Te Pipiwharauroa 78

Te Pipiwharauroa 78

No. 78

1904/08

(Maori Version at NZETC.)

[1] Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama, Gisborne, August 1904.

THE PROGRESS OF MARRIAGE

I thought that Paora Hopere’s thoughts had ceased. He said that he would not answer my questions unless I printed his articles in full. However we have received his article on that subject – the ten wives of Abraham and other Jewish ancestors. I pointed out the reason why Paora Hopere’s article was not printed; it was because we’d already printed this material in Te Pipiwharauroa.

We are not unfamiliar with the many wives of Abraham and the others; and we know also that it was not condemned by God, that is, there was no word from God written down which condemned that practice in those days when God was ‘silent’.

Polygamy was practised by the Jews in those times, but they do not practise it now. It was done by people in ignorance who were living in darkness. When they became wise, the people abandoned the practice. A wise people, an enlightened people, does not retain this practice. Mormon thinking is a return to ignorance and darkness. It is said that God approves of polygamy, but we say that people have got to know God better because they know that polygamy is a wicked practice.

If we look at how the peoples of the world practise marriage it is clear that marriage has progressed and become better. The worst thing is promiscuous relationships between a man and a woman or between a woman and a man, like the animals. One manifestation of this is when one woman has many men. The people of Tibet still hold on to this custom. The custom of that people is that the older and younger brothers have the one wife. What I am saying is outside the pages of the Bible but I believe that the Jewish custom of younger brothers marrying the wife of their elder brother and elder brothers marrying the wife of their younger brother derives from this practice. They consider that the wife is part of the one family and in this they differ from the people of Tibet; if one of them dies then another marries his wife. (See Matthew 22.23-33.) In addition to this custom of one wife for many husbands, we have that of one husband and many wives. This was the practice of Abraham and others; it is the practice of those peoples who have not yet seen the light; and it is the practice supported by the Mormons. I think that this custom was one taken over by the Jews from foreigners. In addition to  this we have one man marrying one woman. This is the practice of those people who have been enlightened and it is the practice of the Gospel, of the New Testament. It is clear to us that the Mormons wish to go backwards.

It was God’s intention when he created human beings that a man should have only one wife. Polygamy was not condemned in the days of Abraham and the rest because of their ignorance. It was the custom of the time but it was not right. Indeed it was God’s purpose that if a man married a woman he could not abandon her, but because of the hardness of the hearts of the Jews divorce was permitted. [2] In response to Jewish questioning, Christ explained that it was wrong to divorce a wife. Had they asked whether it was right or wrong for a man to marry several wives, such wrongdoing would not have been countenanced. The Jews did not ask because they had already abandoned that custom. It is also clear to us that the New Testament way is that a man should have only one wife.

There are many Jewish customs which are condemned these days about which there is no word of condemnation from God, God was ‘silent’.

(1) Making slaves of people. This practice is not approved of by wise peoples now.

(2) The killing of women and children in time of war. This practice is not approved of by the great powers today, nor is the killing of the wounded and prisoners.

(3) Polygamy. A man marrying many wives.

If the Mormons support one of these practices, let them support all of them. Let them have slaves and let them kill women and children because there was no word of condemnation from God. But they do not behave like this. It is only polygamy that they approve of since women satisfy the desires of the flesh. There is no instruction from God telling a man to have several wives, but he clearly says that women and children should be killed in time of war. It is wrong to say that these practices are right, and that people are better than and are more enlightened than God, because it is obvious that these practices are very wicked. Evil results from a man having many wives – envy, quarrels, hatred and murder. Certainly the wives of Abraham and Elkanah lived in enmity; and Solomon was brought down by having many wives. During New Testament times the Jews returned to the ancient custom of a man having only one wife. Perhaps the Mormons are preaching to the Jews that they should return to their old ways because the Jews have abandoned this custom?

The attraction for the Mormons of this practice springs from a lust for women, a desire to satisfy the lusts of the flesh and not from a conviction that it is right and that what Abraham and the others said was the last word on the matter. The Mormons know that this practice is wrong but the elders hold on to this custom and consequently the young people were angry.

Paora Hopere is sad for me that I was not born in the days of Moses for then I could have stood up and condemned those men who took two wives. I in turn am sorry for Paora Hopere that he was born in these enlightened days and that he was born in New Zealand because this means that he cannot fulfil his desire to have several wives. The best thing for Paora Hopere would be to go amongst the black people where polygamy is not condemned, even if he will never beat King Solomon’s record of a thousand wives.

