Te Pipiwharauroa 25

Te Pipiwharauroa 25

No. 25  

 1900/03/01

(Maori Version at NZETC)

No. 25 1900/03/01

[1]  Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama.

[2] Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama, Number 25, Gisborne, March 1900

THE SHAME

In the address given by Mr Thornton, teacher at Te Aute, a summary of which was published in Number 19 of Te Pipiwharauroa, he said that Maori, Maori parents, were guilty of a sin in that there was much fornication amongst their children – ‘because of the use of filthy language, because of a lack of this thing - of modesty, their daughters were being brought up without values.’ This is an important thing for the Maori to take on board if they wish their daughters to grow up with a good name, without a blemish on their past, into young womanhood. If a girl does not have this modesty it will be her downfall, her degradation, her flight to the world of darkness.

When a woman is born God plants the seeds of modesty in her heart. Many actions and words that a boy may see or hear ought to be a cause of embarrassment to a girl and bring blushes to her cheeks. The Pakeha are fearful lest their women hear filthy talk and swearing that are embarrassing to a woman. This modesty is something implanted by the Creator in the breast to make them tender, to make them loving, something for them to have to prevent them from careering into sin. According to Mr Thornton it is the Maori themselves who crush the seeds of modesty implanted by God in the hearts of girls. When a girl arrives at school she is taught to be ashamed of wicked actions by the teaching given her, but when she returns home that sense of shame is diminished within her. At first she is revolted by the disgusting things she hears. Her spirit is greatly provoked, however, as day after day she continues to hear them her spirit is no longer provoked at hearing such wicked things and sometimes she may even laugh at them. The seed of modesty has rotted in her heart. Perhaps she goes to the sheep stations as a fleeco: here she hears all kinds of foul speech and lads come to tease her but she does not answer. At first she averts her eyes and for a time she pays no attention. But embarrassment has been subjugated within her and her disgust at wickedness is ended. When a dance is held she attends. Formerly she disliked dancing; now it is attractive to her, something that gives pleasure. She dances and is embraced by all sorts of boys, good, bad, very bad. She no longer has a choice. She has lost her shame, and with the loss of her shame she loses her caution and her sanctity. The boys were not afraid to talk to her, the road is broad, and the angel has descended from her throne to be embraced by the filthy hands of the devil. With the loss of shame the result is fornication. It does not take much to persuade her to spoil her virginity and to trample her beautiful name in the mud. An angel has fallen, has fallen! Weep! Let the tears flow! When shame dies in the bosom of a girl it is not long before she has fornicated and the bastard child she gives birth to is a sign to the world of her fall from her sacred status of young womanhood. I am aware that these are heavy things I write, shameful things, but I write out of the fullness of my heart and in sadness and love for girls who have so horribly succumbed, who have fallen. I also think that parents must make every effort to protect their girls lest this shameful thing happen to them. Nothing worse can happen to a girl than to give birth to an illegitimate child. Sirs, ladies, young people, bless, love and care for your daughters, [3] your sisters, lest they fall into this terrible state in the world. If someone uses foul language do not laugh but be angry; cause it to be despised lest it become something desirable afterwards. What are you doing to care for our illegitimate children, those who attend our colleges, those who are not at school, even those children who are privileged. My people, this is a sickness, a sickness, a sickness. Fight it! Heal it! Stamp it out!

I’ve said enough.

From Te Mahara.

TE AUTE COLLEGE

To the Editor of Te Pipiwharauroa. Greetings, you who are doing this beautiful work, you who produce articles to instruct and to delight the people. May God bless you and strengthen our bird, Te Pipiwharauroa, in its flight.

Friend, I thought it right to send some information to be carried by our bird so that the Maori people and parents of children may know something of the work and the character of the home in which their children are living.

The school began on 29th February. At present 76 children have arrived but some are still to come.

