among the sons of men whose teeth are spears and whose tongues are arrows and sharp swords.’ [57.4] The tongues of some men and women are always like sharp swords. One may utter a word of jealousy which penetrates the heart like a sharp sword and saddens the heart. Perhaps on some occasion a man may speak angrily to his wife and she is pained because her heart has been struck by the sharp sword of the tongue. Does one of us have a sharp sword for a tongue?

Let us pray, ‘Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips.’

3. The tongue is likened to a snake. When David spoke about his enemies he said, ‘They have sharpened their tongues like snakes.’ [Psalm140.3] The snake lies secretly in the grass and emerges swiftly, bites, and spits out its poison. The tongue is similarly evil. [2] If there is backbiting between people, if there are tempting words], it is like the poison of a snake, and we must pray as David did, ‘Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips.’

4. The tongue is like a fire. The tongue is also like a blazing fire. A fire starts small but if it is not guarded it can cause great destruction. Great anger can build up to irascibility and end in murder. This is the fire that goes on growing and presently love is consumed.

5. Finally, remember this; if God guards the tongue it will not be like a horse without a bridle, it will not be like a sharp sword, it will not be like a fire, but it will be like a spring to encourage the weary soul. Had God been permitted to guard the lips of Peter in the house of Caiaphas, he would not have denied Jesus. If we pray to God he will faithfully undertake to guard our lips so that we will not utter from our mouths filthy words, false words, unloving words, but will fulfil the words of Paul: ‘Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.’ [Colossians 4.6]

Remember the words of Solomon, ‘The lips of the righteous feed many.’ [Proverbs 10.21] For this reason let us continually pray with David, ‘Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips.’

TE RAUKAHIKATEA

On 2nd of this month the chapel at Te Raukahikatea was opened by the Bishop of Waiapu. Many of the elders of Turanga came in response to the invitation from the young people of the College. £32 was collected; Apirana Ngata presented £10. There were not many people but, given the few who came, the collection was large. Peni te Ua and Heretaunga came. In his speech, Mr Chatterton, the teacher at the College, said that two things determined him to build a chapel for the College. First, it was right to begin the teaching of the ministers in the church; secondly, it was also right to set up at the College which Bishop Leonard Williams had started, a memorial to him. Mr Williams was born amongst the Maori and will die amongst the Maori. He had asked all the clergy of the Pakeha side of the Church of England to respond to his appeal. A total of £320 was received. With £50 left over, all ended well. Most of the money came from the Pakeha only, and very little from the Maori. At the same time as the Maori Church was appealing to the Pakeha, the Committee of the Girls’ School in Auckland was making an appeal. However, his appeal went well and, although these appeals were demanding, the Pakeha people showed great love.. He knows also that the Maori people wish to help him. Rutene te Arahi, Peka Kerekere, Tame Arapata and Apirana Ngata responded to Mr Chatterton’s remarks. Apirana Ngata said that a major hui should be arranged for the dedication of the building, with the aim of completing and improving defective parts of the College. The gathering supported this proposal and Mr Chatterton said that it was an idea to be carefully considered. If a hui was held and if it raised much money, then part of it should be give to the Girls’ School in Auckland. Apirana Ngata praised Victoria College saying that it was a very good building. People praised the chapel at Te Rau for the building of which he alone was responsible. It is 41 feet long and 16 feet across. The toetoe roof is in fact flat tiles. The Table is one of the best things in this building; there is no Table like it. The lectern has been carved by Maori. But the design of this building is like that of a college and not like that of a parish church. We congratulate Mr Chatterton on his resolution in getting his building constructed, and he was responsible for raising the funds. As a result we have this building for all the people.

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In the homeland of the French there was a woman who slept for a very long time. Her name was [?Makere Poenawera]. She was asleep for two years without waking or stirring. Her sleep began when she had a fit, sparked off by her shock. She went on living right up to the present, being fed with suitable light food which her weak stomach could digest. On Wednesday, 27th May she woke from her confused sleep but only lived on for a few hours before she died of weakness brought on by her long time lying there. There was great admiration expressed for those who fed this woman during the time she was asleep.

[3]

 OPENING OF THE GIRLS’ SCHOOL

[cf. New Zealand Herald, Vol XL, Issue 12278, 23rd May 1903, p.6]

On Friday, 22nd May, the Queen Victoria Maori Girls’ School in Parnell, Auckland, was opened. Present were all the New Zealand Bishops and most of the leading Pakeha. When the Governor [Lord Ranfurly] and his wife arrived, the pupils of St Stephen’s sang the song for the King [God save the King]. Afterwards the hymn, ‘The Church’s one foundation’, was sung. The Bishop of Dunedin led the English prayers and the Bishop of Waiapu the Maori prayers. The first speech was by the Chairman of the School, J[ohn] H[enry] Upton. He said that this school began with [the vision of] Archdeacon Dudley and an amount of £1400. Afterwards the project was taken on by Archdeacon Williams and Miss Keith of Te Aute, who contributed £2800. The sale in Auckland of which Miss Gillies here was the driving-force raised £850. The total amount was £5050. The cost of building the school was £2800. The remaining £2250 is in the Bank and realises £101 a year and St Stephen’s School is contributing £50 a year, so the money available for the running of the school each year is £151. It is clear that it cannot survive on this but it will survive through the generosity of Pakeha and Maori.