It is not my wish to answer Paora Hopere’s articles and I also agree with what he has written about Abraham and the others having several wives. It is a waste of time talking to Paora Hopere because his eyes do not see and he does not wish to see. But my desire was to point out the development of marriage and for all of us to appreciate that polygamy is a custom from the days when people were ignorant, like the practice of slavery. The progress or decline of the people depends on the state of marriage. What will the children think if their parents are having illicit intercourse or practising adultery? What will children think if the husband of their mother is not their father or the wife of their father is not their mother? Will they not be bewildered and doubtful? People, do not go ignorantly sleeping around lest our children grow up with bad ideas and lest the stature of the people declines. Let marriage be held in honour. [Hebrews 13.4]

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Trouble has arisen between Russia and England over Russia’s seizure of a cargo ship, the [?Maraka - ?Malaga]. The Malaga has been released. Afterwards Russia fired upon another English ship. England condemns this. A fight is starting over these actions.

[3] 

TIBET

It is many months since Te Pipiwharauroa published an account of the journey of the English army into the land of Tibet. On 9th of this month a telegram arrived telling of the arrival of Colonel Younghusband’s force at Lhasa, the main town of Tibet. Friends, take a look at the location of this country. It is to the north of India, to the west of China and to the south of Siberia. It is the highest country in the world which is why it is called ‘the roof of the world’. There is here a large lake at an altitude of 15,000 feet. The border between Tibet and India is the range of mountains called the Himalayas. The highest peak is Everest which is nearly 5 miles high and for this reason it is called 'Where earth met heaven.'  Younghusband’s party crossed these mountains.

The religion of Tibet is Buddhism, the religion which has as its aim oblivion. Each Buddhist seeks to negate himself, to be lost to this world, like a candle flame which is extinguished. The Buddhist religion is one of the largest in the world. It is the religion of India, Tibet, China and Japan. The supreme leader of this religion is the Dalai Lama who lives in Tibet. Tibet is known as the ‘sacred land’ and it is home to the Buddhist religion and where the supreme leader [lama] lives. There are as many as 20,000 monks so the main occupation of the people is providing food and seeking sustenance for their monks. The people, as a whole, are slaves to the monks. Because Lhasa is sacred no foreigners may enter the city; they turn back at the borders of the country. When the English army came to the borders there was fighting in which the monks served as officers but the soldiers did not retreat. The Tibetans ordered the soldiers not to enter Lhasa lest the city be profaned and the supreme lama be alarmed and die. However the soldiers entered, the sacred city was profaned, and there is no word that the supreme lama was startled and died. It is said that only three strangers had ever entered Lhasa, but in these days it is full of the soldiers. The reason for sending this army was that the Tibetans had broken their treaty with the Government of India. It is said that Russia meddled in Tibet to annoy the English. Most of the soldiers in the English force are Indians.

The people of Tibet are Mongolians like the Chinese, and their main occupation is raising sheep. Their main foods are milk, butter and barley. The Tibetans are great traders, travelling to distant places to sell their wares. The animals they use to carry their goods are oxen and sheep. These people greet one another by sticking out their tongues and scratching their right ears; one sticks out his tongue and the other sticks out his tongue back, and if they dilate their eyes that is even better. Another custom of these people is having only one wife in a family; the one wife is shared by the brothers. This practice is an elder relation to that of the Mormons who say that there should be one husband for a family of women. The Tibetans are a very religious people. At some times a person will lie down flat and be pulled over the snow right around the city of Lhasa. If a person achieves this he knows that he will get to heaven. An important practice amongst the Buddhists is to utter the name of their prophet, Buddha, continually and in all places. They believe that if they utter the name of Buddha a sufficient number of times they will get to heaven. However, because they are afraid that they will get weary of saying prayers they construct wheels which go round and round containing their prayers, and people say that wheels turned by water will go on turning and not stop. This gives significance to the saying of Christ who said, ‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.’ [Matthew 6.7]

A LETTER TO US FROM RAROTONGA

To Mr Williams: my friend, greetings. Best wishes to you, and may God protect you. My friend, I have a favour to ask of you, that you would send a Pipiwharauroa to me here in Rarotonga. The name is:

Nia Hare, Ngatangiia, Rarotonga.

When it arrives I will send the money. Best wishes.

plasource from which people originated, and where they go down to the afterlife. Certainly we will send our bird soaring to those marae, but don’t forget to send us stories for him to carry. – Editor.]

[4] 

WORDS OF PRAISE

To R T M Kohere.

