Te Pipiwharauroa 6

Te Pipiwharauroa 6

No.6

1898/08/01

(Maori Version at PapersPast)

[1] He Kupu Whakamarama

[2] He Kupu Whakamarama, Number 6, Nelson, August 1898 Editor – Rev F A Bennett

THE DEATH OF REV HOHUA MOANAROA

Great is the sadness of the people in the Maori section of the Church at the news of the death of Rev Hohua Moanaroa at Ngaruawahia on 24th July.

One week after that illness struck him he died.

He was baptized by Archdeacon Maunsell.

He was Maunsell’s assistant in setting up the Maori schools at Maraetai and Kohanga.

He was taught by Bishop Selwyn at St Stephen’s School, Auckland. He was ordained Deacon in the year 1860. In 1870 he was ordained Priest by the Bishop of Auckland.

At the time of the fighting in Waikato that elder remained as Bishop Selwyn’s companion. They went about amongst the Maori and Pakeha armies seeking ways to achieve peace.

At the end of the fighting Rev Hohua Moanaroa took over the parish of Archdeacon Maunsell which stretched from Waikato Heads to Manukau taking in the inland area.

That elder was a leading chief of the sub-tribe of Ngatitipa, a near relative of the leading people of Waikato, including the present King.

Although as he got older he could no longer see, that elder was still actively going about taking services for his people. The Pakeha said that that elder was like the leading Pakeha in the rightness of his principles and in his knowledge of the best ways of the Pakeha. The ministers of the Auckland Synod lament greatly the loss from their midst of this elder so greatly loved by Maori and Pakeha. He was 76 when he died. (Philippians 3.14)

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

(1) From Rev Hoeata Te Hata.

(This was not concluded in edition 4 of this paper.)

The final part is this.

Matthew 18.30. ‘He would not.’ This is how things are with men. His only prayer is to be forgiven his own sins by God, but the sins of others against him he is not willing to forgive. Instead he gives the terrible verdict, ‘Throw him into prison.’ That is what we are like, my friends. Let us not forget the teaching of this prayer, ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ If we forgive the sins of men then God will forgive our sins against him when we pray.

However the character of all people is not like that of the evil servant. Look at verse 31: ‘They were very sad.’ These are the friends of that slave.

They have sad hearts before God and are angry at his evil deed (v.34).

They told their master about it. This is what a believing heart does. Bring to the Lord all your sadness and sufferings and troubles, and leave them with him for he is able to deal with all the things that distress your heart.

When the master heard of it he was angry (v.32). ‘Evil servant, I freely forgave you all your debt, when you besought me (v.38). Then was it not right that you should forgive your fellow servant as I forgave you?’ The sin of this man was that he did not forgive his friend’s sin, when he had prayed to God to forgive his own sin. His lament was heard by God. He did not hear his friend’s lament. Since we have been forgiven by our Lord, let us not forget to forgive those who have wronged us

Verse 34. ‘Now his master was angry and delivered him over to the torturers.’ As it is said, ‘The person who has an unforgiving heart will not be shown mercy when he is judged’ (James 2.13).

This is a question about the meaning of the above words. Will not those sins [3] which have been forgiven be brought up again later?

The forgiveness of sins is brought about by the blood of Christ. (John 3.16) But by the heart’s deep faith in Christ sins are washed away by his blood.

But what about the man who has faith in Christ but afterwards turns away; Christ is abandoned by him? The answer to that question is that all that man’s sins will return upon him. Consider the servant above (v.34). His debt was totally forgiven. (v.27) Afterwards he was sentenced to restore all. For those of us who live in Christ our sins are completely forgiven (1 John 1.8-9). If we abandon him we will be as we were before we turned to the faith.

In the service for the baptism of children there are some explanatory words. ‘Dearly beloved, all men are conceived and born in sin.’ This is the state of people without faith. ‘To be made a lively member of the same.’ This is the state of the believer. So, my friends, the person outside of Christ is subject to the wrath of God, while the person in Christ is under the love of God. One walks in darkness while the other walks in light. The person who turns from the light to the darkness will inherit the punishments and all the pains of that dark world, taking into account the chastisement due to him before he turned to Christ (John 5.14). ‘If a man does not abide in me, he will be thrown out like a branch and burned’ (John 15.6).

His state is like that of a man in the sea about to be drowned in the huge waves. It comes about that the man is dragged to shore. When he reaches dry land he survives. However that man foolishly goes back again into the water. The man who turns from Christ is like that (1 John 1.7). Verse 35. ‘So will my Father in heaven do to you if you do not from your hearts the sins of these brothers of yours.’ These are instructive words, words of caution to us all. A forgiving heart is a wonderful possession (Colossians 3.13, Ephesians 4.32). Christ says, ‘Blessed are the merciful; they shall be shown mercy’ (Matthew 5.7). ‘Forgive and ye shall be forgiven’ (Luke 6.37, James 5.9).