The Governor’s Speech

When the Chairman finished his speech he invited the Governor to open the school. The Governor said:

I am glad to be able to tell you today for the first time that I have summoned Mahuta Potatau Te Wherowhero (King Mahuta, descendant of Potatau and Tawhiao, and known as a Maori king) to the Upper House of the New Zealand Parliament, and have made him a member of the Government of this colony (Applause). For many years Waikato stood outside and so this is a great day for the Maori People. Mahuta has agreed to the mana of King Edward and Waikato is now set to advance.

I am also delighted that I have come for the opening of the Maori Girls’ School. The Chairman mentioned my inspection of St Stephen’s School. What he said about my high regard for St Stephen’s is true. Whenever I come to Auckland I go to see this school. I have great regard for this school and am full of praise for how well it is being run (Hear! Hear!). I am happy too because this school we are about to open will be run in the same way. (Applause). I believe the people of this colony were wrong in setting up a school for boys first – they began the wrong way around. For the custom is that girls go first. (Hear! Hear!) It is the girls who, when they marry, improve the homes and villages, and the progress of the Maori People depends on good mothers. But I support both sides. If the Maori People are will taught it will benefit this whole land. Some of you may think of the Maori as savages. It is 50 or perhaps 60 years since we Pakeha arrived on this island, but it has taken thousands of years for us to reach our present state. In times past we were as the Maori People are now. It is right that we should be very proud of our native race. It is the finest native race under the shelter of England, (Applause.) and I am very proud of my being Governor over this race. (Hear! Hear!) I am very happy to declare open this school and pray that God’s blessing may rest upon it.

The Speech of Bishop Neligan.

After the Governor, Bishop Neligan stood to speak. He praised the New Zealand Church for being united in supporting this cause. Bishop Neligan spoke of Bishop Selwyn. He said that one of the first letters he received after he had been chosen as Bishop of Auckland was from Mother Selwyn. She is now 95. He has seen Mother Selwyn and she is very well. When he entered the house Mother Selwyn’s first question to him was, ‘What about the Maoris?’ It was as if through his wife Bishop Selwyn was speaking to him. Therefore he was very happy to come to the opening of the school. He has stood beside the grave of Bishop Selwyn, and he has stood by the stone memorial to him in Lichfield Cathedral, England. The Maori people should know that in the carved image of Bishop Selwyn his head is resting on a Maori cloak – a sign of his great love for the Maori People. At the end of his speech the Bishop prayed that God would send his abundant blessings on the school.

Perere Peneti spoke after the Bishop. He praused the Pakeha people for supporting the school and for their love. [4] He said that Diocese of Waiapu had given £1106; of Wellington £858; of Dunedin £410; of Nelson £223; of Christchurch £190; of Auckland £1550; and the bazaar raised £850.

The Rev Canon MacMurray moved a motion of thanks to the Governor and he was supported by H B Morton and Apirana Ngata. Apirana Ngata said that he could not say what the Governor had said, he could not say that this is a great day for Maori for he believed this was a bad day. This day sealed the end of Maori mana – it had been taken over by the Pakeha. Now Maoritanga had gopne, spirited away by the Pakeha. Tomorrow Maori would be trodden down by the Pakeha. The evils and the illnesses of the Pakeha are afflicting the Maori. Maori are turning to bad Pakeha customs and neglecting the good customs. He is very sorry for the Maori People.

There are 20 girls at the school now. Mrs Mirams is the Administrator and Miss Greensill, MA, the Teacher. The Secretary of the school would like five girls who have reached the fourth standard in their village schools and who wish to come to Auckland to apply to the Government to come under the auspices of the Government and with their costs paid by the Government. If some girls have completed standard four at their schools they should make this proposal know to the teacher of their schools. A picture of Archdeacon Dudley, the elder who began the conversations about setting up this school, has been hung in the school. People, since this school has been established for our children by the Pakeha, let us commit ourselves to seeing that it is nourished; it will not survive on £150 a year.

The Secretary has received £10 which was collected by Taare Wherehi of Turanganui, and 10/- from Makoare Taurere of Te Rau.

THE CONVERSION OF MAHUTA.

At the hui at Waahi it was arranged that Mr Seddon and Mahuta would meet at the Governor’s Residence in Auckland, and so, on Friday 22nd May, Mahuta arrived in Auckland with 150 people from Waikato, Hauraki, Ngati Maniapoto, Ngatihaua, Ngatiraukawa and Te Arawa. On the Government side were Lord Ranfurly, Governor, Mr Seddon, Prime Minister, Hall-Jones, Duncan, and Timi Kara.