My friend, greetings. This comes, my friend, from us who live here and with our memories and our heartfelt thoughts and also our love for Mrs Grant and her family. Our parents have departed from us, who were so kind to us in the many troubles and pains of the world which afflicted us and our children during the past six years. My friend, how much goodness they showed us, feeding our children, giving them clothes and teaching them, and nurturing  the growing faith in this area. Our hearts wonder how will manage in days to come? My friend, they showed love to everyone, but we were quiet about it. Now we appreciate how Miss Grant came to open the school, a gesture of real humanity and true love. But if there are such people it is nothing to me because we have been parted. The situation is that we have not found a master for the school. However, Miss Grant and her elder sister are still here teaching our children. Consequently we hold them in our hearts. My friend, the Faith is a precious possession, a precious possession [?tupatoria] also to be taken up by genuine people, and I long for the young people to take up the Faith, for Christ died for us. Secondly, let people remember that, whatever a person thinks and whatever precautions he takes in order to remain healthy and live on, death comes in the end. Therefore it is better to follow the ways of the Faith so that, when death comes, body and soul will be well and the careful soul will arrive in heaven. Also, the Scripture says that the Lord will not say to the person who takes his name in vain, ‘You are without sin.’ You know many such sayings.

My friend, do not weary yourself with this letter if it is not correct.

Greetings in the Lord.

Your humble servant,

Matenga Keepa.

Karioi, Ruapehu.

EARTHQUAKE

On 9th of this month a strong earthquake hit these islands; the trees thrashed about, many chimneys toppled down, windows of houses were shattered, some houses collapsed, and telegraph poles fell down in Hastings. Wellington was the town that suffered most. Many houses were destroyed and women and children fled outside in fear. But although this was a strong earthquake no-one was killed. At Castle Point the land split open and water gushed out in some places. The quaking lasted for five minutes. Some people averted their heads and some said that they felt quite ill as they attempted to stand. Judge Cooper was presiding in court when the earthquake hit. He ran outside along with the lawyers, the priests, the clerks and the people in the court. The men of Te Rau College went outside. When they returned inside the building they resumed their lesson. When one of them looked at his Bible his eye rested on Amos 1.1, ‘and in the days of Jeroboam, son of Joash, King of Israel, two years before the earthquake.’ He did not know that there was mention of the earthquake in this verse.

AN EXAMPLE

To Te Pipiwharauroa.

Greetings! I am very sorry that I have not sent supplejack seeds to support your wings so that you have the strength to fly to my place. It will be done, bird. Why did it happen? I was not rejecting you but you simply slipped my mind. So this is to give you strength and to enable you to live long.

So I send 5 shillings for July to the end of 1903, 5 shillings for July 1904 which has just passed, 5 shillings for the coming July 1905, and 5 shillings for the coming July 1906. I think my reckoning is right. You will know. I think you should send a bill each year as do the Pakeha newspapers. So I send you £1.

From your affectionate friend,

H K Taiaroa.

Taumutu, Waipounamu.

[5] THE DOCTOR AND THE TOHUNGA

I hear some ignorant people saying, ‘The tohunga is the same as the doctor; some sick people die under the doctor and some die under the tohunga.’ If one looks carefully at these words they will be seen to be wrong; but for a thoughtless person they appear right. Let’s look at the education of the doctor. When he is little he goes to school, leaving school he goes to a different school, and eventually he arrives at college. Then he begins to learn about all the parts of a human being – the muscles, the bones, the flesh, the joints of the bones, and about all illnesses and the treatments. After being examined he is admitted as a doctor.And because of the number of Pakeha doctors a person can choose who he wants.A person may study for from five to ten years before becoming a doctor. Because he is continually observing his patients’ illnesses he is always increasing his knowledge. Now consider the learning of Maori tohunga. A man’s brain is affected and he goes mad, although he says he is the vehicle of a spirit and not mad. In these days tohunga are not people taught in a wharekura [building in which a tohunga imparted esoteric lore to his pupils – Williams] or brought up in sanctity, but are crafty people, people who have done bad things, who have been in prison and who are lazy. These are the people considered right to be tohunga in these days and they are followed by crowds and supported by chiefs, members of Parliament and ministers of the Church.

Te Pipiwharauroa has not omitted to point out the errors of native tohunga. The evil is their leading astray people’s thinking. To the Pakeha it is a bad thing for a sick person to go around without anything on their feet, but this is the practice of Karepa and his wife. The sick go about without shoes even though it is winter. It is only because their sickness is not serious that the sick do not all die. The ignorant tohunga despise and condemn the work of the doctors, which is done on the basis of long experience and knowledge.

To show how people trust the tohunga I shall tell about the death of the granddaughter of a chief. That child became seriously ill and one of the best doctors was called to tend to that child. The doctor said that the child should be carefully nursed but the time was near when Wereta was holding a hui at Pakirikiri that year and the grandfather wanted to take his grandchild to the prophet. When the doctor heard he refused to allow the child to be taken but the grandfather insisted. The doctor was so distressed that on the day they were to travel to Gisborne he went to the railway station to argue with them and to seize the child as if it were his own., but the child’s parents and grandparents would not give in – they were convinced of the great power of the tohunga. When they arrived at Pakirikiri they stayed in a tent – this was winter, mind you. The child’s illness rapidly became worse. The prophets and the tohunga were brought to massage and pray and chant, but to no purpose because the illness had been exacerbated by the cold. When the child was near death it was taken to the doctor but before long it had died here in town. The mother’s child was carried home as a corpse.