Many children left school last year and many new children are joining the school this year. The various groups represented in the school this year are : Ngati Porou, 28; Ngati Kahungunu, 10; Te Whanau-a-Apanui, 1; Ngati Raukawa, 4; Ngati Paoa, 2; Ngati Awa, 1; Ngati Apa, 2; Ngapuhi, 3; Whanganui, 4; Waikato, 3; Ngai Tahu, 1; Rangitaane, 1; Ngati Toa, 4; ‘Ngati Pakeha’, 12. People coming here are full of praise for Ngati Porou for sending their children to the school.

The Maori teachers this year are W E Teramea and T Ngatai. Ware Waitai, from last year, has finished his teaching and has gone to Taranaki as a colleague for Rev. Peneti in the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in that area.

Three children from Te Aute passed the Government examination (Matriculation) last year – Terei Ngatai from Ngati Porou, A H Cato, a Pakeha from Te Wairoa, and E H Sherburd from Kaiapoi. Many children are attending school to sit that examination this year. The McLean scholarships this year have gone to Watene Puketoki from Te Whanau-a-Apanui and Ngati Porou, Paaka Turei of Rangitukia School in the Ngati Porou area, and Nutana Keiha of Mangere School, Auckland. This is the fourth year that the McLean Scholarship has gone to Rangitukia School.

Many senior students from Te Aute have not returned this year. Wi Paraire has gone to the other Island to the theological college. Rihara Paraone from Ngapuhi is also at the theological college. Manuera Poata from Ngapuhi is training to be a policeman. Many others left the college last year but we do not know what they are doing now.

You have perhaps heard of the Te Aute College Cadet Corps. Our cadet corps travelled to Napier on 20th February to swell the numbers at the farewell to the Napier soldiers going to Transvaal. Many people came to Napier that day; it is estimated around 19,000. And there were nearly ten platoons of soldiers. Before the soldiers embarked on the ship for Transvaal, we went around some of the streets of the town. The soldiers were paraded, with those men who were going in the middle. Two bands marched in front and one at the end. The Pakeha were full of praise for our marching. The uniform of a sailor looks very good on a Maori who carries a gun and bayonet and has a sword girded around his waist. Certainly there was in the hearts of some of those who had come some anxiety. When the soldiers who were going to the Transvaal were embarking we did our haka. We raised the dust. The ground shook. It was formidable. If they thought that this was the group going to Transvaal then the spirit of the Boers would have fled.

We hope, friends, we have given you a picture of the place where your boys live and of what they do. They are dedicated to learning the wisdom of the Pakeha without leaving behind their own culture. We will not forget our own Maori culture. So, Te Pipiwharauroa, you beautiful bird, these are the few words we would like you to carry to the marae of the Maori people. We flourish.

Editor, blessings on you.

From Te Aute.

March 5th, 1900

[4] 

DYNAMITE

When a man is working on the road he may come across a stone or a rock which blocks his progress. If he is not able to smash that rock with a hammer or pick, he uses powder. If gunpowder does not smash the rock he fetches dynamite. It is a powerful way of smashing the rock so as to facilitate a person’s work.

The name given to this powerful thing, dynamite, comes from the Greek language. The basic meaning of that word is ‘power’. It is not because the Greeks knew of it that that powerful thing was given a Greek name. The thing was invented in our time.

The word is used in the New Testament of God, the all-powerful, who can do everything (Matthew 19.26; Mark 10.27; Luke 18.27). It is Christ who taught us about God’s power, and when he was afflicted he remembered his Father’s power and called upon him (Matthew 19.36). He is able to do all things. This is the basis of our faith, of our trusting in him; he has power to do the things he has spoken of (Romans 4.21). He is able to raise the dead (Hebrews 9.19). But the good thing for us is that we can entrust ourselves to him and he will care for us (2 Tim 1.12). One of the signs of his power is his patience towards sinners (Romans 9.22), and his acceptance of those who believe (Romans 11.23). It is for these reasons that Mary was taught by the Holy Spirit to magnify God as the Almighty (Luke 1.49).