The Prime Minister spoke first. He praised Mahuta’s decision to join with the Government; Mahuta’s was a major decision which did not mean he would loose his mana but the decision would result in good for the Maori People. ‘This is a day for unity, a day for love.’

Mahuta’s Speech

Mahuta said: I greet all these leaders, and I am grateful also for the words of the Prime Minister. Let me say emphatically now that I agreed that the difficulties between the Maori People and the Pakeha People should be settled. I praise the Prime Minister for his diligence in bring this matter to a conclusion. This is a very important day. We shall see the resolution today, and I understand the words of the Prime Minister when he says that this is the day when the difficulties between the Maori, the Pakeha, and the Government will be brought to an end. The people have said that the Prime Minister and I should sort out the problems. The result may be good or bad, but the Prime Minister is right when he says that if it is bad it will be the responsibility of the Maori. I believe that this is the great day on which the troubles between us will be brought to an end.

The Prime Minister said to the people on this marae that they are the witnesses of this marriage, so anyone who objects should say so, ‘or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.’ In days gone by we were all pulling away, that one pulling fruitlessly that way and this one pulling fruitlessly this way, while the Maori People were descending into oblivion. Now there is only one effort with two strong men and two strong people pulling together for their well-being.

Timi Kara spoke and told the people to paddle together because now there was only one canoe. Mahuta stood and said to the people to adopt the law and not to be afraid of the law of the Council. Taingakawa supported the words of Mahuta. If the law is good he will not say anything but if it is wrong he will speak out. The PrimeMinister said that there was no reason for Waikato to fear; he and Mahuta were now older brother and younger brother. He called upon Henare Kaihau to speak because he was the man whose determination brought this matter to completion. Kaihau said that what would emerge would be for the well-being of people and the land, but his wish was that we should see benefits after Mahuta’s agreement to enter the Government.

[5] 

In the Prime Minister’s response he said that what he had said would be accomplished; his words were noble and would not fail of fulfilment. He had spoken, setting out the boundaries of the Waikato Council. Mahuta had joined the Government as a helping friend. The Government of England and King Edward were happy to hear that Mahuta had joined the Government. The Governor was very happy.

Hone Omapi said that Ngati Maniapoto had agreed to the Council although they had not attended the hui at Waahi.

When the Prime Minister called on Mahuta to enter the house to be sworn in as a member of the Government the voices of the people were heard to murmur, and Ngati Maniapoto stood and Patu Patu began the song, a valediction for Mahuta as he cast off his mana and his people and turned to the Pakeha. ‘Farewell, Waro, to England, to Rehia.'  When Mahuta entered the house he was sworn in by the Governor. The Governor spoke to Mahuta, congratulating him on this great day, and expressing the hope that Mahuta would work energetically for the good of the people. The Prime Minister ordered that, in accordance with Mahuta’s wish, his name be gazetted as ‘Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau te Wherowhero, known as Mahuta, son of Tawhiao, grandson of Potatau, known formerly as the Maori Kings.’

MAHUTA AND THE PRIME MINISTER.

Mr Seddon went to see Mahuta at his home at Waahi along with Timi Kara and other friends of the Prime Minister. When the visitors were seated, Mahuta stood to welcome them. Mahuta said that his wish was that the two people should live well together. He spoke about setting right the boundaries of the Waikato Land Council, and said that the Government should give thought to providing landless Maori with land. After Mahuta, Henare Kaihau and Te Rawhiti spoke in support of what Mahuta had said.

In Mr Seddon’s reply he spoke about how Mahuta and his people had given their land to the Council and then had withdrawn it. How was the Government to help them if they behaved in this fashion? The person who wrote the letter to the Government withdrawing those lands should stand.

Kaihau explained that most of the people assented to the boundaries, and the Government should not listen to the minority. Te Rawhiti stood to point out that he it was who wrote the letter to the Government, not Mahuta, and now he wished to withdraw the letter.

The Prime Minister: So you have withdrawn this letter?

Te Rawhiti: Yes, it is withdrawn.

Prime Minister: Alright! Take it.

When Te Rawhiti stood to fetch his letter there was an outburst of applause.

The Prime Minister said that the way forward for the Council was now clear and it was for the Council and Mahuta to implement it. The Prime Minister said that landless people would be given land but not Government lands. Some land had been given to the Church for schools and churches but these lands were lying idle – there were no schools, no churches. As for the matter of alcoholic drinks – alcohol is the Maori’s greatest evil enemy, but if Maori are diligent in suppressing alcohol in the Waikato the administration of it will be delegated to the Maori.

Kaihau said that if Mahuta was made responsible for suppressing the sale of alcohol in the Waikato it would not be long before it ceased. The Prime Minister said that the police were not able to suppress the illegal sale of alcohol, but if Maori were determined then he would ask Parliament to give that power to Mahuta.

