He Kupu Whakamarama: Te Pipiwharauroa 75

Te Pipiwharauroa 75

No. 75

1904/05

[1] Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama, Number 75, Gisborne, May 1904

SUPPLEJACK SEEDS

I was at a place perhaps one hundred miles from Gisborne. It was a beautiful day, a cooling breeze blew from the sea, and the bush lay below me. As I looked I saw a child straight in front of me cradling a red bundle in his hands. The child came up to me while I was lying there and put his red seeds in a heap on the ground, saying to me, ‘Here are some supplejack seeds for Te Pipiwharauroa.’

I laughed in wonder and my heart was thankful that he had had the idea of looking for supplejack seeds for the bird which his young ears had heard calling, ‘Kui, kui, whiti whiti ora!’ My friends, you know of course that the seeds eaten by this Pipi are not red but circular, flat and silver. Some people who are receiving this paper are forgetting to feed our bird. They like to read it but they do not like to send money to support the paper. If anyone does not want the paper he should let us know, but if anyone goes on receiving the paper and gives no thought to paying for it it is not how a chief behaves, though some people perhaps just forget. Having a newspaper is a sign that we Maori are a people, those people who do not have newspapers are ignorant peoples, barbarian peoples.

PORIRUA

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa.

Greetings, friend. What I write concerns the Maori lands given into the hands of the Church. Recalling those people who charge the Church of England and some other Churches with this evil thing, namely theft, I have sent this article about Porirua. My purpose in sending it is to shine light on things that are obscure in the Church’s dealings. I am one of those who thought that what the Church did about some of those lands was very bad. When I saw how the administrators had gone about matters then things became clear in my mind. Perhaps it will be the case that some of you will be surprised at the lucidity of the Church Trustees’ management concerning Porirua. The Trustees are not working in the dark. We should not listen to the uninformed statements of outsiders, but if we have reason to make submissions to the Trustees criticizing their management, we should address them. Then our questions will be answered with a word of explanation. My article is not only about Porirua but about all the lands under the administration of the Church. The lands given by our ancestors to the church in former times are looked after by the Church for the benefit of the descendants of the Maori People. [2] Had it been left for us Maori to look after the land we would have eaten all the produce (or the drink) and we would be getting no benefits now.

From your fellow-worker,

Perere Peneti.

Bell Block, Taranaki.

…………………………………..

GIFT AT WHITIREIA

The size of this land is 500 acres. In 1848 the main Ngatitoa pa stood here. There were nearly 1000 people altogether in that pa. Two young chiefs of this tribe were educated at Selwyn’s school at Tamaki, Auckland, Matene Te Whiwhi and Tamihana Te Rauparaha. Maori and Pakeha learned together in that school in Auckland. These young chiefs conceived the idea of establishing a school like that at Tamaki in their own area. They gathered together their people to seek a way to establish a similar school for themselves. Then they gave that land, Whitireia, as the site for a College for the children of Maori and Pakeha, that they might grow up together according to the principles laid down by the Queen and knowing the way of Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

In August they wrote this letter to the Governor of New Zealand:

Otaki, August 16th, 1848.

Friend, Governor Grey, greetings. It is the case that we agree that Witireia [sic] should be the site of a college for the Bishop. We are not giving it as a home for the Bishop, but for him and the Bishops who succeed him to promote the principles of the Christian Faith and that it be left to provide a shelter to protect people from the many winds of the world, those of evil. Now that dwelling has been fixed to be a College for the Bishops of the Church of England.

Signed by us:

Te Rauparaha

Tamihana Te Rauparaha

Matene

Hoanai Te Okoro

Wiremu Kanae

Riwiri Puaha

Te Watarauihi Nohorua

Rawiri Hikihiki

Two years after this letter the Crown Grant was issued to Bishop Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand. Some of the statements of that Grant are as follows: Because a school is to be established at Porirua under the auspices of Bishop Selwyn to educate the children of all races and from the Islands; and because that school will prosper if a piece of land in that district is set aside to provide funding for that school, and the Maori have completed the signing of a Deed setting apart that place to provide funding for that school, this allocates to George Augustus, Bishop of New Zealand, and his successors, all that piece of land to provide funding and to benefit that school, during the times that the school teaches the principles of the Faith, agriculture, and English learning.

The words of this deed make clear the purpose for which that land was given by the Maori. The land was given as a site for and as a means of supporting a school. The school was for the education of Maori and Pakeha children, and also those from the Islands. The oversight of that school was to be by the Bishops of the Church of England in this Colony. One of the main purposes of the school was to teach the children the principles of the Faith.