God can do all things, and he has made it possible for us humans to use that great power through faith (Mark 9.23). In this way Moses was empowered (Acts 7.22). What was said about him was the same as was said about the Christ when he was in this world (Luke 24.19). If we take this to heart then we will be strong to fight our enemies (2 Cor 10.4). Nor did death have power over Christ (Acts 2.24). Power over things in this world is not to be considered as power in God’s eyes (1 Cor 1.26), but we are to be aware that when we are weak then we will be strengthened by God (2 Cor 12.10). The word of God is one means whereby we obtain God’s power (Acts 18.24). By this means also we are able to strengthen our friends in their weakness (Titus 1.9; Romans 15.2). So Paul was willing to become weak in order to strengthen his disciples (2 Cor 13.9). James, also, said that the real demonstration of a man’s strength is the bridling of his tongue (James 3.2). Let us pray to God that we may be strengthened to do that difficult thing, and that we may always remember that all our power comes from God. And let us not mistakenly think that we are able to do things that are not ordained by God (Acts 11.17). It will be a good thing if you look carefully at the verses in this article, and that you remember that the power of God is far greater than that of dynamite.

THE GREAT FAMINE IN INDIA

A great famine has struck India. A famine struck that land in 1897. It was said there that this was one of the worst famines in the past, along with the famine in the days when Joseph was governing Egypt and the famine in the days when Claudius Caesar was king in Rome. In that year (1897) more than 2,000,000 people sought food from the Government of India. However England and her colonies (including New Zealand) helped the Government of India. 

This year (1900) another famine has struck that land besides which the 1897 famine is insignificant. The total number of people suffering now is 49,000,000. Of these, 3,250,000 are in desperate straits and are looking to the Government to feed them. The situation is getting worse because of a lack of rain. Were this disaster to happen in New Zealand we would not survive. 

The Government of England and her colonies are fully committed to the war at present and are therefore reluctant to help the Government of India, but India is angry that she is being left to fight this battle alone. India is still one of the lands under the English which has been very active in promoting the war in Africa. Indian soldiers arrived in Africa shortly after the beginning of the fighting. The Indian Government is totally overwhelmed by the need to save its people and to pursue the war in Africa.

[5] 

THE WAR IN TRANSVAAL

General Cronje’s Defeat at Koodoosrand.

We said in our last article about the war in the last edition of Te Pipiwharauroa: ‘We believe that in coming days the news of the war will be very different. We are awaiting the fall of General Cronje and the relief of Ladysmith.’ Our belief proved correct. No sooner had our bird left the nest than a telegram arrived announcing the defeat of General Cronje and all the armies under him. General Roberts telegraphed the War Office in England on the morning of Tuesday, 27th February. These are the words of his telegram:

‘This evening General Cronje gave himself and his army up to be our prisoners. 
They are now in my camp. 
The losses at Majuba Hill have been avenged.’

(The disastrous battle spoken of by General Roberts was on 27th February, 1881. Of 600 English soldiers there was hardly left a remnant. Those that remained were taken captive. General Colley, a man well-known in those days, died in this battle. This was the Boer’s great victory over the English and they continue to use it to taunt, to jeer at and to exult over the English. Following the defeat of General Colley, the English Government sent General Roberts to oversee the war. He was still at sea when peace was declared; it was because of this that that defeat was not avenged at the time. Nineteen years after that battle war broke out once again. On the very day of that battle, 27th February, General Cronje and all his forces were defeated. The death was avenged and revenge taken. The blemishes were wiped out and the honour of the people restored.)