At the end of the discussion Mahuta gave a meal for the Prime Minister and his friends.

Mahuta and his people came to Auckland to implement the decisions made in the talks with the Prime Minister. Mahuta was sworn in as a member of the Government and agreed also to sit in the Upper House of the New Zealand Parliament. Maniapoto sang their song, a lament at Mahuta’s agreement to sit in the New Zealand Parliament.

[We believe that if Mahuta were given the authority to suppress the sale of liquor in the Waikato, it would not be long before it was done. – Editor.]

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There is a bird in America called the Nightingale. It is the sweetest-singing bird in the world and the singing of this bird can be heard at a distance of one mile. One is overwhelmed with love on hearing this bird sing.

[6] 

MAHUTA’S DISCUSSION

On 23rd May a hui was held involving Ngatimaniapoto and other hapu of Waikato. Timi Kara and Mahuta said that the first matter to be attended to was the giving of lands to the Maori Council for settlement. It was also proposed to set up a technical school to teach Maori children tailoring, shoemaking, blacksmithing, carpentry and other Pakeha trades. And enquiries would be made into giving land to people without it because their lands had been confiscated because of the troubles of past times.

There was discussion about setting up a Hospital for the Maori and the doctors of that Hospital would teach the Maori, and the money for that Hospital would be provided by interested wealthy Maori. Mahuta spoke again and spoke very well. He said that his heart was content with the Government’s proposals, and he asked his people to help him in the new position he had taken – his position as a Member of the Upper House of the New Zealand Parliament. He asked his people to place their lands under the authority of the Council and to agree to the Government desire that they should support the law and all its provisions.

Many mouths from every hapu stood to speak and they were as one in what they said about agreeing to all the actions completed at the hui and about how the troubles had been ended. The wrong thought in misled hearts had been buried, done away with, and wicked, angry, hateful thought were expelled to go to the World of Darkness where they would be lost.

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The smallest man in the world at present is in America. He is 18 inches high and weighs 30 pounds i.e. 2 stone 4 pounds. That man is 36 years old.

NOTICE

We have some Catechisms to be Learned by Children, and Sunday Prayers. If a clergyman lets us know what he requires we will send them free of charge.

HUI FOR THE DEDICATION OF A NEW MEETING HOUSE.

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa.

Friend, greetings to you who make our bird sing in the summer. Friend, please send out the following information for the people of these islands, of Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu, to see. These are the words.

On 20th February 1903 there was a hui for the dedication of the meeting house, Rongo-mai-Aniwaniwa. This hui was held at Te Rahui, Waiapu. Kahukura put on the hui to collect money to lighten the burden of paying for the work on this meeting house. These are the parishes from which we have received gifts.

Given in the plate by Kahukura and Turanga £127 3 0

Parish of Te Pohutu 24 10 0

Parish of Te Wheuki and Hikataurewa 5 6 0

Parish of Tuparoa 20 0 0

Parish of Whareponga 24 0 0

From Tokomaru, from Hirini Tawhara and Wahanui 1 5 6

Parish of Whangaroa Paikea 1 0 6

From Whangara, given by Hemi Kauta to Reihana 1 10 0

Ranginui Uawa. From Ereti, his parents and grandparents 9 5 0

Parish of Turanga, the Mahaki School, te Huauri 14 11 0

Parish of the Pakeha. Mirina. 1 5 0

From the council, Raeana 10 0

Total amount collected at this hui. £226 6 0

The proportion to be spent on the fixing of the house. £145 11 4

Remaining after the expenses of the house. £ 80 13 8

The committee allocated the remaining money as follows:

To Mr Williams’ Challenge £ 20 0 0

To the Hui at Heretaunga 10 0 0

To the Girls’ School at Auckland 10 0 0

To the expenses of Kahukura 10 0 0

The remainder to the upkeep of the church. 30 13 8

From your faithful friend,

Reihana Moari.

DONATIONS FOR THE TE RAU CHAPEL

$25 Archdeacon Williams (second donation); £20 SPCK London; £5 A H Williams, Meri Woodbine-Johnson, Hemi Matenga (second donation); £2 8s from the lecture by Rev J Fielding; £2 Mrs Chatterton, England; £1 1s H B Kirk, Mr Foster; £1 Take Kerekere, H Davies, Rev J M Adcock, Canon MacMurray; 10/6 Makoare Taurere; 5/- Loving Friend, Mrs Gray, Hori Raiti, Reweti Kerehoma.

[7] 

DEATHS

We are very sad at the number of deaths of little children. How will the Maori People continue to survive in the world if there are no children to take the place of our elders? We have heard that in one village 20 children died, and a total of 60 in that district. We are inclined to think that it is perhaps bad nursing that is contributing to the large number of deaths. The diseases which are carrying off our children are measles and whooping cough. These diseases are not necessarily such as bring about the deaths of children, but it the children are not looked after then death will not be avoided. Do not place too much reliance on medicines for the best remedy for these illnesses is keeping the sick from going outside and getting cold. I saw a girl who caught measles and who went outside on a cold day; her carer’s one thought was to get medicine, and she did not keep the sick girl inside the house. Parents must be strong and not listen to the crying of the sick child; rather her weeping than your weeping.