Perhaps Wereta would say that the child died because it was taken to the doctor and not because it was taken away from the doctor. Although his grandchild died because he took notice of the tohunga the grandfather’s opinion of Wereta has not changed and he is increasing his support and is going to catch up with his tohunga on his travels. The Pakeha has a saying, ‘There is none so blind as he that will not see.’

OVERSEAS NEWS

In the rowing race for the world championship, Tressider was beaten by Towns. Towns is from Australia.

One of the leading Ministers of the Russian Government has been murdered. His name is Plehve. He was travelling in his carriage when the assassin ran up and put dynamite under the carriage. Plehve was blown to pieces and many other people were killed. The assassin was captured. The man said that he had been ordered to kill the minister. He was involved in such evil things.

Russia is very happy that the Queen has given birth to a son. She has five daughters and one son. Russian law says that a woman cannot rule Russia as Queen.

[6] 

RUSSIA AND JAPAN

The conflict between Russia and Japan is still growing. Port Arthur is being destroyed by the Japanese and General Kuropatkin and his army are being driven back still by General Kuroki, General Oku, and General Nodya, in Manchuria. There warriors will not retreat.

One side is defeated then the other side is defeated. It is thought that the Japanese have suffered most losses; it is also responsible for attacking the fortresses. The Japanese will not retreat or flee. Their determination is such that if they attack a fortress they will not give up until the fortress falls; then they stop. There is fighting and there are major battles every week.

One major battle was at Taschiochio. Of the Japanese, 12 officers and 136 soldiers died and 47 officers and 818 soldiers were wounded. Of the Russians it is said that there were 2000 casualties. General [?Kera] of Russia also died.

In the battle at Tomuschan afterwards, 400 Japanese fell, 150 Russians, and 6 guns were captured. In one major battle afterwards it is said that 950 Japanese fell. Subsequently 2000 Russians died.

It is said that there are 100,000 troops under Kuroki, 50,000 under Oku, and 50,000 under Nodya. Kuroki is in the centre and his friends on the wings as they seek to surround Kuropatkin. The Japanese are close to Mukden. The Russians continue to retreat while fighting furiously, despite the courage of the Japanese. The Japanese have no fear. They want to die while fighting; to die of sickness, they believe, is a mean death. They are brave.

Port Arthur

The Japanese still surround Port Arthur; they creep forward, getting nearer all the time. One of these days Port Arthur cannot but fall because Japan has taken the forts outside it. The Japanese have taken a high hill, Wolf Hill, from which they can fire into the city. The Japanese have taken it by their continuous strenuous efforts. They kept climbing up although there were 4000 Russians firing on them from above and rolling stones down on them. Many Japanese died but they captured the flat rock and the Russians were beaten. It was not long before the Japanese had brought up 60 guns and had begun pounding the town.

Te Pipi has always said that the Russian warships will not be able to flee from Port Arthur. On 13th of this month we received a wire saying that they had come out, Togo had followed them, the Russian ships had been scattered and some had entered Chinese ports for refuge. The law says that if a fighting ship of nations at war with each other enters the harbour of a different nation it must emerge after 24 hours, otherwise her guns will be confiscated and her war will be at an end. The Russian ship Rechitelin entered Chifu, a Chinese harbour, and during the night the Japanese seized it for themselves.

A Major Sea Battle [Battle of the Yellow Sea]

When the Russian warships came out of Port Arthur the battle began as Togo pursued them. Many officers and men on both sides were killed. The leading Russian admiral, Vitgeft, and the admiral below him were killed. It is said that people’s feet were slipping because of the amount of blood on the decks of the ships; many were deafened by the continual firing of the guns; and the hair of some men turned grey from fear. The plan of the Russians was to escape to Vladivostok, but they could not escape Togo. Togo was keen to sink the Tsesarevich, Vitgeft’s flagship. The helm and the engine were broken but after 40 minutes they were repaired. During the time the repairs were being done she was surrounded by her friends. She then sailed off. Many of the ships were damaged. Their masts were broken and they were set on fire. Some fled to the Chinese harbours for refuge. The Tsesarevich and three others entered a German port. Had they not they would all have been sunk at sea. The Rurik, a Russian warship, was sunk by Admiral Kamimura. Six hundred of the crew were rescued from the sea by the Japanese. The Japanese are celebrating the prowess of Kamimura. We have heard news that the Russian ships have lowered their flags; their war is ended.