When General Roberts’ telegram was received it was read out in Parliament. The wise and the elders of England shouted. The shouting had not subsided before they began a song in praise of the Queen although it was not possible to distinguish if it was a song or what, because of the expressing of joy; ears and throats celebrated his defeat. But let them celebrate; this is a great cause for celebration. Previously the news had been of English defeats: then, when the English had suffered defeats, the reception of the news was different. It was not long before the news reached all the countries under English sovereignty. Bells were rung, bands played, battleships fired their guns, flags were raised, and there were entertainments and many celebrations to express the great joy that was felt. Schools closed for that day with the idea that those growing up should share in this great joy and that they will remember the bravery of their parents over these recent days.

In the midst of these celebrations the names of the Queen and General Roberts were not forgotten. Yes, let us honour the greatness of General Roberts and his extraordinary bravery. Maori are a warrior people, a people who respect the brave. So let us sing and shout of General Roberts until our ears are deaf and our mouths hoarse. Take up this song: ‘All people, Roberts has overthrown the defences, he has charged…!’

The Prisoners

General Cronje mounted his horse when he went to see General Roberts to surrender himself and his army to the English. When General Roberts saw him he stood up to honour him. After handshakes and greetings, food was provided and he was treated hospitably. By such honourable practices the English humble the Boers. A total of 48 officers and 4,300 soldiers of General Cronje’s army were taken prisoner. The number of prisoners would have been greater but one night a small section of that army fled. General French pursued some of those who had fled and captured 540. There were many women in General Cronje’s army. When those people arrived in the English camp the women shed tears because so many of their men had been killed. That day the prisoners were loaded onto a train and taken to Capetown, an English town on the southernmost point of Africa. General Roberts assigned a very large company as guards [6] to prevent the prisoners escaping during the journey. Some of those prisoners did try to escape but how could they get away? General Cronje had been imprisoned on board one of the English warships, but the English Government decided to send him and all his army to an English island called St Helena. (The English transported Napoleon to that island as a prisoner in 1815. He died there in 1821.)

The Relief of Ladysmith

While the English were still distracted and overjoyed at the defeat of the Boers, a telegram arrived which increased the jubilation and celebrations of the people. On 1st March, General Buller’s wire arrived at the War Office in England. These are the words of that wire:

‘In the evening a section of my army arrived in Ladysmith. The town has been saved!’

General Buller’s telegram was read in Parliament. When the Lords and the representatives of the people heard the words of this telegram there was shouting and many celebrations as had happened when General Roberts’ telegram arrived. It was not long before the young men started the song for the Queen and their elders joined in. It was very noisy but sweet to the ears. I reckon that, had the English elders been familiar with our Maori practices, they would have done a haka. This would have been the happiest way for them to celebrate but the hand of your servant, the Editor, is powerless to bring this about.

The Queen and the Prince of Wales sent telegrams to General Buller and General White, praising them for the relief of Ladysmith. The final words of those telegrams are: ‘Praise God!’ Yes, praise God who has upheld the right and put down the wrong. General White is a close friend of General Roberts. They fought alongside each other in many campaigns in India. So on the occasion of the relief of Ladysmith, General White received a telegram from General Roberts. These are the words of his telegram: 

‘Thanks be to God who has heard the prayers of the people.’

On the evening of 28th February the relief convoy arrived at Ladysmith. When they arrived, the supply of food in the town was almost exhausted; there was only a very small ration of for each person. It is impossible to convey the great joy of the people of that town when they knew they had been saved. There were many injured, prisoners and sick in the town; the town had been struck by fever, by mischance, and there was filth and rubbish everywhere. When the relief convoy arrived at Ladysmith, General White assembled his people and made a speech in which he praised his army for their boldness in helping him in the defence of Ladysmith. These are some of his words: 

‘My heart was saddened at having had to reduce everyone’s rations. However I am very happy that we had the strength to keep the flag of England flying over Ladysmith.’

General White and his soldiers were greatly praised for their determination in holding Ladysmith against thousands of Boers. The Boers made two fierce assaults but it did not fall. During the first assault nearly 1000 Boers fell and during the second, more than 2000.’