Typhoid fever is another illness that we Maori are hit by. This illness requires very good nursing; only by good nursing and the provision of food will a person survive, but a person will live if the carer is dedicated. We have written about the death of Timoti Kiriwi from typhoid fever. The important thing in nursing a person with fever is to take care not to damage the stomach because the fever affects it adversely. Do not give the patient a mixture of foods and do not move him. Make sure you listen carefully, that you discuss matters, that you understand the instructions of the doctor. Be patient even though the illness is very painful. It is a characteristic of typhoid fever that it exerts all its strength and then the sick person recovers. Take courage, people, and do not go recklessly to the tohunga.

HUI OF THE TE AUTE OLD PUPILS.

At 7 o’clock in the evening of Saturday, 30th May, the Hui of former students of Te Aute was held at Te Raukahikatea, Gisborne. About twenty attended. Some are working in lawyers’ offices, some in other offices, and some are at the school for clergy, Te Raukahikatea. The hope of that group of young people is to come together as an Area Branch for the Tai Rawhiti, to find ways to better themselves and also the Maori People, to assist in worthwhile works, and to enable others to get into work or higher education [?mo etahi kanga]. Mr Chatterton, the master of Te Raukahikatea, chaired the hui. Many English-speaking Maori women from Gisborne came to that hui. The guests at the hui were Miss Keith, Secretary of the Girls’ School in Auckland, and Rev Perere Peneti, missioner to the Taranaki people. Some of the young people spoke, as did Peneti.

NOTICE

To the Editor of Te Pipi.

Please publish these few words of warning to people coming into my district so that they are informed. I forbid people from lighting fires within my boundaries because the law about fire-lighting now applies, an important law. My boundaries are Tarakeha to the west, and Tokoroa Station to the east. A person or person lighting fires in this area will be fined five pounds (£5). This is out of concern that my burying places may be burned and that the land within my boundaries may be made unproductive.

From your friend,

Tamarangi Kingi.

27/4/1903

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At the end of this year, Mr Pope, Inspector of Maori Schools, is to retire.

[8] 

DIOCESE OF WAIAPU

The meeting of the Maori Church in the Heretaunga district was held at Omahu on 27th April. These are some of the motions.

Rev Hemi Huata and Rev A Rangi:

This is a suggestion to the Chairman of the Hui. Would it be possible for him to arrange with his fellow-Bishops to hold a Hui Topu for the Maori clergy only from the dioceses of New Zealand?

Rev K Pukerua and Rev H Huata:

This hui expresses its sadness at the death of Timoti Kiriwi, minister in the Diocese of Auckland, and prays to God to console and to bless his widow and children in this time of sadness.

A question from Rev H Te Hata to the Chairman:

Is it right for the clergy to send the Chairman of the Council reports from the registers of marriages, burials and births?

The Bishop’s answer:

There is nothing wrong with sending these things to the Chairman of the Council, but there is no legal requirement for a minister to do so. He may do so if he wishes.

Rev Hemi Huata and Rev A Rangi:

Church people need to be reminded that they should be wary of the deceitful works of the enemy who uses words of Scripture to lure away people from faith in Christ.

BY THE EDITOR

Reihana Paraone has written us a letter telling of the death of Ngawati, a leading elder of the Kaipara district. He died on 8th May. He was man who held firmly to all that is good and to the noble customs of us Maori. He was a man who remembered words, a man who took up chiefly attitudes towards people and towards God. When his hours was very near he greeted the people; what he said was, ‘My family, the tribes, the people also, these are the treasures you should hold on to after I am gone. Here, hold on to the faith, hold on to love, be kind to the children, and love the people.’ Hold on to these things as your refuge lest you be scattered.

THE MARAE HUI AT ROTORUA.

Many marae members gathered at Rotorua. Ihaia Hutana was elected chairman and Wi Hapi as secretary. Also present were Captain Mair, Dr Pomare and Apirana Ngata. A few of the councils were absent. The hui did many things for the betterment of the Maori, the most important thing being the law concerning Maori tohunga. It was arranged that the licence for a single tohunga should cost one pound. Some felt it should be £50 of £100 but it was thought that the important thing was that the council could permit or suppress the tohunga. It was also decided that all those under the tohunga, the ‘apostles’ and other vehicles of the gods, should be licensed. If anyone practices without a licence he will be fined a sum of £50. One member from the Tai Rawhiti urged that Te Wereta should not be subject to this rule ‘because his certificate was given from heaven.’ (Or perhaps it was given by the prison. – Editor.)

