Te Pipiwharauroa 84

Te Pipiwharauroa 84

No.64

1905/03

(Maori Version at NZETC.)

[1] Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama, Number 84, Gisborne, March 1905.

THE BOUNDARY MARKERS OF THE FAITH

By Te Mahara.

Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark which they of old have set in thine inheritance. (Deuteronomy 19.14.)

Faith leavens all a person’s works.

If we look at the laws which God devised for his ancient people, we see that the laws devised by God are not only for the spiritual side of a person but also for the side which engages with the world: for the rules of worship; for the body, that it might be clean (one must not be soiled or eat unclean or rotting things); and God’s prescriptions extend even to the land (‘Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark.’)

Similarly a genuine faith will show itself in everything a person does, and also in his words and thoughts; it will show itself in his clothes, his food and in the appearance of his body. ‘And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.’ (Colossians 3.17) ‘Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.’ (I Corinthians 10.31) God is not glorified by a dirty body or clothes or house or village or by the eating of bad things or by greed.

Our text deals with the land but let us use it rather to teach ourselves about our faith; a person knows that it is a great sin to move a boundary marker and take a person’s cultivation. It is the same with a person who sinfully tells lies, but in the land courts false information is provided and he feels no shame as if his lie was approved by God and man. It will be written of the land that it was acquired by theft and the person’s sin will be recorded for ever. On the day of judgement the hand of the Lord will write about that land to remind the man of his sin. ‘Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark’ (Deuteronomy 27.17).

The Bounday Markers of the Faith.

By the landmarks and the boundaries the area of the farm and the land is known. And a person can likewise know the boundary posts, and the boundaries of the faith, of religion. This people can know God – or the devil. Is worship surviving in this village or has it been lost? Has the faith of this people been overgrown or is it still being kept cultivated? What are the outwards signs by which it can be seen that this is a worshipping village or something else? What are the boundary markers?

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First: Keeping the Sabbath Holy.

It was a very good thing that one day of the week should be made sacred, since it shows the love of God for people, for God knows that people will not survive to work if there is no rest. Nothing will live if there is no time of rest. Keeping the Sabbath holy is one of the boundary markers of the faith. The village that continues to work on the Holy Day must be either Hauhau or pagan. Saturday is the Ringatu holy day but they still work on Saturday. Pakeha without faith work on the Holy Day but, people, let us not follow them; we know that it is wrong. If we keep the Sabbath sacred our children will ask the reason and then we can point out that God made it sacred. So our children will be taught to know God through our observance of the Sabbath, and they will also know that our place belongs to God. So, people, do not overturn this boundary marker of our faith which is there for our descendants to see. The Holy Day is a gift from our ancestors, from our parents, which was conscientiously observed by them, so ‘do not remove it’. ‘Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations.’ (Exodus 31.13).

Second: Holding to the Word of God.

This is something very obvious: the lands which do not read the word of God descend into wrongdoing, people’s faith does not grow, and are they strong to stand against the enemy if they do not read and hold on to the word of God? ‘But there is no profit in reading the Scriptures if one is not guided by the Spirit of God.’ ‘But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God … neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.’ (1 Corinthians 2.14) We listen to some people who know the Scriptures, but their knowing is confined to the head and not to the heart, and so their interpretation of the Scriptures goes astray.

When I see a Bible in the house I rejoice in my heart that the people in this house are reading the Word of God, that this house is a place of God, because the boundary marker is visible.

When it was night a man and his son went to the home of an elder to sleep. They became fearful and so while one went to sleep the other was wakeful. When the father got up he saw the son still sleeping, whereupon he asked how he was able to sleep and the son replied, ‘It is fine! I saw the elder reading the Bible.’ Yes, he saw the boundary marker of God in that house.

At the Coronation of King Edward he was given the Bible by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who said, ‘We present to you the greatest thing in the world.’ This is a certain thing, that the people holding ‘the greatest thing in the world’ will be great in the world. ‘Search out the principles of the Scriptures’ (John 5.39; see Acts 17.11).

Third: The Churches.