On 24th August 1859 Bishop Selwyn delegated the management of that land to the General Synod of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, that is, the Church of England. From 1859 up to the present day the General Synod has elected Trustees every three years to administer that land. The Trustees send their Report to every meeting of Synod.

While Bishop Selwyn was alive efforts were made to establish a school there, but it did not happen. Two hundred pounds of the Bishop’s money was spent on clearing noxious plants and building fences. No-one wanted to lease that land and very little was raised from rents.

In the years 1853 to 1865 it raised £50 a year.

In the years 1865 to 1882 it raised £75 a year.

In the years 1882 to 1889 it raised £100 a year.

In the years 1889 to 1896 it raised £150 a year.

In the year 1897 it raised £200 a year.

In the year 1903 it raised £400 a year.

[3]

In the years 1865 to 1874 some of the money was used for the children being educated at Otaki. This is the only money that was used. All the money from the beginning has accumulated. The total amount being held up until 31st March 1903 is £8027 7s 10d.

The interest received on the money this past year was £316 18s 9d. The rent received for the year was £400. The total amount received during the year was £716 18s 9d.

(To be concluded.)

NEWS OF A MURDER AT WHANGANUI

There was a shocking murder committed at Pungarehu on the upper reaches of the Whanganui River. Tiwha and his wife and Hone and his wife were asleep in the same house. At 3 o’clock in the morning of the Saturday Hone and his wife were woken by their friends quarreling. At that time the woman ran from the other side of the house and fell upon Hone and his wife. Blood was flowing from the gash in her throat and it could not be stopped. Hone stood up and grabbed hold of Tiwha who was holding in his hands a razor covered with blood. He lashed out at Hone who ran outside to get help. When he went out Tiwha went to his wife and struck her and she died. Hata ran to help and as they struggled the murderer cut her hand with the razor. Her hand was injured. She ran outside the house and came upon her husband and father. When they returned to the house they found Tiwha outside. His throat was slashed and he was dying. Tiwha was 24 and his wife 19. The two of them had been slashed from ear to ear. The house was covered with blood. The cause of this murder was jealousy. The murderer would not leave his wife and at some times he never let go of the hand of his wife.

At the inquest it was found that the woman died at the hands of her husband and that he committed the murder when his thoughts were deranged and that he killed himself when he was of unsound mind. O love for a woman, what weighty retribution comes when a person’s thoughts are deranged by jealousy!

SOME SHORT SERMONS

Humanity was divided in two in the days of Noah, the people inside the Ark and those outside; there were two kinds of fish in the story, the good fish and the bad fish; the ten women fell into two groups, the wise and the foolish; there will be two flocks on the day of judgement, the sheep and the goats; there are two places where one may stand in the presence of God, on his right or his left; there are two places to which the whole world is travelling, heaven or hell.

……………………………….

It is the case that there is a road by which the sinful can avoid going to hell, but no road has yet been found by which a person can leave hell.

Jesus said, ‘I am the way.’ Abraham said to the rich man in hell, ‘There is a great chasm fixed between you and us.’ My friend, where are you going? To heaven or hell?

…………………………………

There are three steps which will bring a person to heaven. The three are these:

First, step outside of sin.

Second, step into Christ.

Third, step into heaven.

Jesus says, ‘I am the door.’ He also says, ‘Come to me.’ So it is for you to step towards Christ.

……………………………….

If you go to the railway you must buy a ticket. The train driver will look only at the ticket. If you have the right ticket then you will get to the place stated on the ticket. The guard will not look at your face, whether you are Maori or Pakeha, because it is your ticket rather that gives you the right to travel. If it is right then your travel is authorized. Similarly, my friend, do you have a ticket for heaven, even if you are travelling in the Church? There is only one ticket which will get a person to heaven and that is Christ alone, who said, ‘No-one comes to the Father except by me.’ Do not think mistakenly that your appearance will get you to heaven, no, you get there only by your ticket which is Christ. ‘There is no salvation in any other; there is no other name under heaven given to people whereby they may be saved.’

………………………………………..

When Bishop Neligan went to Taranaki last month 12 Maori were confirmed.

[4]

SOME ACCOUNTS OF TUHOE

By Taare Wherehi, Secretary of the Takitimu Council.

We of the East Coast, Maori and Pakeha, think that the Tuhoe Tribe (Te Urewera) are a tribe who have still got it wrong in that they hold on to traditional ways of thinking and doing things, they live as savages in caves and without clothing. When we arrived at the marae at Ruatoki where the hui was being held we got a surprise. We did not readily believe that that tribe was Tuhoe and that was their marae because of the quality of the people and their dress and other indications of the nobility of the people such as the excellence of the marae compared with those of the Maori tribes who live amongst the Pakeha. What follows is a continuation of the description of Tuhoe.