It was arranged that a gazette be printed by the council to make known their regulations and reports. The printing of that gazette would be the responsibility of the Te Puke-ki-Hikurangi press.

It has been arranged that all doctors being paid by the Government to work amongst Maori come under the jurisdiction of the Health Department.

The Councils were directed to look at issues around pensions for elderly Maori. The Prime Minister said that if there is fraud involved in the giving of pensions, that is, if the children are stealing the pensions, they will not be issued. £20,000 of the Colony’s money is spent on elderly Maori. There were more matters dealt with, but these were the important items.

THE ORDINATION OF A DEACON

On Sunday 31st May, W T T Pereiha of Rotorua was ordained deacon in the Church of England in the Manutuke Church, Te Arai, Gisborne. Pereiha has spent many years studying for the ministry at Te Raukahikatea, Gisborne, and on that Sunday his desire and the hope of his heart were fulfilled. He was ordained by the Bishop of Waiapu. Pereiha is returning to be minister in his home of Rotorua. He returned to Rotorua on 3rd June.

[9] A HUI IN CHRISTCHURCH

On 2nd and 3rd May a large hui of New Zealand college students was held in Christchurch. 318 people attended, 10 of whom were Maori – Perere Peneti from Taranaki, Tutere Wirepa, Pita Paaka and Neho Papakakaura from Dunedin, Reweti Kohere, Tuahangata and Tame Arapata from Gisborne here, three from Te aite, and Kingi Tahiwi was the elder. Also present were Rev A O Williams, Whanganui, Rev A F Williams of Te Aute, Rev Herbert W Williams of Gisborne, and the daughter of Mr Williams and her friend, Miss Keith. We were hosted by the Pakeha while we stayed in Christchurch – the Pakeha gave us Maori a great welcome and we stayed in their beautiful and large houses. The president of this hui was John R Mott MA of whom we spoke last month. The object of the hui was to find ways of preaching the Gospel to our own country and to the whole world. Many people spoke. The first speaker was the Bishop of Christchurch. There were speakers from Madagascar, Samoa, India, and China, and Perere Peneti and Miss Keith spoke for the Maori. Peneti’s speech was much admired – if Pakeha are looking for the fruit of the Gospel of Christ, here was a Maori preaching, in love and power, that Gospel. Here was a man who had been fashioned by the Gospel of Christ. The hearts of both young men and young women were stirred to go to other lands to gather in the native peoples to adorn the crown of Christ. But it was Mott who gave the most important speeches to the hui about preaching the Gospel to the whole world and who stirred perhaps the hearts of that assembly to support this great work so that seven people offered themselves to go to lands in darkness to proclaim the name of Christ and most were carefully considering this in their hearts. This is the most important work in the world. Most of the things a person does are for his own benefit, for the good of his body, and to feed the vanities of the heart.

This was the largest missionary gathering ever held in New Zealand, and indeed it was the largest gathering of the colleges of whatever kind. The sporting gatherings of the colleges were not like this; they were held at times when the colleges were out, this was held in term time. Because there were so many college students attending, outsiders were not allowed in. The Pakeha believe that the faith of this colony will be stirred up as a result of what was done at this hui. This hui showed that, although people have great learning, the faith is not despised but is rather something to be desired; it also showed that intelligent people see the good of the faith which ignorant people do not see.

Peneti said in his speech that the 1901 census of the Maori People showed that there were in the North Island, 40,665; in the South Island, 1916; in Stewart Island and other islands, 112; in the Chatham Islands, 181 Maori and 31 Moriori; 196 Maori women were married to Pakeha; altogether there are 43,101 Maori; 23,100 are males and 20,001 are females; there are 3,100 more males than females. This is a bad sign, this greater number of males over females, a sign of the decline of the people. Peneti said that the demise of the Maori will not happen through death, but it will happen amongst the Pakeha and so he directed sharp words at the Pakeha that they should energetically raise up the Maori and that there should be a mingling of blood, of good blood, of believing blood, of noble blood.

A Samoan woman spoke to the Maori gathering. She said that the state of the native people of Samoa was similar to that of the Maori of New Zealand in that they shared the same faith but the strength of that faith in Samoa was seen in the desire to go to savage islands to preach the Gospel to strange peoples. Many of them had died, had been murdered, but they were not afraid. Her work was to teach the young women. The native people raised most of the money to build a school. The native people of Tutaira raised £1,500 in two months. The native people of Madagascar built a church for some of the natives of Fiji, a different land, a different people, from around 4000 miles away.

There were many other speeches, but these are sufficient for the Maori people to consider, to stir up our hearts, lest we be left behind other peoples of the world. Remember, people, the means by which a people will advance, will become strong, and will survive for a long time, is the faith. Proverbs says, ‘Righteousness exults the nation.’ If we are to disappear from the face of the earth then let it be in goodness and greatness.