If a church is built in a village it is known that this is a worshipping village. If there is no church the heart asks, ‘Perhaps these people are Hauhau?’ But there are many churches standing which do not speak of blessing. A ship was wrecked and the passengers landed on an island. It was known that the people there were cannibals and those passengers were afraid. One of them climbed a small hill to see what the island was like, and to discover whether or not there were any blacks to be seen. After he had climbed up he came down shouting. Why was he shouting? Because he had seen a building with a cross on top, and he knew that it was a church and that the Gospel had been preached on this island, and that cannibalism had ceased. [3] He had seen a boundary marker of the faith on this island.

Yes, whether he be a chief or a slave, let him be cursed if he removes one of these markers of God’s place. ‘Righteousness exalteth a nation’ (Proverbs 14.34). The mana of Babylon, Rome and Greece has disappeared. China is in darkness because of a lack of faith. The nations of faith are in the forefront of all people. Likewise, if the Maori people do not adopt the faith, they will not be exalted. Never, never, never!

A MEMORIAL

Since the Chapel at Te Raukahikatea was completed as a memorial to Bishop Leonard Williams of Waiapu, Mr Chatterton, the Principal of the College, has had the idea of making a picture window in the building in memory of Mrs Williams, wife of the Bishop. The design of the window has been completed and it is very fine. Christ is in the middle with his arms stretched out, and he is saying, ‘Come unto me.’ An expert in England is making the window. The cost of that window is £50, and with the cost of freight and duty that will rise to £70. The Pakeha have begun a collection and now have £20. When that reaches £50 they will order the window to be sent. People, friends of Mrs Williams who knew here, that is, all Maori people, will you not sent your shillings to get this window in memory of this elderly lady who so loved the Maori? It would be good also if the chapel of the College were to be finished well. Here the ministers for our churches are taught. We are not able to set up a hui to collect money lest we are not able to feed you with food, so we invite your shillings only and not your bodies. Best wishes people, best wishes to us all.

FROM THE EDITOR.

The Editor is very sorry that the January Number did not appear. He was absent at Waiapu and he thought that the Committee would produce the paper after him. He wanted to finish his work on the setting up of the Committee to run the paper at the hui held at Taumata-o-Mihi because he was criticised there. A love for Te Pipiwharauroa has forced his hand now. Through the efforts of Te Raumoa the February number appeared. We are putting every effort into correcting the paper so that all goes well. Best wishes, my friends; the peace of the Lord, which the world is not able to give or take away, rest upon us. Hold fast to the faith; trust in the Almighty.

NEWS OF THE CHURCH

On 4th, Mr Chatterton, his wife, and their child, returned. They had been away in England and Germany for a year.

On 2nd, the Rev Herbert Williams sailed for England. They have gone because Mrs Williams was unwell.

The Rev Perere Peneti’s stay in Taranaki has come to an end. He has returned to Rotorua, to his own tribe, to work. The people are very sad at the departure of Peneti.

We have also heard that the Rev Nikora Tautau’s stay in Waikato will soon end. He wants to return home. Nikora has lived in Waikato for many years and his child died there.

While Mr Chatterton was in England he saw Mother Selwyn, widow of Bishop Selwyn. The old lady is 96. She has a very clear mind.

The Rev Mohi Turei is very ill. He will soon have been two years confined to bed.

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VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS

The price of potatoes has climbed in these days reaching £1 2 6 for a single bag. The reason for the high price is that there are not many potatoes because the potato crops are suffering from a new disease. People with potatoes are making a lot of money. People with potatoes, if they are not wasteful, can make a great deal of money from potatoes. Be careful that the potato blight does not come to your village and ban potatoes from those areas that have that blight lest it come to your district.

People with sheep are making extra money because of the high prices of wool and mutton. The price of a wether has reached £1 2 6, and that for an old ewe is 15 shillings. You people who still hold on to your land should be improving them as sheep runs for yourselves. Do no lease them out. That would mean that the Pakeha would prosper and the local people would return to work for the Pakeha to whom you have given the land. Many of the young people who work in the towns long to return home to raise sheep for themselves, and have returned. This is the very best work for young Maori, work suited to the Maori physique, healthy work, while sitting in offices crouched on a stool results in TB. Apirana Ngata has a great profession working as a lawyer and he has obtained high qualifications, but he returns home to raise sheep and these days Apirana Ngata is one of the leading sheep farmers on the East Coast.