About the Tuhoe Tribe.

They are a good tribe, a peaceful tribe, a tribe that shows kindness to people, and they retain the mana of the Maori People being supportive and united under their chiefs. They are a tribe who are increasing in number with many people and many healthy children. There were I think around 100 children on the marae at Ruatoki. We were surprised to see the number of children; we do not see that here on the East Coast. It appeared that there were only about 10 of the 100 women who did not have children. Tuhoe preserves some Maori skills such as weaving garments and carving; the skilled workmanship of the decoration of their garments was excellent.

The Marae and the Houses.

Tuhoe are ahead of some areas of the East Coast here in their implementation of the regulations of the ‘Marae Council Act 1900’. They have many floored houses, most of them done since the passing of the Council Act. The meeting house has a floor, it is ventilated, there is an opening window in front, and it can hold 1000 people. The dining hall can hold 300 at a sitting. The sides are of sawn timber. Tuhoe have all the Pakeha table things and follow the Pakeha practices at meals.

Agriculture

Tuhoe are very committed to agriculture, more so than most of the people of the East Coast, as witness Tuhoe’s 600 acres of corn and potatoes this year. If they had this fertile land they would perhaps be working 1000 acres each year. It is the case that the land there is not as fertile as that here and the farmers there have to make heaps of vegetation to protect their growing food.

Possessions

Tuhoe have acquired all kinds of Pakeha goods – carthorses, ploughs and other agricultural implements, and buggies too. And it is not the case that only some have these things. No, they have acquired them in equal measure. This is remarkable because the Tuhoe tribe are not like the Tai-rawhiti who have access to much money from rents and other sources.

Hospitality

The short explanation that is adequate to describe the hospitality is the Pakeha saying that words cannot express the wonderful Tuhoe hospitality to those hapu who came to their marae. As far as Tuhoe was concerned there was neither night nor day, they provided the same welcome – speeches, haka, poi, songs and other welcoming practices, and showed that at present Tuhoe has the expertise in those arts. There was plenty of food, it was served continually and the hui did not want for cooked birds or other food. In fact there was too much to eat. The hospitality of Tuhoe even extended to giving gifts to the visitors.

The Hui

A thousand people gathered with Tuhoe. The main day was 16th March, 1904, the day when the Governor was welcomed. Eighty of Tuhoe stood, all in Maori dress, and another two hundred, not in Maori dress, joined them for the haka [peruperu]. It was awesome and excellent. Afterwards three groups from Tuhoe and one from Maketu performed the poi. The performance that earned the most praise was the war canoe poi in which was depicted the paddling, the closeness of the water, the wobbling of the canoe in the waves, and the breathing of the paddlers. The Tuhoe band stood again to welcome the Governor. After the entertainments the chiefs welcomed the Governor and present him with cloaks. There were ten cloaks and other Maori artifacts. After the speeches to the Governor he stood to respond. One wise Pakeha leader there said that this was the best speech they had heard from the Governor. He dealt with all the issues in his speech and there were no embellishments. Some of the matters in his speech were as follows. [5] Maori should be committed to helping and supporting the two Councils, the Land Council and the Marae Council. The Land Council will enable the retention of the remaining Maori land and will also enable it to be well run, and the Marae Council will turn the prow of the Maori people from the way to oblivion so that they do not disappear from this world. The Maori People should realize that those Councils are valuable possessions and that they are a great blessing given to the Maori People by the New Zealand Government. There are many peoples who do not have the power of self-determination which the Government has given them. They should work hard and seek the Pakeha ways of making money, working with their brains and working with their hands and doing other Pakeha things. They should work hard on the land, sheep farming, milking cows, raising poultry and doing other farming things, for if they work hard they will earn money and prosper and the Maori people will be like the Pakeha. Be diligent in supporting the children in their schools because it is through learning at school that a Maori person will be fitted for this new time. As for other powers demanded by the Maori People, he believed that they will not be withheld by Parliament if the Maori People implement those already given. Not a drop of liquor came onto the marae during the hui and we believe that was the case before and will be the case in the future. No foul language was heard.

The Schools

The Tuhoe schools are filled with their children. Some schools have 170 pupils. But many Tuhoe children are not at school according to the schools. Tuhoe are very keen on sending their children to school. Their problem is that there are no colleges nearby such as we have here to complete the education of their children so they are not catered for.

(To be continued.)

………………………………….