At the end of the hui the Maori and their Pakeha associates met to consider some things relating to the Maori People. These were the subjects chosen:

1. The marriages of young Maori believers is a matter for themselves alone and they should be left to find whoever they desire; [10] they should not marry if they do not love one another lest they become disillusioned and separate. The Pakeha laid down this principle.

2. Effort should be put into holding services to awaken the faith in every place.

3. One deficiency of the Maori Church is the lack of people, apart from the clergy, to uphold the faith; the work is left to the minister alone, whereas the vitality of the Pakeha Church is a result of the support given to the minister by the people as a whole.

4. Medical work in Maori areas. Some Pakeha nurses wish to live in Maori villages. Pita Paaka stood to offer his services and his wisdom to the Maori church. This coming January he will become a doctor, having passed all his examinations. Pita’s wish is to serve as a doctor for his own people in Taranaki.

SLEEPING SICKNESS

A nasty and different disease has emerged in the inland parts of Africa, in Uganda and around the shores of Lake Victoria. This disease emerged in recent years, it is a very serious disease, and if a person contracts it they will die. About half the people in those lands have been infected and between 20,000 and 30,000 of the native people have died, but the disease is still spreading and is increasing. The governments of those lands are distressed at the prospect of their people being wiped out and no-one being left. Only the natives are being affected, not the Pakeha. If a person gets that disease his appearance changes, he does not sit down, he looks drunk, after many days the sleeping sickness takes hold, for a long time he is sleepless, then presently he lies down, falls asleep and dies, and no-one can wake him or bring him back. If the disease progresses swiftly a person will die in a month; if it goes on for long, it may take six months. At present nearly half the population has the sleeping sickness, and every day there are deaths. Knowledgeable doctors have arrived to examine the symptoms and to look for the cause of this disease. One doctor says that it attacks the brain of a person and that is why they die while sleeping. Doctors are urgently seeking the treatment for this terrible disease.

JOTTINGS

It is a very remarkable thing that there is no thunder and lightning at the Western end of the World.

Trouble has arisen among the Maori of Ohinemutu. Tera te Teira has accused Haora Tareranui of putting a spell on his relative, Hirawa Moananui. Te Teira said that if Moananui died he would shoot Haora. At the meeeting Te Teira withdrew his statement about shooting, but he still said that Haora had put a spell on Moananui, and that they should let a native tohunga rule on their quarrel, while Haora said that it should be investigated by the law. No resolution has yet been arrived at.

A leading clergyman from England and his wife have arrived in Gisborne from Taranaki. Their journey is for the purpose of urging the Church to support the Committee which provides Bibles for the whole world [The British and Foreign Bible Society]. This Committee prints the Bible in Maori and in 369 other languages. That man said that through the Bible, the Faith takes hold of the world. The Bible is different from any other book. If other books are printed in a different language it does not work, the power is lost; but the Bible retains its power. This Committee began when a minister saw a little girl, Mary Jones, going to town to get herself a Bible. There were not many Bibles in those days and to buy one cost a lot of money, but now through the Committee the cost is affordable. It is possible to buy The New Testament for a penny.

On 24th May, Rev Eru te Awarua was ordained priest by Bishop Neligan in Auckland, and on 31st Tuahangata Pereiha was ordained deacon by Bishop Williams to serve as minister in Rotorua.

All New Zealand was alarmed at the arrival of smallpox. It was brought here from India on the ship, ‘Gracchus’. It was identified rapidly in Lyttelton when one of the mates died. That man was buried at sea. One of the Indians was also infected. The ship and the people on board were placed in quarantine and their possessions were thrown into the sea or burned.

[11] The Pakeha of Gisborne are in a hurry to soon get possession of the remaining Maori lands. They want the purchasing to be open to all, and they are very opposed to the Council Law which slows matters down. At the meeting of the Farmers’ Union they proposed to get Pakeha onto the Council to upset the working of the Council. They are perhaps of the opinion that Maori will sell their lands if a major sale is proposed. The Pakeha say that lands lying idle should be taken by the Colony, but it is their own pockets which are the first consideration and afterwards comes the Colony.

The Prime Minister, speaking on his arrival in Kawhia from Wellington, said that the reason why a town was not being rapidly established at Kawhia was that nearby Maori were holding on to their lands. Now that King Mahuta has turned to helping the Government there are no strings attached to the lands of those Maori living near that place. Many Pakeha will want to live on those lands because roads have been built for the Pakeha. Previously the Government had no authority over the lands of the Maori under King Mahuta but from now on things are different. The time is coming when ships sailing to New Plymouth will stop at Kawhia. The railway will connect Kawhia to Otorohanga, 25 miles away, and from Otorohanga one can reach Auckland. The Prime Minister said that people living outside the Auckland district knew little about the good arising from Mahuta’s entering the Government. Mahuta and the people under him had consented to the workings of the Council. Nearly five million acres of Maori land do not have a European title at present. And it is believed that nearly 120,000 acres of these lands are under Mahuta’s jurisdiction.