………………………………………………..

[The following should perhaps have appeared in Te Pipiwharauroa No.83 p.2 at the end of the article about the letter from Hirini T Heremaia.]

This is a noble thought. It must be left to the heart to investigate and to choose or reject what is preached by the Mormons during worship. One can cast what is said aside if it is bitter to the thoughts, while being gracious to the preachers. They preach what they believe to be true. Why should they be attacked. Bless them. Best wishes to you, Ngai Tahu, the tribe that welcomes people. - Te Raumoa.

NURSING THE SICK

An Explanation.

Maori people are eager to find treatments for sickness, whether native or Pakeha treatments; if the sick person is not quickly healed by one treatment he tries a different one; if he is not quickly healed by the doctor he fetches a Maori tohunga; and if he is not healed by the tohunga and is about to enter his coffin he is handed over to be attended at the point of death by the Pakeha doctor. Maori think that medicine is the best thing to drive away illness, and do not take account of the need to wait for the medicines to take their course or of the need to nurse the sick. When the body is well and strong, Maori do not take care, but if it is afflicted with illness then they go out of their minds: Ngapuhi and Waikato resort to the tohunga. There is an old English saying which I have seen in Te Pipiwharauroa, ‘Prevention is better than cure.’ We all know that the main causes of rheumatics are wearing wet clothes and lying on the ground when it is damp, but, so what, people still lie on the ground. If while he was lying on the ground he was struck by the illness perhaps he would be scared and take care, but the development of rheumatics takes time and so he is not scared. Now, it is far better to prevent rheumatics by not lying on damp ground, far better than to wait until it affects the body so that one begins taking medicine. This is the intention of the English saying, but it is not used only about sickness but of the many things people do. We Maori have a similar proverb, 

I tawhiti ano te hoariri e hanga ana i te pa.

‘Build the pa while the enemy is far away.’ 

Taharakau understood the meaning of these proverbs when he put on his rain cape while the sun was out and no-one thought it would rain. When his friend saw him wrapped up in his cloak, he said, ‘Sir, where is the rain?’ Taharakau replied, 

E tata ra runga.
‘Above is near.’ [cf Nga Pepeha 244] 

On the road the heavens opened and Taharakau’s friend begged for one of his cloaks. He replied, ‘I told you so.’ Yes, Taharakau knew that it is better to be careful and he took his

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cloak against the chance of rain. It was better than getting wet and cold, and having to light a fire to dry one’s clothes, and being struck down by a fever. ‘Prevention is better than cure.’

The Doctor.

We were not born into this world to live for ever. The sentence of death is pronounced over all the world. ‘You are dust and to dust you shall return.’ However we take care that we live for a long time and that we leave it to the power of death to bring about our end, and we don’t let human ignorance or weakness or laziness assist our dying. If you become ill then seek the appropriate treatment, but if you know it is a serious illness, fetch the doctor quickly. If the doctor is close he will diagnose the illness and prescribe medication and give instructions as to how the sick person is to be nursed. It is good if the sick person is sent to hospital. Many Maori die because they are taken to the doctor too late. There are perhaps people who say that the doctor costs too much. It costs much more if the sickness is permitted to become worse; some will be driven to take their own lives. Maori will achieve great things if they ;ut effort into making these practices their own. You must know that people are more important than possessions. Some people spend much more money on travelling by ferry or seeking out Maori tohunga. People, be aware that if a tohunga works on the sick person he is working in ignorance, he is working and encouraging and hoping for good luck; in the English language ‘a fluke try’. Where does he get his knowledge of the parts of the body and the diseases of the world? In the case of the doctor, he spends many years learning human anatomy and worldwide diseases and the treatments for those illnesses. His work is based on knowledge and although he is not able to save all who are ill, most will be healed. It is well known now that far fewer Pakeha people die in these years than in former years.