A electrified railway line is being built in England. It travels on a single rail, not two such as we have laid down. This will be the fastest train in the world travelling at 110 miles an hour. A railway with two rails can achieve this speed on a straight stretch, but the train on the single track will not topple because the rail is in the middle with the engine and carriages projecting on both sides.

THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO TE WHAITI

To Reweti Kohere. My friend, greetings to you, the director of our treasure. Best wishes. My friend, please load on board the few words which follow.

According to some of the people who came with the Governor to escort him and the Minister honourably to the marae of Ngati-whare at Te Whaiti, although there were fewer people, their marae, their welcome, their haka and the show of their clothes was superior. After the crossing of the river, Tawa, that is, Captain Mair, went ahead to the marae and stood with the main body of his tribe; Timi also went to the group lying on the marae of the house and when he got there he sat down before standing again. One man only had been chosen to do the greetings and to set forth the concerns of the tribe. The main matter was to urge the Minister to get the Government to take account of the plight of those hapu whose food had been washed away by the flood. It was agreed that action would be taken to fix that problem. At the conclusion of the discussions dinner was served. The arrangements were quickly made and the food was laid out. That dinner was served in the courtroom and the delicacies were pork, birds and other foods along with many fruits including peaches and pears. Doctor Pomare gave thanks. After dinner they left. There had been no difficulties. Enough of that, I return to the arrival at the great marae of Tuhoe. I was there and present at the crossing at Te Rewarewa. News came to the leading party that they would be challenged and Timi said to his people that if we were challenged we should take off our cloaks and he would take off his. When our brass band appeared, Timi said that the appearing of the band was Tuhoe’s signal that we should come on to the marae. The Union Jack flew to the right of the meeting house. Some people were in front of the house. Our own elders were gathered on the left of the house. A long way outside the marae the visiting party appeared led by Timi and the Governor. The Governor looked at the flags and then went to the door of the house. Timi quickly went and left this group in a space on one side to face the challengers.

Te Pari Whatanui Hoara,

Te Whaiti.

[6]

RUSSIA AND JAPAN

Japan Makes Tricky Progress

At the beginning of the war between Russia and Japan we said that there would be a major battle at the Yalu River. This river is also the border between Korea and Manchuria. The Japanese are in Korea and the Russians in Manchuria. In the early days of this month news emerged that there was conflict. We attended carefully to the matter and found that it was true. The Japanese tried to cross the Yalu and Russia tried to prevent them from crossing by building fortresses and smashing the bridges. When the right time came General Kuroki of the Japanese gave the order to cross over. The artillery fired and bridges were built. The Russians also began to fire from the riverbanks. The water was stirred up and turbid. Some of the Japanese soldiers ran into the water, crossing over and climbing out. Whatever the Russians fired at them the Japanese still came on. Climbing onto the banks they spread out over four miles and encircled the Russians. This marked the breaking of the Russians; they were struck down by the Japanese. The Russian artillery was abandoned. The Russian army of 30,000 was truly smashed. More than 2,200 Russian soldiers fell and 70 officers and perhaps more than 700 Japanese died, but theirs was the victory. The cause of the Russian defeat was their lack of vision on the part of their officers, unlike the Japanese, though it is true that they were good at firing their artillery. One Russian colonel was killed. The Japanese charge was overwhelming and could not be stopped. Of the 40 Russian machine guns, 28 were captured by the Japanese along with cannons and powder. Many prisoners were taken. Most of the Japanese fell at the river crossing where they floundered but did not turn back. It is reported that the Russian forts have been taken by the Japanese. There is still heavy fighting over the main forts in Manchuria. The Japanese have captured the two sides of the river now and small fighting ships are able to enter the river.

When the Russian forces were broken they were pursued by the Japanese who struck them down as they fled. Russia built a fort and the Japanese brought artillery onto the hills. The Russians did not think it was possible for anyone to transport guns there. Russia has been completely routed in Manchuria. They have abandoned Newchwang [Yingkow], a large fort on the coast.