An elderly Pakeha woman was murdered at Mangere, Onehunga. It is thought she was murdered by a Maori. The elderly lady lived by herself in her home.

On 21st May, Mr Neligan was consecrated as Bishop of Auckland by the Bishops of Waiapu, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin. Many people attended including the Maori clergy of the Diocese of Auckland. The Bishop of Christchurch preached. On another day Bishop Neligan was welcomed by Bishop Neville on behalf of the New Zealand Church, and by the Hon. [Edwin] Mitchelson, Mayor of Auckland, on behalf of the people of Auckland. In his response, Bishop Neligan said that it was not proper for the clergy to make known vigorously which side of Parliament they supported; they should vote but vote with sealed lips. And they are not to be disputatious for clergy who are will find their ministry diminishing; it will not be a strong one. Vote for the good, upright man, and not for the bad man.

Henare Peneti, of Taihape, younger brother of Rev Perere Peneti, has been gazetted as a J.P. To the best of our knowledge he is the first Maori to hold this office. Henare Peneti is a sawyer who works hard and carefully.

A piano is long in the making. The tree is cut down and lies there. When it has been lying for 40 years it is suitable for making a piano.

Lord Kitchener, is the commander, the chief of all the King’s soldiers in India. He is paid £6000 a year. He has held the office for seven years.

We Maori are very good at making faces. There is another people, a Chinese people, who greet their leaders in the same way. They take off their hats, make a face, and stick out their tongues three times.

Very few people know the virtues of the big leather hat, the ‘Feet Hat’. This is a great thing to keep a person afloat in the water. If you carefully lay the leather of the hat on the surface of the water it will cling to your chest. Using this a person can float for many hours.

Out of jealousy, a Maori from Rata, called Kereopa Ihaka, cut his wife’s throat with a sharp weapon, before trying to kill himself. That man injured himself in a disgusting fashion and is in Whanganui Hospital. His wife has not yet died.

On 30th of this month the sale of liquor will cease in Ashburton, Mataura and Chalmers, and we hear that the committees will not agree to the sale of alcohol in Newtown and Bruce. Most of the pubs in these places have been shut.

[12] CALENDAR: JULY

Day 10 Full Moon 5h 13m a.m.

Day 25 New Moon 0h 18m a.m.

1 W

2 Th

3 F Fast

4 S

5 S Fourth Sunday after Trinity

Morning Evening

1 Samuel 12 1 Samuel 13

Acts 12 Jude

6 M

7 T

8 W

9 Th

10 F Fast

11 S

12 S Fifth Sunday after Trinity

1 Samuel 15.1-29 1 Samuel 16

Acts 17.1-16 Matthew 5.1-33

13 M

14 T

15 W

16 Th

17 F Fast

18 S

19 S Sixth Sunday after Trinity

2 Samuel 1 2 Samuel 12.1-24

Acts 21.1-17 Matthew 9.1-18

20 M

21 T

22 W

23 Th

24 F Vigil, Fast

25 S James, Apostle Athanasian Creed

2 Kings 1.1-16 Jeremiah 26.8-16

Luke 9.51-67

26 S Seventh Sunday after Trinity

1 Chronicles 21 1 Chronicles 22

Acts 25 Matthew 13.24-53

27 M

28 T

29 W

30 Th

31 F Fast

………………………………………………..

A man and his fiancée in England have been engaged for 30 years. Around the time they reach 50 they are going to marry.

The Eketahuna Express newspaper was wrong about the Government reducing the fares of Maori going by train to a tangi, because the Government is strongly opposed to that bad Maori custom.

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A NOTICE

To those wanting a Prayer Book or Hymn Book. I now have plenty of books The prices are:

Large, soft cover 2/6

Large, red cover 3/-

Large, hard cover 4/-

Large, superior cover 5/6

Small, soft cover 1/-

Small, red cover 1/6

Small, hard cover 2/6

Small, superior cover 3/6

Hymns -/6

Clergy requiring Hymn Books can contact J Upton, Auckland, and the price will be less.

I will pay the postage to send the books to you

H W Williams,

Te Rau, Gisborne

People wanting a Bible or a New Testament should apply to the Bible Depository Sunday School Union, Auckland.

Bible, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6. Enclose a postage stamp for 1/-.

New Testament with explanatory headings 2/6, 3/-, 4/6. Enclose a postage stamp for 3d.

Small New Testament with Psalms 2/-, 2/6, 3/-, 3/6, 4/-. Enclose a postage stamp for 3d.

SUPPLEJACK SEEDS FOR OUR BIRD

5/- Mekameka, Hone Pomana, Tuterangi, Mrs McGrath, Rev A Rangi, Rev Mohi Turei, Mr F Bamford, Ani Kanara; 2/6 Taiwera Rawiri, Rutene te Arahi; 1/6 Hamiora Aparoa.

H W Williams, Te Rau Press, Gisborne.