The Tohunga.

As for the tohunga, far more of his sick die than live. I heard of an elder who boasted that he had been healed by the tohunga. He praised his miraculous healing by the tohunga, forgetting that his grandchild had died under the native tohunga. But in these days, Maori have not really seen how they are misled and deceived. They still hold on to their belief in the ancient gods and their works and in ghosts. I believe that the tohunga in these days are not like the former tohunga who were sacred and awesome. Formerly, while what they did was magic, they possessed mana and status. In former times would sick people have been fed with paper? How many hundred people have had stomach pains after being fed by Tokoaka with paper?

The Sick Nurse.

Although the good doctor knows the medicines, if the nursing of the sick person is wrong or bad he will not recover. Thousands of Maori have died, not because they have not had medicine but because of the ignorance of the people nursing them. This is what I have taught, people, to be the way of caring for the sick; what the nurse must do; how one gives medicines; preparing food; preparing medicines that can be made; and all other ways of going about this charitable and Christian work of nursing the sick.

A POTATO DISEASE

A strange disease has struck the potato. That disease is found in all parts of the country. It began in Auckland and has arrived here in Gisborne. Now it has also reached Taranaki and Wellington. It is travelling downwards to parts of the other island. If the potato is hit by that disease it looks as if blotches like threepenny pieces are spreading over the leaves.

After a time the number of blotches increases and after a while they descend to the base of the potato plant, and drying out is the result. Mr Kirk, the Director of Agriculture for the Government has told potato growers to be watchful and to make every effort to find ways of saving their potatoes from that blight.

[6] 

RUSSIA AND JAPAN

The Biggest Battle in the World.

After the fighting at Shaho in October 1904, the armies of Russia and Japan spent the winter five hundred yards apart, and this month the Japanese have bestirred themselves and have attacked the Russians – Kuroki on the right flank, Notohu in the centre, and Oku and Nogi on the left flank. The spread of their advance was nearly 100 [?] when they began their charge. When they got to Mukden the Russians were there. They fought. The fighting went on for a week before the Russians were defeated. They were broken and scattered leaving behind guns, food, horses, wagons, and thousands of their possessions. When they got to the roads, the Japanese had these covered by their guns and the Russians were shelled. There has been no killing like it and the Russians were beaten. It is said that this was the biggest battle in the world. Russia was defeated by the rapidity with which Nogi surrounded the Russians who had been drawn out of Mukden after the placing of the Japanese big guns before the town. Nogi managed to travel 40 miles in one day. He is the general who brought about the downfall of Port Arthur. It is said that the Russians are aware of Nogi’s skill in mounting ferocious attacks and in travelling. The size of the Russian defeat meant that they were unable to care for the wounded so that many died in the snow. The Russians are still under attack and it may be that the survivors may not reach Harbin, the remaining Russian fort. Kuropatkin has been overthrown. Russia is in mourning. Perhaps the Tsar is mad, since he persists in fighting.

ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS OF THE WAR

The total number of Russians who took part in the fighting at Mukden is 326,000. Of these 300,000 were infantry and 26,000, cavalry. There were 1,368 guns. Nearly 30,000 Russians were taken prisoner. Those dead or wounded numbered 90,000. Those who died numbered 26,500.

Russian supplies captured by the Japanese were:

2 flags,

60 guns,

60,000 rifles,

150 wagons of ammunition,

1000 carts,

200,000 explosives,

25,000,000 bullets,

74,000 bushels of oats,

1000 cartloads of clothing,

60 tons of hay.

This is a terrible defeat for Russia. In the area where the wings of the Russians army are rushing through, the minds of the soldiers are disturbed so they are beginning to fire on one another and they are starting to attack trees and other things. Because so many men died or have been taken prisoner by the Japanese, they do not know what will happen to them. On the night of 9th of this month Mukden fell. This was the fort on which Russia had pinned its hopes over these last few months. They said that this was the place where the Japanese could not defeat them and the Japanese could not get past. We see now the emptiness of their boastful words. Japan has given up the idea of making peace now and is leaving this to Russia. They say that they will continue fighting. Should Russia wish to make peace, then they will stop.