General Buller and his army are also deserving of great praise. They did a great work and many of them also were killed. But they completed their task, the liberation of Ladysmith. General Buller persevered for a long time until at last he reached Ladysmith. The reason his task was so difficult was the challenging terrain around Ladysmith. There are high hills, cliffs, rivers and inaccessible places for the Boers to hide in. The district in which General Roberts had to operate was different. There were no steep cliffs or deep rivers, but it was all easy, undulating country. General Roberts said that he was mistaken in saying that it would not be possible to liberate Ladysmith. But upon the defeat of General Cronje some of the Boers returned [7] to Ladysmith and General Buller acted swiftly. Nearly 5000 of General Buller’s troops died, were injured, or were taken prisoner in his campaign to relieve Ladysmith.

After the liberation of Ladysmith the Government gave orders that General White should have command over the English army in the South, General Buller should command the East, the area of Ladysmith, and General Roberts the West. Before he left, General White stood to say farewell to the people of Ladysmith. Those people had great love for their leader and some were unable to keep back their tears. Our hope is that the defeat of the Boers by General White in the South will be like their defeat at Ladysmith.

Mafeking

This tiny fort is deserving of great praise. The Boers have attacked it many times but it has not fallen. On 18th February the fort was again attacked by the Boers. They mistakenly thought that that fort would fall but it still stands. In this engagement 40 Boers died and three English. Because of this the Boers were fearful of trying to overthrow this fort although there were only 800 soldiers inside it. That force was not willing to be taken prisoner by the Boers but was determined to fight to the end. The company is full of praise for their leader, Colonel Powell, a good administrator and a warrior too. This is one of the remarkable things about this war. Even those nations of Europe who are at odds with the English are full of admiration. This is one of the events in this war which will have its place in the annals of the Realm of England for generations to come. Mafeking is near Pretoria and therefore it has not been possible to send a small army to liberate it but the large army will soon arrive.

Other Stories of the War

In the battle at Koodoosrand, General MacDonald, the commander of the Scottish soldiers was struck. His army was greatly grieved at his injury. He is a brave man and a man who knows how to fight a war. So his soldiers were happy to learn from the doctor that his injury was not life-threatening and that it will not be long before he is able to take up his sword.

The Boers are saying that the day is almost here when the English will be defeated and their leader, Kruger, will go to London to be made King. What loudmouths!

The people of Europe are saddened by the defeat of the Boers under General Cronje and at the liberation of Ladysmith. The French, German and Russian newspapers were urging on the Boers in their fighting. At first they were wrong. The English were troubling the Boers. However it was not long before the Boers were no longer being troubled. The thousands of English soldiers had not yet arrived in Africa. That is happening rapidly now. There is no end to the arrivals. Some will not reach the front line.

Since the beginning of the war until 12th of this month (March) the number of English soldiers killed, wounded, taken prisoner or struck down by sickness are: Killed – 2419; wounded – 8747; captured – 3482; died from disease – 1029. A total of 15,677. This is the verified figure. These figure make clear the number of those who died from disease. Most of these people are from Ladysmith. That town was hit by fever during the time it was besieged by the Boers. That town has been terribly desolated by affliction.

Any small defeat of the English by the Boers has been magnified by their enemies. By the time the account reaches some people in the world the magnitude reaches this size. One newspaper in China reports: ‘The English have been defeated by the Boers. The Boers have captured the English battleships, seizing 46 great battleships.’

Only the realms of America and Italy rejoiced at the fall of General Cronje and his army and at the relief of Ladysmith. The King of Italy sent a wire to Queen Victoria expressing his joy at the brave English achievement.

[8] 

 THE RED CROSS

If an army goes to fight its main concern is to strike down people. John Bright asked, ‘Why wars?’ He answered his own question, saying, ‘As I see it, half those who talk about war do not know what war is. If we give a short answer, it is the assembling, the coming together of all the fears, the evils, the murders, the sufferings that come to mankind on this earth.’

War is evil, but so also is the oppression, the suffering brought upon mankind by bad laws.