INDIA

There are 287 million people in this country.

There are more people in India than in Africa and South America all together.

If all the people of the world are counted together there are 1,500 million. However if you divide the people of the earth into five groups, one of those groups would fill India alone.

Most of the gods of this people are idols.

There are 1,686 missionaries proclaiming the gospel to those 287 million people.

All these people are under the sovereignty of the Queen of England.

This is one custom of some of the tribes of India. If the spirit is weighed down by sin they go to the source of their great river Ganges, they remove their shoes and they travel overland to the mouth of the river, then they return on the other side of the river to the source of that river. After six years of travel they complete the pilgrimage. This is in reparation for sin.

The English soldiers and officers in India collect £10,000 each year to enable the Gospel to be spread throughout the tribes of India.

The Women of India

It is said that there are 24 million widows living in India. Seventy-eight thousand of those women were widowed when they were not yet nine years old. Customs relating to widows are terrible. Their law states that a widow may eat only once during twenty-four hours. They only eat rice. Each month they must fast twice. In those days they are not allowed to touch food. And they will not be given water during those days. Should she ask for water it will be poured into her ear.

See what one Indian woman said to the missionary: ‘Yes, perhaps you have seen sorrow but you cannot know my sorrow and my suffering. When you are sad you can go to your book (the Bible) and there you can find understanding [4] to pacify your heart. But for me there is not a road by which I can find enlightenment.

In the Fire.

In our Church there is a native of India. An unbelieving Pakeha came to mock that Indian for his turning to Christ in faith. ‘No good will come to you as a result of your turning to the faith. What good has Christ done for you?’ This is what that unbelieving Pakeha asked.

Then that Indian answered him, ‘He saved me.’

The Pakeha said, ‘All right, explain what you are saying.’

Then the Indian said, ‘Fine. Follow me and I will explain to you my words.’ The two of them stood and the Indian guided his friend outside the house. When they arrived in front of it he chose some dry tree leaves. He laid them out in a big circle. Then the Indian looked for a worm. When he found it he placed it in the circle of leaves. Then he struck a match and put it in this circle of dried leaves. The fire spread completely around the circle. There was no way of escape for the worm. The leaves burned fiercely and that worm wriggled and squirmed. For a long time the unbelieving Pakeha watched, without any idea of the significance of what the Indian was doing, until the Indian stretched out his hand to the worm through the smoke of the fire, lifted it up and carried it to a good place in the vegetation where it went away.

Then the Indian turned to his Pakeha friend and said to him, ‘This is like what Christ has done for me. I was surrounded by the flames of hell. There was no way to be found for me to escape from that conflagration. The wrath of God had descended on me. All that was before me was death. Christ took upon himself the reparation I owed. He died for my sins. I was like a brand plucked from the burning. (Zechariah 3.2) Although I was like a worm he has set me up in a new place. ‘So God loved the world that he  gave his only Son, so that anyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3.16).

THE PUPILS OF TE AUTE

(Conclusion)

When our party arrived they were welcomed to the church. After the service we all gathered at the home of Wi Katene. There was laid out there a Maori feast. Who would want all the Pakeha foods when our ancestral foods are available? When dinner was finished the speeches began. Turangapeke, Rupine and Huta Paaka welcomed the visitors. Mr Thornton, Ware Waitai, Hare Kohere, Riwai Hiwinui, Balneavis and others spoke bringing greetings to the local people. Those finished, Hemi Matenga and Rev Perere Peneti brought greetings to both visitors and local people and spoke about the ways to be taken for the good of the Maori people. After prayers the young people returned to the houses in which it had been arranged for them to stay in Motueka.

On Wednesday they played football against the players of Motueka and Riwaka. The Pakeha were thrashed by the Maori, 37-nil.

In the evening everyone gathered in the hall. There the boys entertained with songs.

The money raised by Motueka amounted to £13.8s.

In the morning we returned to Nelson. In the evening there was a gathering at which Mr Thornton and the Rev P Bennett spoke about the work of the Church in Maori areas. The Bishop chaired that meeting. Rev Chatterton and Holloway spoke afterwards.

On Friday morning there was a cycle ride. At 2.30 p.m. all assembled at the home of the Bishop, Bishopdale, and at 3 p.m. went into the Bishop’s chapel. There were two sermons, one in English by Rev Chatterton, the other in Maori by Rev. P Bennett.