The Tsar of Russia is staying in his palace for fear of being assassinated should he go out.

[7] There has been no battle like the Battle of Mukden. Many men fell, much blood was shed. Great battles of former times do not approximate to it; one can see this from the comparisons below.

Protagonists Place/Year Side with Side which Both Dead & Wounded
most survivors lost most armies on losing side

France/Russian Borodino 1812 France 120,000 Russia 130,000 250,000 74,000

France/German Lutzen 1813 France 150,000 Germany 110,000 260,000 52,000

France/England Waterloo 1815 England 101,000 France 120,000 221,000 51,000

France/Austria Solferino 1859 France 124,000 Austria 163,000 287,000 37,000

Germany/Austria [Katipaaka]1863 Germany 117,000 Austria 68,000 185,000 44,000

Germany/AustriaSadowa  1866 Germany 141,000 Austria 150,000 291,000 33,000

Germany/France Gravelotte 1870 Germany 270,000 France 126,000 369,000 62,000

Germany/France Sedan 1870 Germany 190,000 France 124,000 314,000 47,000

Japan/Russia Mukden 1905 Japan 350,000 Russia 300,000 650,000 100,000

The total number of Russians who have fallen in this battle since the beginning of the fighting is 400,000.

With the fall of Mukden the Russians were pursued by the Japanese. The Russians arrived at Tiehling but it was not long before the Japanese were dashing up behind them. The Russians did not make a stand there. Leaving Tiehling they went to Kaiyuan. At this point the Japanese were saying that Russia would be defeated by them there because Kaiyuan was weaker than Tiehling.

Tiehling is a town 40 miles north of Mukden. It is a major trading town. It has 40,000 inhabitants. Some years ago a fortress was built there by the Russians who thought that it would be a refuge should war break out and they had to retreat. But now they did not lift a finger. Kaiyuan is north of Tiehling. It has a population of 15,000. It is a fortress like Teihling. The importance of this fort is that it is the highly desired gateway into Manchuria. Kuropatkin had been summoned to return to Russia. General [?Rinewhiti] has taken his place. The people living in Harbin were very sad at the recall of their general. Harbin is at the junction of the railways from Port Arthur, Vladivostok, and Russia. It is not the final fort for the Japanese to attack. It is likely that Russia will exhaust its power there.

A Russian Prince has said that the war should be ended. In view of the deaths there ought to be an end to it lest by fighting on Russia becomes a wrecked ship.

According to some members of the Russian Government living in Poland the war is now drawing near to and end and before long it will stop. There are no leaders, there are no generals, there are no guns, there is no money and there is no rush to send soldiers now. If Poland is stirred up, the people will fight against the government.

[8] 

THE VISIT OF DOCTOR POMARE TO WAIAPU

Question 4

Why are some women barren while others give birth?

This is a very good question.

There are many reasons for barrenness in a woman. I cannot deal with all of them now. But here are some.

1. They are too quick to marry when they are not yet ready.

2. They have suffered from some illness of the world.

3. They have not taken care during their periods.

4. Going out in a storm.

5. They have worn wet clothes.

6. Being sometimes too hot or too cold.

7. Too much smoking.

8. Drinking alcohol.

9. Eating rotten things.

10. Eating the same food all the time, and not eating differently sometimes.

11. Not eating at regular times.

12. Putting too much effort into handicrafts.

13. Riding horses energetically and being shaken about.

14. Lifting heavy articles.

15. Sleeping on the ground.

Some of the reasons I am not able to speak of at this time because they are of an intimate nature and only for men and women to hear about.

Question 5

What do you think about witchcraft or spirits?

I am a man who believes in witchcraft and spirits. We Maori have had these things  from ancient times. If some of us are criticized we say that the person criticizing is wrong-headed.

Who is to say that there is no such thing as witchcraft? And who is to say that there are no spirits since Maori people are still practising magic and still seeing ghosts? Let us not think that we are the only people who became involved in this activity. No, the Pakeha were the same. The English (Pakeha) stopped doing these things 200 years ago.