We receive news of the fighting in Africa. Defeats and the deaths of men are the main things we hear about.

When armies go to war they are accompanied by a body dedicated to healing – caring for the sick and the wounded – the body called The Red Cross. This army’s sword is a knife to operate on the ill, to take out bullets, to amputate a hand or a foot. Their powder is medicine. Their flag is the Red Cross, the cross of Christ. The officers of the army are doctors, the soldiers, women – nurses who care for the ill in hospital. These people and their equipment are all protected by the red cross. The doctors and the women have the red cross on their clothes. They are able to go anywhere in a battle zone. If the red cross is displayed on them then no-one has a right to raise a hand against them. They have boats, trains, tents for hospitals, and wagons for carrying the injured; all are marked with the red cross. When battles are over they go in to collect the casualties, take them to their tent for treatment or to ease their dying. If they come upon an enemy casualty they do not neglect him. Sometime they load the injured onto trains to take them from the interior to the coast to be taken by ship to real hospitals in the cities, perhaps even to England. There is a large contingent of the Red Cross from England, America and Australia, in Transvaal at present.

Many New Zealand women have enlisted with that contingent. One of the women in Transvaal is one of the English nobility.

Many members of the Red Cross party have been killed in this war. To civilised people the Red Cross is sacred but it is despised by the Boers. A doctor was examining the injury sustained by a Boer when he was shot by the Boer and killed. Sometimes the Boers use the Red Cross symbol as a trick to avoid being shot at. They are a base people.

It is important that the Maori people know that the contingents going to Transvaal are not only going to kill people, but that they include the army of the Red Cross with its dedication to saving people. The Pakeha! The Pakeha! At one time they strike people and then they heal them! 

R.M.T.K.

SOME WORLD NEWS

The Prince of Wales is not going to the opening of the Great Exhibition in Paris, the capital city of France. The reason he is not going is the nasty attitude of the French towards the English and the terrible things they have said about his mother, the Queen. The French newspapers are full of terrible things about the English.

During this century 52 islands emerged from the sea; 19 of them disappeared again; 10 of them are now inhabited by people.

The King of Persia is to visit England this year. He will be hosted by the Queen.

The total amount of coal burned in London during a single year is 18,000,000 tons.

Every Chinese person arriving in New Zealand is being taxed, excluding those who were here before the passing of this law. The amount for each Chinese person is £100. When a ship arrived in Wellington (S.S. Indralema) some Chinese were working on board,, Three of them absconded. The police searched for them but were unable to find them. However the owners of the ship paid the £300.

When there was a landslip in a coal mine in America, 100 men were buried. Two were rescued alive; the rest died.

[9] 

TE AUTE ASSOCIATION

The meeting at Papawai. 

Tipi-Whenua

In Number 22 of Te Pipiwharauroa there was a collection of the speeches at the fourth gathering of the Association of Te Aute Students held at Papawai, Wairarapa. This is an expansion of what was written then, a fuller account of the doings and the speeches at that meeting, at least as far as I, Tipi-whenua-ki-te-rangi, grasped them. 

Our gathering was graced by the Government in the persons of Mr Walker, Minister for Schools, and Timi Kara, Minister for Maori Affairs. Their presence clarified several matters of concern to the gathering. People were delighted with Mr Walker’s speech. His thoughts and ours coincided as to what will advance the Maori people. If we can find Mr Walker’s speech, perhaps it can be printed for people to read carefully. He spoke strongly in favour of setting up technical schools for Maori children. Maori have the ability to do this kind of thing, as witness their carvings. Timi Kara also spoke and his use of Maori was wonderful to hear as it poured out so fluently. He spoke of how the Maori are suffering through alcohol. And why? Because it is a terrible food. ‘Let the Pakeha eat his own food. Then it will be properly consumed.’ He also said that the Maori were formerly an agricultural people, but now since Pakeha days and the days of rents, the Maori have become lazy. The ancestors had a saying:

He toa taua, he toa pahekeheke; he toa ngaki-kai, he toa mau tonu.
‘A warrior friend is unreliable, but a friend who cultivates food is to be held on to.’ [ cf Nga Pepeha 765]

I have seen the Pakeha newspapers and they say that the Government has agreed to set up technical colleges for Maori. Here! Here! Here! Give them a clap!