All the officers of the Tsesarevich were killed. A midshipman, a young lad learning to be an officer, brought the ship to China.

According to Togo he knew that he had destroyed the Palladium of Russia. Some of the Russian warships are still taking refuge in Port Arthur. There will be a major battle if they venture outside.

[7] 

FOOTBALL [RUGBY]

England and New Zealand

When a team of players chosen from England, Wales and Scotland, played in Australia, Australia did not put up a fight. They played many games and beat the Australian clubs. In many games the English won by 20 points or more. When the English were undefeated in playing the Australians, they Australians said that the New Zealanders would avenge their defeat. On 6th of this month they played Canterbury in Christchurch and Canterbury was beaten, England 5, Canterbury 3. Each side scored a try but England got a goal. There were 15,000 spectators and the gate was £900. On 10th they played Otago and Otago was beaten, England 14, Otago 8. England scored 14 points in the first half and Otago 0. In the second half only Otago scored points. England were powerless because Otago had worked out the English tactics. Bennett made two breaks. We think that were Otago to play England again, England would lose. The main battle was between England and New Zealand as to who is the world champion at rugby. We know that New Zealand scored 9 points while England scored 3. The parent nation has been beaten by the very small colony, and the defeat of Australia has been avenged, but Australia is the strongest nation at cricket. The English captain boasted that he would not be beaten but he was beaten. McGregor was the New Zealand hero, scoring two tries; the English could not catch him. The English points were from free kicks. The whole colony was aroused by this contest. So many people came to Wellington that some could not find accommodation and they kept coming throughout the night and day. Two hundred crossed over from Sydney and seven hundred from Christchurch. The ground could not hold all the people. Altogether there were more than 25,000 spectators and the gate was £2000. As the gates were not yet open there were thousands waiting outside until at 12 o’clock 20,000 were admitted. The people here in Gisborne were happy enough to stand in the streets waiting for the telegrams to arrive. When the wire arrived saying that New Zealand were 6 and England 3, a large Maori called out as he went, ‘Send a wire telling them to kick the ball out of play.’ When the wire arrived saying that New Zealand had won there was shouting and Maori and Pakeha joined in the haka [ngeri], ‘Ka mate, ka mate, ka ora ka ora.’

Most people think that England should have been beaten by a larger margin. England were unable to find space, they were shut in all the time by the New Zealand team, and their backs were afraid of the New Zealand forwards, their speed and strength. At the end of the game McGregor was seized and carried by people and applauded. This was the first time New Zealand and England had played.

On 17th England played Taranaki. Neither side scored any points but England were very close to losing. In the game at Auckland on 20th, England were badly beaten by Auckland – Auckland 13 and 0 for the Old Country. There were 20,000 spectators. This was their last game in New Zealand.

In 1888 the first English team came here. They won against Otago, Canterbury, Wellington and Hawkes Bay but lost against Taranaki and Auckland. They did not play an All New Zealand team but only the provinces.

The English team visited Rotorua to see its sights. The Maori of Whakarewarewa gave them a huge welcome with poi dances and haka even though it was a Sunday. The same happened when they visited Ohinemutu. The people of Rotorua were wrong and behaved like ignorant Pakeha in not giving thought to God on his special day. Perhaps they have forgotten the destruction of Tarawera. Many Te Arawa treasures were presented to their visitors.

When the English team played against the Maori of Rotorua they were beaten - Maori 8, Pakeha 6. The Pakeha had a problem in that they were very tired. This accounts for their bad loss to Auckland.

…………………………………….

Hone Heke said that a major problem for Maori was playing billiards. Playing billiards consumed thoughts, work, and money. His idea was to make a law banning the playing of billiards. Yet the members of Parliament are the patrons of that activity.

[8] 

AN ANSWER TO MOHI TUREI

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa.

My friend, I have sent the following few words, but not in retaliation to or to hit back at the words and expert thoughts of Mohi Turei published in Te Pipi, Number 77.

(1) About the many children laughing at my question about the Ringatu Church. I can say the same: that you and the rest should not laugh at my question but should laugh at yourselves.

(2) As for Mohi Turei’s comparison which he brings in from Mark 9.43, let me say that I am not in favour of your application of that verse to me; but it is the person with hatred in his heart who has the offensive hand which it is right to cut off. It is deceitful to wear white clothes on the outside when inside one is clothed in black, deepest black, which reaches to the heart within.