If one looks carefully at the learning of this people, nothing is left to look at. It was investigated and seen to be a misguided practice, and therefore a law was passed by the English Parliament that people who did ‘black magic’ or were proclaiming themselves to be ‘witches’ should be burnt with fire. And so that misguided practice ceased.

In 1813 the Maori began to sell-off his witchcraft, tohunga, and spirits. His reward was faith (in this year also the faith arrived).

The faith spread and Maori began to make away with his tapu, and began to abandon deceptive practices.

The mana of these things had come to an end.

The power of witchcraft depends on a person’s belief in that activity. If a person hears that he has been cursed [?makututia], the news in time dominates his thinking and makes him depressed and oppresses his body. The enormity of his thoughts makes him ill; he does not eat and he does not sleep. If this is how he is, he will end up dying, and it will be said that he was cursed. Certainly it was the result of the curse, but it was his belief in that practice that struck him down. If witchcraft has its own integral power, why do Pakeha not die of it?

I have many times asked the tohunga to curse me, but to curse me when people are around, so that people may see the power of this action. (But I have to say, I have not died yet.) So far no tohunga has bewitched me.

Let us put an end to this trick of getting at a person’s thoughts. As for me, I do not believe that a person has the power to take the life of another [9] through words alone, but if he is deliberately hit he will die.

Concerning Spirits / Ghosts.

As for spirits, indeed in the Scriptures we read of Saul going to an elderly woman to get her to show him the spirit of Samuel. In my case, I have looked for ghosts without success; perhaps it is my eyes that are at fault. My job is cutting up live people and corpses, and attending at death beds, but I have never seen a spirit. But I do know that most of the ghost tribe are seen inside the brain. If a person believes he will see something, he will see it, because it is something that happens inside the brain, not something he sees with his eyes. He only thinks he sees it.

Those people with whistling spirits are, for the most part, acting strangely. What wicked gods! Yet people do not go to upright men who work for the well-being of the people, but go instead to these insubordinate ones.

I think this activity is frivolous.

WAR REPORTS

The soldiers of Kuropatkin and now shattered [ragged]. Why? Because of the ability of the Japanese to keep moving on and breaking through. On last Thursday, 9th of this month, the number of Russian soldiers who have died in the fighting rose to 65,000.

The last telegram Kuropatkin sent to the Tsar of Russia said that he was surrounded.

In the fighting at Mukden many Russians fell. The Japanese captured 100 large guns and 50,000 were taken prisoner. The total of Russian combatants killed or wounded is 100,000.

The number of Japanese killed or wounded is 41,000.

A MAN MONSTER

To Te Pipiwharauroa.

You set up the fruits of the summertime of the year. Bird, greetings. You send these few words for the benefit of eye and ear, to make some sad and others happy, over many recent years. The people of Waikato greatly desire the work of the tohunga. The men want the tohunga because they want the women, and the women likewise. So we see the fulfilment of the Scripture which says that Satan is set free for a short time. I, who point out this matter that is afflicting this area, am also from Waikato. This area is rapidly going down to hell. This monster is Te Whitu whose name is widely name through his activity as a tohunga, namely, sleeping with sick women. I believe it is an empty heart which influences this man-eating monster. This notorious Te Whitu is neither a child nor an elder but an ageing man, a man of importance, therefore why should he be giving Waikato a bad name? His wickedness is his alone. It is the same with Wereta, He is responsible because of what he does for the bad name he has. But supporting the work of tohunga is not Waikato’s only wrongdoing, there is another, the drinking of alcohol. So we have the situation where women who do not drink liquor, when they gather for a tangi, or for some other purpose for which girls meet, they fetch drink and at the end of they hui when they separate one sees the girls weeping for their lovers. However I finish this letter lest the faithful people abandon this country because there is so much wickedness. 

Best wishes, Te Pipi. 

From P. P.,

Ngaruawahia, Waikato.

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MAORI CURES

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa.