We were delighted to hear what Mr Pope said. ‘Is this perhaps one aspect of Maori custom that it is right to preserve?’ This was his question. His answer was, ‘Yes!’ He said that it would be a very sad thing if the crafts and the good Maori cultural things were lost, because the Maori culture contains many things that no other native people in the world have. But choices have to be made. Bad things must be thrown away and good things held on to so that they take their place alongside the good things of the Pakeha. Mr Pope said many encouraging things concerning the Maori. He it was who said some years ago when Pakeha were talking of the disappearance of the Maori that he would be gratified if ‘the blood of Te Rauparaha entered his family’. Maori people, love this elder who seeks and desires your well-being. When you return to your districts with weeping and blessings, let his word be proved right, that you are a chiefly people.

In the speeches which followed Mr Pope’s, some of the Maori customs to be treasured were mentioned. Mr Thornton said that the status of chiefs should be treasured as a sign of a strong and chiefly people. There was argument about the haka taparahi – the ceremonial haka, haka which make people appear terrifying. It was said that such things may be appropriate for wild uncouth people but not for Christians. Some defended the haka while saying that it should be improved and bad things omitted. Tipi-Whenua is of the opinion that the poi is a haka which retains all the best things about a dance: it does not bore people, and boys don’t get to put their arms around the hips of the girls, thus giving rise to wicked thoughts. Reweti Kohere said that we should keep Maori names and the Maori language which Pakeha say is one of the most beautiful languages in the world. People should not substitute English words for Maori words, as when they say, ‘Kia rukauta’ [‘Look out!] rather than, ‘Kia tupato’ [Be careful!].

There was again discussion of Maori tohunga. Modern tohunga practise deception, unlike those of ancient times who were concerned with the sacred, the fearful. They practise deceit and are concerned only to get status and a name. The tohunga in the past would not have the sick eating books or being plunged into the river or bowing down seven times. If Henare Kaihau wants to pay such tohunga no-one is going to stop him, but, if he wants the Government to pay, that will be a very wrong. At this gathering were Tutere Wirepa and Pita Paaka, two young Maori medical students. When a doctor sees symptoms he gives medicine. If the sick person is not well cared-for he will not live. So let the boys go to medical school and the girls to nurse in hospitals.

I shan’t say much about drink. Some people, no matter what is said, will not give up drinking alcohol, because of weakness or the foolishness of their hearts. We just have to wait until the sources of alcohol are closed or until perhaps their hearts are renewed by the Holy Spirit of God, otherwise they can only be given over as slaves to Bacchus, the god of wine catch them, both children and grown-ups, and hand them over to Hau-o-kino..

[10] Archdeacon Grace of Wairau made a speech in which he called on the Pakeha Church to consider the Maori. He said that if the Maori had been diligent in learning English in former times they would not have such problems in these days. Because Te Whiti was so ignorant of English he produced a different Maori translation of the Bible.

After this the discussion turned to the college for ministers, Te Raukahikatea. Mr Williams, the Chairman of the gathering, asked why students from Te Aute do not grace with their presence Te Raukahikatea but instead turned to Pakeha ministers to teach them. He was answered by Apirana Ngata and others. They thought that the reason was that Te Raukahikatea did not provide for the intelligent students from Te Aute.

In one of his final speeches, Reweti T Mokena Kohere asked, ‘Are Maori lazy?’ It is a Pakeha jibe that we are a lazy people. Some Maori are lazy, but in the days of our ancestors we were an agricultural people. Latterly, since the arrival of the Pakeha, they have become lazy because of the bad effects of laws relating to their land, because of bad habits, and because of the easy availability of money. The dignity of the Maori is asleep. Wake it up! This article has been published by ‘Te Puke ki Hikurangi’.