(3) About the Lord’s Prayer it is said that one piece has been abandoned, part of the holy Word of the Lord has been suppressed. But I say that is not so. The petition has been reserved for the time when we ask for food, for eating, when that phrase is used. However if I have wronged the word of the Lord let us give thanks for my wrongdoing, but the Lord will return in his own time to judge the world. But why has the seventh day of the week been abandoned? Why has that Sabbath Day been rejected by Mohi Turei? Because surely Christ preached on the Sabbath Day in the synagogue and it was because of the Sabbath that Joseph sought permission to take the body of Christ to the grave on the Friday.

(4) As for many wives, marrying two, three or more times, I am not able to explain why, however I do say that perhaps it comes about because of a desire for companionship on the part of the woman or secondly perhaps out of love lest her husband have no children. This was the case with Jacob who was loved by his wives who bore him twelve children to be the elders of Israel. But God spoke saying that he was not a righteous man, not that he should have only one wife.

(5) Mohi Turei also said that I am invited at this time to visit Waiapu because there are some noxious weeds growing there. Yes, what is wrong with that. I would go to examine him, and to extinguish the glowing arrows of ill-will in his heart.

(6) Yes, the word of God is clearly set down in Exodus 20.2-15 and one cannot pervert it.

(7) As for the call that I should leave the Ringatu Church, sir, Mohi, you are a Ringatu and I am a Ringatu, so why do you turn aside to no purpose? But it is you who have given the name Ringatu to our Church. But is it not the case that for me it is still worshipping God? But it is good still, since hands are being raised and stretched out to him in the hidden place. It would be better rather if it were called the Maori church of this nation.

(8) What, Mohi, is the purpose of your prayer I hear you praying? ‘We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws.’

(9) I draw to an end. Now, my friends in other parts of this land, I certainly don’t know about what some people are saying. Some say that Wereta is a native tohunga. I have not heard Wereta claim that he is indeed a native tohunga and I am prepared to believe him. If other people think the same then so be it. But the signs, the teachings, the giving of knowledge, prophecies, ministries (1 Corinthians 12.7-10) – had Wereta spoken these words to a large hui then people would certainly have believed in him [?tinana tangata nei]. Friend, he is not cursing us, but he is rather cursing the Lord, the giver of this Gospel, and this our baptism in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. However there are many amongst us who seek, who try to discern aspects of native maori spirituality in Wereta. Now, as to the report by a Pakeha ignorant of the Maori language – that Pakeha says that Wereta is a native tohunga. My friends, Te Iwiora is a minister and a perceptive man when it comes to fabricated spiritual activities amongst the Maori people; Ropata Tahupotiki is a minister of the Wesleyan Church and fluent in English and Maori; and both of them stayed with everyone in the meeting house. They led worship, preached, and instructed right up to the end of that hui. [?i ariroa – sic.] on the last night those ministers stood to make farewell speeches, saying, ‘Farewell, peoples of this island. Return to your homes. [9] Take with you the names of the two of us. And give praise for the good works you have seen at this great hui.' If tohunga activities were carried on at Pariroa would the farewell words of these ministers have been as they were? In fact they were generous in their words of loving greeting to the people of the land. But you may have other reasons for speaking badly of your relation, Wereta, and even of Wi Pere. But why should Maori activities not be approved by Maori. Let’s leave it to the Pakeha to despise our Maori activities, for hasn’t he taken almost all the land, and isn’t he seeking to impose a Rates Act and an act to seize residential land? What is coming tomorrow is the obligation to carry torn blankets on our backs on the roads.

Best wishes, tribes!

‘Te Karere a Mahuru.’

[Wereta and his disciples are very keen to deny that their activities are native practices, and that Wereta is not a native tohunga. But why? There wish is to call Wereta a prophet or something. Wereta is engaged in native practices linked to the principles of the faith. Friend, ‘Karere a Mahuru’, all of you there believe that Wereta is a prophet and a man of faith. A Ngati Porou chief said to Eruera te Kahu that Wereta had converted Taranaki to the faith, but Ngati Porou doesn’t want Wereta to teach them the faith. He is teaching Taranaki, a tribe that does not yet know the faith. Wereta boasted that Peneti and his companion were travelling around in vain, no-one was being converted, but since his arrival Taranaki is turning to the faith. However it is Peneti’s people only who have been confirmed and one has come to the school for ministers. We are waiting for someone of Wereta’s but he has not yet made an appearance. People will not be misled into believing as a result of deceptive activities! – Editor.]

THE GREAT POWER OF PARENTS

By the Bishop of Melbourne. [Dr Lowther Clarke]

‘If you ask me what was the most important thing in determining my works, my words, and my thoughts in this world, I can give only one answer, and it is this: What my parents taught me when I was a child. I was taught by my parents to pray in the morning and the evening from when I was a child; to love and respect the Bible, to be truthful; to be kind; to be honest in all I did; and not to forget that God sees me always by day and night. I was taught that these things should be part of my being. We were warned about the evil deeds and the evil people in the world and that we should not follow them if we loved God. Therefore, do not wonder that I say so strongly that you should be good and diligent in teaching the children while they are still in the nest, before they fly into the world.