In the evening there was a social in the Council hall.

It was full of people. The Maori boys provided the entertainment of songs.

On Saturday the contest between Te Aute and Nelson took place. All the Nelson Club players were strong fellows. [5] At the end of the game the score was 3 all.

In the evening the boys of Te Aute were welcomed to the Pakeha College of Nelson. The Nelson students sang and afterwards there was a ‘Magic Lantern’ presentation (a light which shows pictures in the dark). The pictures were of the places overwhelmed by the eruption of a mountain in Italy.

At the beginning of the week the Maori students again spoke at the Sunday Schools. In the evening the older students spoke to the Pakeha. The Pakeha were full of praise and love for the students for the words they had spoken.

On Monday morning Matenga and Peneti went to Blenheim, to Wairau, Waitohi, and Waikawa, to set up the programme for the students there and to arrange their accommodation.

On Tuesday Mr Thornton held a big picnic to express his and his students’ gratitude to all the people who had been so kind to them. Everyone went down to the seaside for their departure.

Their steamer sailed on Wednesday and arrived at Picton (Waitohi) in the evening. After dinner we went to the school where we had our entertainment.

In the morning all went to Waikawa. The people of the village did not know that a party was coming and when we arrived they were disturbed. But there were many greetings from the local people. Matenga replied to the speeches. Ware Waitai and Peneti spoke. After eating we all returned to Picton and travelled by train to Blenheim.

When we arrived Archdeacon Grace, Mr Jenkins and others were awaiting us. Before long all the students had gone to the homes arranged for them. Here they stayed in the homes of leading Pakeha of that district.

On Friday morning, 8th July, the Maori brought their traps and coaches to convey out party to their village of Wairau.

After dinner everyone assembled in the school. Arapeta Rore welcomed the visitors. Mr Thornton spoke after him. He spoke well about his perception of the ways in which the Maori people will find well-being. Many others, both visitors and local people spoke. After the speeches came worship. At the end of the service we returned to Blenheim.

In the evening many Pakeha gathered in the hall to hear the Maori entertainment.

On Saturday, 9th July, Te Aute played Wairau at football. The Maori students won, 11-9.

During the week the Maori of Wairau again sent their traps to fetch us so that we could worship together in their church (Wesleyan). The preachers were Ware Waitai, Balneavis, Terei Ngatai, Riwai Hiwinui, Hemi Matenga, Mr Jenkins, Mr Grace and Peneti. When we came out we learned that the minister of the church in which we had been worshipping, the Reverend Hetaraka Warihi, had died.

Most of us returned to Blenheim to speak to the children in the Sunday Schools.

At 3 p.m. there was a farewell service for the footballers to remind them of the things of God.

In the evening there was a big service in Mr Grace’s church. Six or seven hundred people filled the church. After the big service Mr Thornton and Peneti spoke to the Pakeha urging them to give all the help they could to efforts to help the Maori people.

On Monday morning all of us went to see the place where several Pakeha were struck down by Te Rauparaha, an incident called by the Pakeha, ‘The Wairau Massacre’.

At 2.30 p.m. we all gathered at Mr Jenkins’ home. He is the manager of the bank in Blenheim and has great affection for Maori children.

At 4 p.m. we arrived at the railway station which was crowded with Pakeha come to farewell their Pakeha friends. In the evening we arrived in Picton. There we entertained at night until the approaching departure time of the evening steamer meant we had to finish and leave. Their steamer sailed at 10.30 p.m. There was sadness on both sides at their departure. Those left behind were lonely.

Altogether they had raised £106 through their activities. When all expenses were paid there remained £44. When they arrived in Wellington it was discovered that the train tickets were out of date [6] and they had to pay £9 for their tickets being out of date. The remaining money was £35. This money was given to support the work among the Maori people in the Diocese of Nelson.

LETTERS RECEIVED

To the Editor of Te Kupu Whakamarama.

My friend, I have seen the letter from Nikora Tautau published in the July edition of Te Pipiwharauroa. The people of Waikato abandoned the Faith for two reasons. According to Nikora, this is one of the reasons. ‘On Sunday morning, they came to Rangiaowhia It was the home of old and young and women, who were fired on. Many were burned alive in a single house. This is why they gave up the worship of the great God of Heaven.’