General Kuroki is directing the attacks on the Russians on land and Admiral Togo is on the sea firing on Port Arthur. Togo twice sought to block the entrance to the harbour at Port Arthur by sinking some ships in the entrance but was unable to do so because of heavy gunfire from the land; he achieved it on the third attempt. Now Port Arthur is sealed off and the Russian fighting ships are unable to get out – they are imprisoned. The extreme bravery of the Japanese was seen in their blocking of Port Arthur. Those men have escaped other blockades. When the mist was lying low 12 ships sailed to the harbour entrance. They were going at full speed. However they were spotted by the Russians and were fired upon. Some of the ships were sunk before they could get there but eight arrived. At the destination the ships were flooded so that they sank. The men on board were going to their deaths. It is said that when the ships were sinking some of the young men climbed the masts firing their revolvers. Many died. Some were picked up and survived. Although Port Arthur has been cut off, six battleships remain on guard while the rest have gone to support the soldiers on land. Port Arthur is on a headland but, now that all the hinterland has been taken by the Japanese, it is besieged. Dalniy [Dairen], a town above Port Arthur has been taken by the Japanese, the railway has been cut, so that if Port Arthur does not fall it will be defeated by starvation. However it is thought that Japan will not fail to take over Port Arthur and Vladivostok, Russia’s harbours in the East. Japan has installed thousands of soldiers behind Port Arthur and in other places in Manchuria. When 10,000 soldiers were landed, there were 16 warships pounding the shore as the soldiers landed beneath the shelling The whole world is astounded at the bravery, the strength, and the skill of this nation, Japan, which is hemming in the Russians so disastrously.

General Kuropatkin is assembling his soldiers in Manchuria to stop the Japanese. It is said that his troops number 100,000. It will be a major battle when Kuropatkin meets Kuroki, but perhaps Russia will be defeated because the Japanese are unstintingly brave [7] and are not afraid to die. The leading warriors in this war are Admiral Togo and General Kuroki.

A cable says that Russian warships will not be permitted to travel from Europe to the East.

HOME NEWS

The grandson of Tame Parata MHR is at Selwyn College, Dunedin, studying to be a minister for the Maori of Otago [?or Otakou].

On 11th of this month the Hinemoa visits Gisborne carrying Mr Seddon and his wife. The Prime Minister has been very ill and the doctors ordered him to take a trip on the Hinemoa for a rest and to get away from office work. The Hinemoa is inspecting the lighthouses.

Last month a hui was held in the Uawa district at Paetawa. There were three groups involved in this hui. (1) It was a Ringatu hui, (2) it was a hui for Wereta and (3) it was a meeting of the Takitimu Marae Council. We thought that the activities of tohunga were a nightmare to the Marae Council and that they were not friends to go about arm in arm.

The wealth of the Colony is increasing. In the year which ended in March the income was £7,130,116, the expenditure was £6,434,281, the surplus being £999,740.

Morrin's hardware store [T & S Morrin & Co Ltd] in Auckland was destroyed by fire. The value of all the things consumed by the fire was £80,000. The courage of the firemen fighting the fire was seen. Eight of them nearly died. Moore, a halfcaste, was one of the leaders of the fire-fighting team who was nearly burned in the fire.

The money given at the dedication of the church at Tuparoa was £666. It is said that this church, St Matthew’s, is the finest church in the Ngati Porou area.

A Kaiapoi Maori has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his adultery with his close family.

Matene Kaipau, a Gisborne tohunga, was found guilty of causing the death of Heta te Kani. His sentence was a fine of £50 or a year in prison. It was clear that Heta was dying but Matene hastened his death.

CATCHING SHARKS

A Pakeha living in the islands has written to a New Zealand newspaper about how the natives of an island called Aitutaki catch sharks. He said: ‘Many people do not believe the way the native people of this island catch sharks by tying a rope to their tails and hauling them up, but it is very true. The sharks live in caves in the sea and are four or five feet long or even larger.’ J T Large (Administrator of Mangaia) and J C Cameron (Administrator of Aitutaki) and some native chiefs of this island went by boat to a place where the fish lived: one was seen at that place. They came to the shark fishing ground at Maaia [?Maina]. Rikiau and Tima, both natives, went down to look for the sharks. When they found them they went down again with the rope. They dived and resurfaced many times before they got the rope around the tail of the shark. When they got the rope attached the natives swam to a different place and we began to hoist up the shark but the fish was so angry that the rope was cut and it went away with part of the rope. The natives knew that that fish would not go far away, and it had entered another cave at Maungapu. When we arrived there, the fish was there, untied, with two others. The natives went down again, each with a rope, and one went in one end of the cave, the other in the other end. They were gone for a long time and caught two sharks, one being the one that had escaped. We got both of them onto the boat. When we got to land we distributed the fish between the families of the swimmers and there was a feast. The natives know that they will not be bitten by the sharks and if they come upon a small fish they will turn it so that the tail is on one side and can be tied with the rope. I have not heard of any other native people catching sharks in this way; this is not a story but the truth.

………………………….

There are 661 lawyers in New Zealand, one lawyer for every 1324 people or one for every 330 men. Wellington is the place with most lawyers, 161. In Auckland there are 122, in Otago 106, in Canterbury 101, in Taranaki 44, in Hawkes Bay 33, in Southland 30[?], in Hokitika 25, in Gisborne 17, in Nelson 14 and in Blenheim 8.