My friend, greetings. Out of concern for the dark-skinned, the chocolate-coloured and the white-skinned people of the country of Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu, I have sent this letter for you to publish about ideas that I have tested and found to be beneficial to the body – those and these too. Some people say that, because they have no money, tohunga who deal with native gods and spirits refuse to perform their activities. But I have looked into the rights and the wrongs, the good and bad things, the effort and the laziness, and have used many words in trying to describe this thing, but I say that it is true that money will purchase Pakeha medicines for every pain, but there is no charge for the word of Christ.

(1) A real Medicine.

(2) It is a good thing for a person to have a tin in which to collect shillings with which to buy clothes for his body and soap to clean his body and clothes.

(3) Meal-times should be the same every day a person is in this world. People strongly urge that one should eat in the middle of the day so that eating is a pleasant experience. That is not so. Look at what people of other nations do with respect to food. Look and you will see that they cook food three times a day. Whether they are hungry or not, the times for eating are set - in the morning, at mid-day, and in the evening too. This ensures that food is sitting in the stomach and that the blood is travelling properly throughout the body, and deals with any blockage of faeces, urine or blood. One should quickly find water to sweep any blockage outside. If the blockage is not cleared then the body will become over-heated, something we call ‘a burning skin’, (the Pakeha call it ‘a fever’). But whatever a person is suffering one should think first of the state of the faeces, the urine, and look at the state of the tongue and the temperature of the skin.

(4) One does not have to pay for native grasses and trees, but because of laziness, thoughtlessness, and indifference towards the body of the friend who is lying in pain, people say that they have no money to pay for medicine. It has already been pointed out that there is no charge for the words of Christ. If you have done a thorough self-examination of your body and soul, and have cleansed your heart of defilements – it is the case that the human heart is full of wickedness, of cursing, of ill-will, of backbiting, of slander, and of underhand gossip – if a person is able to wash these wicked things from his heart that is all that is required in payment for the best medicine which is called the word of Christ. Secondly, if a person is not lazy at heart when it comes to producing food, if he put every effort into producing food, into saving up shillings, into keeping his clothes and house and bed in good condition, and if he tries out the things he has been shown and has had explained, then that is the reward, because a lot of money comes from growing food and tending the land. Much money is spent on pipes, tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, beer and many other subversive intoxicating drinks, playing cards, and horse-racing. I am always seeing people who say that they have no money to pay for medicine and who consequently resort to magic. To me it is better to do things that promote healing, with a humble, gentle and peaceful heart, and within the law that guides people.

The Law is like the constables standing in the road, and it is like a heap of firewood burnt in the fire; if one mistakenly stretches out one’s hand to the end that has been burning in the fire one’s hand gets burned; and if one gets angry, lashes out, is impudent, or is drunk in the presence of the constable, he will be arrested by the constable; so the law is there to make us afraid. But you and I are alright.

Now let us examine the herbs which the God of the earth grows freely and for which one does not have to pay.

(1) For Constipation, or the blocking or the faeces, urine or blood. Take flax root, and bush-lawyer vine, (it is good to add coprosma), [11] scrape off the dirt, pound it and boil it until it is thoroughly cooked and the water looks like most of the trees. If it is bitter, sweeten it with sugar.

(2) For diarrhoea and menstrual problems, use koromiko, ngaio, mahoe or edible fern root.

(3) For constipation and blockages use kareao, kohe, or puka (none of which cost anything).

(4) For stomach pains, boil kopakopa leaves and drink the water.

(5) For painful eyes use the juice of the tutu or the mako.

(6) If a person has a broken bone, crush some rata bark and place it in cold water until the oil from the rata flows out, then sprinkle it over the where the break is.

(7) For scrofula [the king’s-evil] use matai.

These are most of the trees used medicinally by Maori: taraheke, kowhai, karaka, pukatea, mapou, nanamu, runa, poananga, and various other trees that I have pointed out to people whom I have visited in person, along with directions for using them and the thought in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Enough! Do not stand in the way of the doctor. If you give your attention to the suffering of your friend, do not add to your compassion and prayers such things as beer, anger, ill-will, backbiting, gossip, deception and ghosts. Will there not be a difference in the rewards given for the mischievous works of a divided heart and for righteous actions? (Psalms of David 62.12) There are many Pakeha medicines but it has been said that one cannot get them without money. Is that so? Let me point out some. For constipation there is castor oil and senna which can be bought for one shilling and eight pence. For fever there is aconite – three to five drops in a large spoonful of water. For worms – three to five drops of [?oina ?eina] in a large spoonful of water. That is for older children. Very small children should drink from a small spoon. The water should be warm. It should be drunk three times a day. You should be aware of these but there are others for some other sicknesses.