If I see a child being obstinate or sulky towards its parents my heart suffers pain. Parents are not all the same, some are bad, but parents who let children follow their own desires without rebuking them, teaching them, or setting them on the right path – this is a cause of great evils.

After the authority of my parents and my home, I was fortunate in having the friendship of some good men and women, whose words and love were some of the most beautiful treasures in the world. And as the years passed I grew in knowledge of the power and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. I would not enter upon any great work if I had not first asked Him if he approved of that work, and I have had thousands of answers to my prayers. He has led me by paths which I thought in those times were paths of sadness, but afterwards I have realized that those were the very best ways. My prayer at all times is: Lord, what is your will for me? Or this: Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

God, in Christ, is my guide and he loves me. This I know better than anything else in the world.

Such is my answer to your question and it is my wish that many people will learn of the great grace, of the saving heart, which I have discovered in this way. These things are my guide each day and I have found that nothing can trouble me.’

[10] 

SOME DEATHS

We have received a letter from the friends of Te Ra-tuawaru of Gisborne here, telling of their sadness at the death of their friend on 29th June. When Te Ra-tuawaru was close to death he asked that Holy Communion be celebrated for him. His hymn on the morning of his death was, ‘For ever with the Lord’. He was 33 when he died.

We were saddened on receiving Paraire Tomoana’s telegram saying that his younger brother, Te Rehunga, that is, Teneti, had died. He was the youngest child of Henare Tomoana M.L.C. He was ill for three weeks before he died. His sickness began as flu but afterwards complications set in. He was 24 when he died. He leaves his wife and his child to mourn for him. Te Rehunga was educated at Te Aute and then went to the Pakeha college in Wellington. After schooling he went to Whanganui to learn pharmacy. After many years of learning he qualified. Then, when he was flourishing he was plucked by the powerful hand of death. Farewell, friend!

HORSE RACING

‘From the overflowing of the heart the mouth speaks.’

In a sermon about the Second Coming a Pakeha minister in Gisborne said that he would not like Christ to come upon him in the theatre, or in the dance hall, or on the race course.

A doctor from Egypt told us how he boarded a train at Woodville and the carriage was full of Maori. He said that he was surprised to be asked by the Maori about horse racing; he had no inclination to that activity or knowledge of it. Some Maori mistakenly think that all Pakeha go to this activity. Many Pakeha condemn horse racing. And some Pakeha think that all Maori like the races, since one Pakeha asked me who would win the Auckland Cup. The only cup I know about is a cup of tea.

PARLIAMENT.

[Archibald Dudington] Willis, Member for Whanganui, spoke about Pakeha children growing up with Maori and how they were being badly looked after. They were without clothes and were not sent to school. In his reply, Timi Kara said that Maori were always kind to their adopted Pakeha children treating them like their own Maori children, but if Maori were treating the Pakeha children badly, the Government would look into it.

Many Members spoke and spoke forcibly about the Government allocating money to help the Marae Councils. They thought that the councils had no purpose. One objection was the great support they gave to the activities of tohunga insofar as they were asking to have tohunga licensed. Tomorrow the Maori People would be saying that what the native tohunga do is right because they have been licensed by the Government. Tomorrow also the fraudulent and erratic tohunga would be demanding licences for themselves, and the Maori People would suffer from deception and theft. Timi Kara said that the purpose of the licences was to impose legal restraints on native tohunga. [Alfred] Fraser, Member for Napier, replied that licences would not get the tohunga into prison. Fraser used the strongest words, saying that some tohunga were ‘scoundrels’.

A FAREWELL WAIATA FOR GOVERNOR RANFURLY

You are departing, Sir Governor, and returning to your homeland,

The island of the King, that man

Who gives us good Law for these islands

Turn to the North, my shelter from the winds,

To the great peoples. He has been my good chief.

The west wind comes

To carry you away. You are living

In the ship, You are claimed by the English,

Leaving the Maori People to lament,

Their thoughts at a loss.

The tears of my eyes flow,

Flowing down continually. From God come those

Percings, many, many yearnings!

Give us a thread to bind the Empire together,

To hold us whilst the nations of the earth envy

The power of England, the celebrated shelter,

Its many colonies, climbing upwards.