[8]

THE MURDER AT PUKEARUHE

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa.

Greetings, friend, the director of the treasure which cries out as it goes, ‘Whiti, whiti, ora!’ I salute our treasure carrying enlightenment to people living in dark places. Such are my greetings to you.

My friend, the Editor, I have something to say on the subject raised in the letter of Roka H Hopere to Nikora in Te Pipi, Number 72, for the month of February, namely the statement that Taranaki killed Mr Whiteley at Pukearuhe.

I disagree with that statement. Let me explain carefully that trouble. Mr Whiteley was struck down by Ngati Maniapoto at Pukearuhe in February 1869. Taranaki was not at Pukearuhe at that time but Taranaki set themselves up as soldiers to avenge Mr Whiteley’s death at that time. You must know that their chief at that time was Ihaia Kerikumara. He was appointed a Major in the Militia. Te Rerenga was the leader of the Ngati Maniapoto party. When the party from Taranaki arrived there was no-one about and the pa had been burned down. The dead who where lying in a heap were Mr Whiteley, a Pakeha officer (Lieut. Gascoigne) and his wife and three children, and two other Pakeha. They were brought to New Plymouth for burial. Some of the Pakeha were cajoled into going away to see pigs. When they arrived they were struck down. Mr Whiteley was shot as he climbed up to the pa. I am keen to elucidate this matter lest Taranaki be given a bad name. Maniapoto should take responsibility for its doings and not wrongly saddle Taranaki with this atrocity.

From your friend,

Tutanuku Tume.

Purangi,

Taranaki,

April 4th, 1904.

CONCERNING THE FAITH OF WAIKATO

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa.

I have seen what you said in paper Number 72 about ending this argument peacefully. Yes, one day the paper did cause us some regrets. However there are reasons why I send my own few words about some of what Roka said, and about what the Editor and Hangi Rawhiti said. The Editor said that Roka did not believe Nikora. My opinion of the Editor’s statement is this: Roka is a resolute woman when it comes to agreeing with something she perceives as right. When I wrote the two of us were both living here in Taupiri but she did not say that what I said was right. Why did she not speak to me about taking it away and I would have corrected it? This is evidence to me of a lack of kindness and, as I see it, her words claiming that the people within Waikato held on to the Faith are wrong. But I found no fault with her words about the loyal Maori and the ministers. It is true that in my first letter I said it was Waikato and so in her reply Roka separated out those who held on to the Faith. She did not say that it was right that most abandoned the faith as I said in my first answer to her statements. The tens were not mentioned because it was thousands who abandoned the Faith, those were the tens. Therefore I put forward the name of Te Awhenga a loyal Maori who was to become a Tariao minister and the name of Kingi who, with Wharerangi, said to burn our Faith in the fire. Roka said he was angry with me, but he was not angry with me, rather he was angry at the religion. However from her writings Roka appears almost ready to agree that most of Waikato abandoned the Faith, as seen in her words in Te Pipi, Number 72. It says that those people and those religions were not those of loyal Maori. Because of her stubborn heart she would not agree that most had left the Faith leaving behind the loyal Maori and for that reason I spoke about the shooting of Mr Whiteley. So it was that I said that he was shot by Waikato; Roka said it was by Taranaki. Let me say this on the matter, perhaps both of us, Roka and I, have been misled by the speakers since neither of us saw the shooting. The boundary of Waikato is Mokau to the south and Tamaki to the north and that is why I spoke so definitely about Waikato. I heard that he was not killed by Taranaki. I have seen a copy of Wahanui’s letter to a Taranaki man concerning the death of Mr Whiteley. The words of that letter are proverbial. Here it is.

‘My friend, I have killed my beloved’s fatted calf and have smeared the blood on the cliff at Parininihi. My friend, do not wash away the red ochre from my face, the gift of Rua-te-mutu, of Tautahi, lest our child, the source of all, be angry.’

[9]

This cliff, Paraninihi, is the boundary of Taranaki and Maniapoto. Enough, even though I have explained matters Roka will not agree.

Nikora Tautau

[Nikora Tautau’s article about his dispute with Roka Hopere is very long and because the paper is full we have not printed it all, but his purpose is very clear in the portion of his letter that we have printed. Nikora is right when he says that Waikato abandoned the Faith and Roka is also right when she says that loyal Maori held on to the Faith right up to the year 1885. – Editor.]

NEWS FROM ABROAD

We have heard news from Utah, America, that the young men of the Mormon Church have asked the elders of their church to bring an end to polygamy because the practice has been outlawed. It is said that perhaps the Mormon Church will be destroyed because the elders insist on accumulating many wives.