From your friend who observes the health of the Maori.

Eruera te Kahu.

SOME MEMBERS

Notice has been given that Apirana Turupa Ngata is standing to be member for Eastern Maori in the election, at the request of Ngati Porou. There is no need for any introduction or an explanation of who Apirana is because all the tribes have seen and heard him. Soon we will print at length the information sent to us about Apirana Ngata.

We have received a letter saying that Eruera te Kahu is standing to be member for Western Maori.

…………………………….

We have received a letter from Inia Tuhata of the Chatham Islands who tells of the strength of the hope of a blind elder that his eyes will see again in this world before he dies. He has been blind for seventy years. Prayer is this elder’s main occupation, asking that God will restore his sight. This has empowered his request and his hope.

Hemi Whakarara of Tuparoa told us of the destruction by fire of the house of Ahipene Mika, the Maori policeman of Tuparoa. All his possessions and those of his wife were destroyed. But Maori and Pakeha have shown pity towards him for the tragedy that has hit him and in a short time thirteen pounds fifteen shillings has been collected to help him and his wife.

HUI TOPU

On 2nd April the Hui Topu of the Maori Church in the Diocese of Waiapu will be held here in Gisborne.

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 : APRIL

Day 5 New Moon 10h 53m a.m.

Day ? Full Moon 1h 8m a.m.

1 S

2 S Fourth Sunday of Lent

Morning Evening

Genesis 42 Genesis 43

Luke 6.1-20 2 Corinthians 6 & 7.1

3 M

4 T

5 W

6 Th

7 F

8 S

9 S Fifth Sunday of Lent

Exodus 3 Exodus 5

Luke 9.28-51 2 Corinthians 12.14 & 13

10 M

11 T

12 W

13 Th

14 F

15 S

16 S Sixth Sunday of Lent

Exodus 9 Exodus 10

Matthew 26 Luke 19.1-28

17 M Monday before Easter

Lamentations 1.1-15 Lamentations 2.1-13

John 14.1-15 John 14.15-end

18 T Tuesday before Easter

Lamentations 3.1-34 Lamentations 3.34-end

John 15.1-14 John 15.14-end

19 W Wednesday before Easter

Lamentations 4.1-21 Daniel 9.20-end

John 16.1-16 John 16.16-end

20 Th Thursday before Easter

Hosea 13.1-15 Hosea 14

John 17 John 13.1-36

21 F Good Friday

Psalms: Morning 22, 40, 54 Evening 69, 88

Genesis 22.1-20 Isaiah 52.13 & 53

John 18 1 Peter 2

22 S Easter Even Vigil

Zechariah 9 Hosea 5.8 – 6.4

Luke 23.1-50 Romans 6.1-14

23 S Easter Day

Psalms: Morning 2, 57, 111 Evening 113, 114, 118

Athanasian Creed

Exodus 12.1-29 Exodus 12.29-end

Revelation 1.10-19 John 20.11-19

24 M Monday in Easter Week

Exodus 15.1-22 Song of Songs 2.1-10

Luke 24.1-13 Matthew 29.1-10

25 T Tuesday in Easter Week

2 Kings 13.14-22 Ezekiel 37.1-15

John 21.1-15 John 21.15-end

26 W

27 Th

28 F Fast

29 S

30 S Second Sunday after Easter

Numbers 20.1-14 Numbers 16.1-36

John 5.1-29 John 20.24-30

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

5/- Eru Titi, Paora Whakatiti, Pihipene Mika, Karaitiana Poi, Rerehau Haupokia; 3/- Te Hekenui; 2/- Hamahona; £1 Eruera te Kaha.

H W Williams, Te Rau Press, Gisborne.