[1

 TE AUTE SCHOOL

In the last addition of Te Pipiwharauroa we appended to the motion passed by the Church Hui at Maketu about the quantity of clothing required by the girls attending Victoria School, the comment: ‘Te Aute also is a school at which the cost of clothes is a great burden; the students have had to buy expensive clothes. Add to the cost of clothes the cost of the books. In future the children of poor people will not be able to go to Te Aute, even though they are very well-educated.’ Now we have received a letter from the Principal of Te Aute, John Thornton, criticizing those words. He believes that the quantity of clothes required by the children going to Te Aute is not excessive and that the cost of the clothes is the same as it has been over the previous many years. We are happy with the words of Mr Thornton that the quantity of clothing his boys require is nor excessive and neither is the cost, but are we not right to express our thoughts about the line of clothing prescribed to be purchased for the boy. People can see for themselves Mr Thornton’s notice:

Te Aute College.

1. These are the clothes the boy should bring to Te Aute:

4 woollen shirts

4 jerseys or flannels

6 white collars

4 pairs of stockings

1 good black suit

1 durable suit for ordinary days

2 pairs of trousers, an old coat, for work

6 handkerchiefs

4 white neckties, or collars.

1 thick woollen shawl

1 towel

1 pair of strong boots

1 pair of light boots

2 night shirts or print pyjamas

2 pairs of braces

1 raincoat

2. The shirts should be of wool and not of linen, cotton or flannel.

3. Write the name of the child on the clothes.

4. If the clothing is worn out or torn more should be bought. Money for buying the clothes should be sent to the Principal. He will purchase the clothes and send the account to the parents.

5. A hat can be purchased at the school and money should be provided for this.

7. Parents should also provide pocket-money for the boy. This amount should be sent to the Principal. It is £1 10s a year.

John Thornton,

Principal.

Te Aute, December, 1903.

There are other things the boy needs to buy such as football gear, a jersey, (and perhaps boots and shorts), and one must add to these things the books which are of no use to the boy when he moves from his class, writing paper, stamps, along with the cost of tickets on the train, boat or coach. There are no instructions saying that the boy should not be provided with a made-to-measure tailored suit, but many of the boys at Te Aute have such tailor-made suits because there is not rule saying that they should not have them, and the boys now want tailor-made suits. This is just a thought of ours about the quantity of clothing required for a boy going to Te Aute, but we do hear some parents complaining. However, if we are wrong in what we have said and the quantity of clothing is not excessive and that parents do not think it too expensive, we apologize for our words. – Editor.

NOTICE

We have copies of A Catechism for Children to Learn and The Sunday Prayers. Any clergyman wanting some should contact us and they will be sent free of charge.

[12] 

CALENDAR : SEPTEMBER

Day 10 New Moon 8h 5m a.m.

Day 25 Full Moon 5h 20m a.m.

1 Th

2 F Fast

3 S

4 S Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

Morning Evening

2 Kings 9 2 Kings 10-1-32

1 Corinthians 14.1-20 Mark 5.1-30

5 M

6 T

7 W

8 Th

9 F Fast

10 S

11 S Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

2 Kings 18 2 Kings 19

2 Corinthians 2.14 & 3 Mark 10.1-32

12 M

13 T

14 W

15 Th

16 F Fast

17 S

18 S Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

Use the Collect for Embertide every day this week.

2 Chronicles 35 Nehemiah 1 – 2.9

2 Corinthians 10 Mark 14.27-53

19 M

20 T Vigil, Fast

21 W Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist

Athanasian Creed Ember Day Fast

1 Kings 19.1-15 1 Chronicles 29.1-20

2 Corinthians 12.14 & 13 Mark 15.42 & 16

22 Th

23 F Ember Day Fast

24 S Ember Day Fast

25 S Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

Jeremiah 5 Jeremiah 22

Galatians 4.1-21 Luke 2.1-21

26 M

27 T

28 W

29 Th Michael and All Angels

Genesis 32 Daniel 10.1-4

Acts 12.5-18 Revelation 14.1-14

30 F Fast

THE WINNING MAORI SCHOOLS

These are the schools which got the best marks in the 1903 examinations: Pamoana, Waimana, Tokaanu, Whakarewarewa, Waioweka, Paparore, Waikouaiti, Turanganui (Wairarapa), Te Kaha, Ranana, Rangitukia, Whangape, Tokomaru.

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.

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

10/- Hakere Brown; 5/- Hori Pawa, F A Bamford, Karaitiana Poi, Paraone Hatarana, Pineamine Tuhaka, Manihera Waititi, Wiremu Tukariri, Mr Turnbull, Huta Paaka, Henare Rereto, Rev Te Muera Tokoaitua; 2/6 A Tuhi, T T Herewhare, Te More Himiona, Te Atimana Wharerau, Pirihira Ihaka, Kurumoa; 2/- Te Hekenui; 1/6 Moa Taimona.

H W Williams, Te Rau Press, Gisborne.