The indigenous people of Tibet are in difficulties as they fight against the army of General Younghusband. That people attacked the English but were defeated, and 250 of them died in the fighting.

A wonderful exhibition has opened in St Louis, in the United States of America, It is the largest exhibition in the world. Every country has a stand at this huge event, including New Zealand. The size of the area covered by the buildings, the gardens and the lakes is 1240 acres.

The length of the Siberian railway from St Petersburg to Port Arthur is 5,890 miles. The cost of building it was £80,000,000. It took ten years to build; it is said that three miles were completed in a single day. The main reason for the building of the railway was to carry soldiers in the event of war. This is the only way Russian soldiers can get to the East. The troop trains travel continually every day, arriving after travelling for two weeks. At Lake Baykal there is a break in the railway and the crossing is made by boat, or the men travel over the ice – the lake is 40 miles across.

A RIDING TRAGEDY

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa.

Greetings, my friend, you wind, stirring under the wings of our bird, the bird that makes clear to us the practices and the desires of the days that have passed, right up to these days. For this reason I pray to you that you will be so good as to publish the following story to inform our friends who live in every place in the four corners of Aotearoa and across to Te Waipounamu.

On 28th February last, two children went on a journey. The village they left was Te Touwai. One of the children was a girl aged 14 called Nga Huia Tautika, the other was a boy of 8 called Eruera Tautika, a brother and sister. They got on their horses. This child’s saddle was a woman’s saddle on which one sat sidesaddle. One of the straps was of flax. Spurred on by the girl they set out for a Pakeha village. There was a flax mill there. Their elder brother lived there with his friend and worked at the mill. The children went along the road to a place where there was a hotel. They left the hotel behind and went on. They got to a place where Eruera’s horse was startled. When it shied the bridle dropped from the girl’s hand. The horse turned around and bolted. The boy was keeping in the saddle with difficulty. He turned sideways on the horse and called out, ‘Hui, be quick. I’ll be killed.’ Nga Huia tried to chase. The boy fell with his foot trapped in the stirrup and was thrown about as they went. Nga Huia cried and pursued it but was unable to catch it. She also fell and was pulled along as far as the hotel. The boy was found by a Pakeha who freed the child’s foot. He was dying. When a Pakeha reached him he had died. He was taken by the Pakeha into the hotel. A telegram was sent to the Policeman at Te Kawa Kawa who came. The day was Sunday. The inquest was on Tuesday and the burial on Wednesday. These children are my grandchildren.

Enough of the words I have written. Best wishes, best wishes.

From your loving friend in the Lord,

Te Atimana Wharerau.

Taumarere,

Pewhairangi.

[10]

HUI AT KAIPARA

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa.

Friend, greeting. Please publish this article for the people of this island to see. On 26th March 1904 this tribe, Ngati Whatua, that is, Te Uriohau, held a large hui at Pouto, Kaipara. The object of the hui was the raising of the Memorial Stone of our ancestor, Haumoewa-rangi. All the tribes gathered - Waikato, Te Hoe-a-Tainui, Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi, Putuharakeke, Ngatikawa, Hokokeha, Ngatiwhatu, and Rarotonga, along with the Pakeha. These were the tribes which met up here on this day, 26th March. On 28th March the Governor and the Minister, Timi Kara, arrived. There were copious greetings from the chiefs and elders of this hapu, Uriohau. The elders’ greetings were brought on before the elders’ speeches which were completed at night, and which expressed loyalty to the Queen, for this tribe has not shed blood from times past up to the present. When the Maori speeches were finished the Governor stood. He spoke words of greeting to the assembled tribes. He instructed us that we should work hard at getting education – the Councils and the children. The children should be sent to school. But he said many good things. However the thing that touched our hearts was the admiration and love in his speech.