My friend, the Editor, this is a very important statement for us to consider. If that statement is not clarified then Maori seeing it will conclude that those people were burned alive by the Pakeha soldiers. And that thought will lead them to despise the faith brought here by the Pakeha. My friend, the Editor, people have seen the Maori versions of that trouble, and now I ask you to publish the account by one of the officers of the Pakeha soldiers involved in that fight. I have abbreviated the statement lest it not find its way into your paper. All of this is what that officer said: ‘I saw Colonel Nixon and some officers standing on the other side of the houses. Then I went to them through the houses. As I was going they called out to me. I did not clearly hear what they were saying. I went on and as I went I saw a trooper at the door of a house. I think he was kneeling down and looking inside. As I neared the door there was a volley of shots directed at me. But I was not hit by the shots.

However I saw that the trooper who had been bending down had been killed. They were all Maori in the house who had fired the guns.

Then the Colonel ordered Captain Walmsely and me to enter that house. That house was about five feet high. A man would have to crouch down to enter that house. We knew that we would be killed if we tried to enter that house. But what were we to do since the Colonel had ordered us to enter. We followed him. We all had pistols in our hands. When we came to the door we were fired on and the Colonel was hit and fell dead. We were distressed at the death of our Colonel. When the soldiers saw that the Colonel was dead they tried to storm the house. They did not succeed. Four of our soldiers also died. When the regular soldiers arrived they tried unsuccessfully to enter the house. That house was built over a pit. The Maori were shooting from the pit. One Pakeha ran up but reaching the door fell back dead. At this the house was set afire. It was also fired on; the bullets flew like rain. All the Pakeha believed that all the Maori in that house were dead.’

Now, Editor, you get the picture of this fight and the deaths on the Pakeha side. Pakeha law, and Maori custom also, says that it is permitted to shoot at a fort or a house in a time of war if the enemy does not surrender their place. It was the case in the fight between the French and the Germans in the year past.

If there were women and children in that house, they died because of the obstinacy of the Maori, and not because they were burned by the Pakeha. The Pakeha did not know they were there.

Enough.

From your friendly Pakeha,

Hunter Brown.

Nelson

18.8.98.

ODDS AND ENDS

1. The Editor of our paper is seeking a Maori name for our bird. Find a name that is right for this bird so that we can rapidly proceed to baptize this pet.

2. On Monday morning, 16th August, the teacher of the Maori School at Waikawa (Picton), Mr MacDonald, died. The illness started as influenza. [7] It is not yet known what will happen to the school.

3. In September the Inspector of Maori Schools comes to the Maori School at Whangarae (Croixelles) to examine the pupils and to make some arrangements for that school. An organ has arrived at Whangarae to help teach the children music.

4. A Wesleyan minister has been appointed for the Maori of Wairau to take the place of the Rev Hetaraka Warihi. His Pakeha name is Haddon. He and his wife come from Patea. He is a young man, a half-caste. Welcome to Te Waipounamu. May God help the two of you, guard you, and bless you in all the work you do to improve the well-being, physical and spiritual, of the people you have been called to shepherd.

5. We applaud the editor of ‘The Jubilee’ for the way he has sought so clearly to arouse the hearts of people lest they foolishly follow the ways of the drunkard. We were afflicted by strong drink before. We’ve had enough and urge you to seek a way whereby all Maori people will give up alcohol. This is strongly supported in articles in ‘The Jubilee’ for July 26th.

6. To the people of the Province of Nelson. In the last days of August, Peneti will visit Motueka, Takaka, and Whangarae. At the beginning of September he will visit Wairau, Waikawa and Kaikoura too. On that occasion he will bring the magic lantern for you to see pictures.

7. In January one of the students from Te Aute will come to Bishopdale College to study for the ministry. When Peneti goes to Aotearoa that student will take over the work in this Province.

8. Pehira Taylor (the grandson of Taylor, minister at Whanganui) has gone to Parapara-o-utu, Whanganui, as teacher at a Maori school there. The people of Putiki are very sad at losing their child from their midst. For seven years Pehira has played the organ at Putiki Church and has put energy into teaching the children songs. All the people of Putiki wished him well when he left. They present him with tokens of their affection, a collapsible chair and a boxed hair brush.

9. In September we will answer questions. There was no room in this edition.

10. A letter has arrived from Nikora Tautau containing the name he envisages for our bird. In September we will announce the chosen name.

11. The Bishop of Christchurch has designated a Pakeha minister as shepherd for the Maori sheep of that Province of Te Waipounamu.

THIS MONTH’S DONATIONS

Huta Paaka, Motueka, 10/-; O.H., H, 2/6; Bishop of Waiapu, Napier, £1; Rev Arthur Williams, Te Aute, £1; Miss Williams, Hukarere, 12/-.

If you wish to write to me, this is the address of the printer. Rev. Perere Peneti, Nelson.

Bond, Finney & Co, Printers, Nelson.