When he finished speaking, Timi Kara stood. He said similar things. He greeted the tribes and his instructions were like those of the Governor. When Timi Kara finished the band played and the anthem was sung for King Edward VII. The band played. Afterwards the Governor and the minister and their wives and also Te Kitohi, a minister of the Wesleyan Church, mounted horses and went to unveil the memorial. Because the elderly chiefs were speaking, Hemi Parata Pomare decided that the Governor should unveil the memorial. The Governor, all the people, the soldiers and the band, and the soldiers escorting the Governor, and the Minister and their wives were at the place. After the unveiling of the memorial the Governor again saluted his Maori people whom he was leaving behind when he returned to his home, England. Then one of the chiefs, Reihana Kena, stood and presented the Governor with the Maori cloaks that had shrouded the memorial. He accepted those cloaks. We were very grateful to these important people who came to this arm of the sea, to Kaipara, and that during the lifetime of the elders this personage, the Governor, had come to Kaipara. The chiefs made many farewell speeches to the Governor on the occasion of his return to England expressing the love felt for this Governor. The elders made similar speeches to the Governor saying that perhaps the next Governor would be like him. ‘You only have travelled to see your Maori people. Perhaps your successor will not likewise come to see the Maori people.’ In his reply he said that he would be pleased if the Governor who succeeded him did the same. Three hundred people attended this hui. This was a great hui for this tribe, Uriohau, and for Ngatiwhatu too. God has given to his servants to do all these things and so we have good works and love and works of faith, and not the practices of the Maori world – there were no Maori tohunga. May God protect all of you and us as well.

From your servant in the Lord,

Tuparata P Kena.

Pouto,

Kaipara.

April 9th, 1904.

[Haumoewarangi’s memorial is a large and beautiful stone with the statue of that elder standing on the stone base. He is wearing a piupiu [paki] and holds a patu in his hand. His tattoo appears to have been carved. It is a very fine memorial. This brave elder died many years ago but his name and his love have not been forgotten by his descendants and his tribe. Best wishes to you, Te Uri-o-Hau! – Editor]

……………………………………….

Together the fighting ships of Russia and France equal those of England. One of the important tasks of the warships is to protect cargo vessels. The total tonnage of the English ships is 16,000,000 tons while that of all the other peoples is 17,500,000 tons. The value of the cargoes transported by English ships in a single year is £1,200,000,000. The cost of running the English fleet is £40,000,000 a year!

In 1836 there were 945 Moriori men and 727 women. Now there are only eight full Moriori living. The youngest of them is 20 years old but there is no Moriori wife for him. Consequently it is said that he is the last of the Moriori.

[11]

A PARABLE

The Cats and the Monkey

The two cats fought over their bread. One said it was his and the other that it was his and the result was that they were both pulling at it. Now a monkey saw the cats struggling with each other and asked, ‘My friends, why are you arguing?’ The cats replied, ‘We are fighting for this bread.’ Then the monkey said, ‘Fine, don’t fight. It is better that you settle your argument peacefully. I shall be judge and will settle your dispute.’ The monkey took some weighing scales. He cut the bread in two and put the pieces in the scales. But he had made one of the pieces heavier than the other and so the scales were not balanced. The monkey bit off a piece of the larger piece, but then the other piece was heavier. So he bit off a piece of that one and then the other piece was heavier. The cats were watching carefully. Soon the bread was almost all eaten. And the cats cried out, ‘Monkey, hold on, hold on! Whereupon the monkey said, ‘Why should I hold on? The remainder of the bread is my pay,’ and he swallowed what was left. The monkey went away with his scales and the two cats looked at each other, and they both said, ‘Lad, that cunning rascal has put one over us.’

This is the message of that parable. Don’t be in a hurry to go to Law, to go to lawyers, lest when judgement is given all your land or goods has been taken by the lawyers or the Law, and you find yourself looking dispiritedly at your land which has gone to the lawyer. He is the one who profits. If perhaps you get back part of it, it will not be worth the money you spent on the case.

…………………………………………

Te Pipiwharauroa is like Pakeha newspapers throughout the world in criticizing the activities of tohunga. For there have been strong articles in those papers in the places visited by Dowie, the Pakeha tohunga. We wrote an account of him last month. But Dowie is better than the cunning tohunga that the Maori yearn for. If their tohunga are attacked Maori are angry, while the Pakeha support the newspapers who criticize the charlatans.

THE TOHUNGA AND THE MORMONS.

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa.

Hello and best wishes. May the Almighty bless, preserve and keep you so that you live long to produce the bird which sings so well to the Maori world, bringing understanding of the world to the un-educated, the poor, the solitary ones and orphans, and the strangers. The Mormon Maori tohunga, Wereta, is travelling around here. I went with the apostle. He asked what news have you heard of the serious illness of their girl. We were near the hospital of Karamaene. I pointed out the hospital. He said to me that he was an apostle with the ability to save the child but he was not able to cure a cold. My friend, it is better to do nothing than to go to those people.

A Mormon came to me and asked why children were baptized. I said to him that they too are persons and Christ has said that they should not be prevented from coming to him.

A tohunga come to me and told me that he would put a curse on me. As for me, I am content to die for the Gospel.

From you affectionate friend,

M Paraone.

Manaia.

Pages

Te Pipiwharauroa 75

No comments:

Post a Comment