In the whole of this article I have failed to express our gratitude to Tamahau Mahupuku and his marae for their love and their support of the Te Aute students and their elders. There is no better place than Papawai to hold a gathering like this because of the size of the hall, the excellence of the food, the transport and the hospitality of the people. Tamahau urged us to meet again on his marae because many from Ngati Kahungungu were unable to attend because of work problems.

Sir, you came and the elders of Wairarapa. Greetings to this home of ours.
 

Tarata, 
Waiapu,

24th February, 1900.

THE FIRST NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

The Casualties

The men of the first New Zealand Contingent who have died are Trooper Paratiwhata, Paeroa, Auckland; Trooper Konore [Connell], Pukekohe, Auckland; Tariana Kauri [Gourlay] and Trooper Puutu [Booth], Dunedin; Trooper Patihana [?Paterson], Taranaki (of fever); Lieutenant Niwhi [?Neave], Christchurch. Lieutenant Niwhi had been seconded as officer to a troop of English soldiers. He died at the liberation of Kimberley. The parents, the families, the friends, and the sweethearts of these men are weeping. Let the people and the land lament. Son, you have died fighting for your name, for your honour, for your Queen.

A Contingent of Men

We hear great things said in praise of the New Zealand contingent. It is said that they are the bravest in this war. They serve under General French, the warrior who relieved Kimberley. He it was who stopped General Cronje and his army. In these days he is leading the army which is pursuing the enemy, and the boys from New Zealand are chasing with him. The first responsibility of the New Zealanders under General French, alongside some English soldiers from Port Jackson, was to stop the Boers from getting to Cape Colony. Here they demonstrated their bravery. The General’s order to them was to go and observe, to spy on the enemy and the nature of the land. Were the whole army to go he said that they would be wasted on the road. If they went and cleared the way as they went the whole army would be happy and they would know that they would  appreciate that they had a real leader. This job of surveillance was encompassed with dangers. Many soldiers have perished in this war while engaged in this activity. The Boers employ guerrilla tactics in war. They conceal themselves then charge on their enemy at close quarters. Their gunpowder does not smoke. But the New Zealanders tricked them. When the New Zealanders approached a hill and no Boers were visible, the officers would order them to stand and then to run back. When the Boers saw them running they would mistakenly assume they had been seen and would fire their rifles. So the New Zealanders had determined that there were Boers on that hill. Such are the shrewd tactics of the New Zealanders. However there were occasions when the New Zealand troops did not escape. They were surrounded by the Boers. The Boers believed that they had indeed captured the New Zealanders. They called on them to lay down their arms. What did the New Zealanders do? They escaped from the Boer’s trap. It was in one of these escape attempts that Paratiwhata from Auckland was killed.

[11] General French preferred to send New Zealand troops when he had messages for his officers during fighting. If he sent an English soldier he would go under cover and by roundabout routes, whereas the New Zealand soldier would go straight there even though bullets were flying around his head. One day when the General was watching a New Zealand trooper heading away, he said to his friend, ‘Watch that devil go!’

When the New Zealand soldiers were spying out the lie of the land they saw the Boers struggling to take possession of a good hill as a fort, a hill from which to defeat General French’s army and to regain lost territory. The enemy attacked and New Zealand retaliated, continually going forward. The battle was engaged, the Boers defeated, and New Zealand took that hill. When the Boers fled, Niu did his haka, stirring up the dust. General French named that hill, ‘New Zealand Hill’, commemorating the bravery of the New Zealanders.

A Brave Man

Afterwards New Zealand Hill was closely guarded lest it be taken by the Boers. That work was given to some soldiers from England and some from New Zealand. After they had not been heard from for a time, Major Robins was concerned for some of his men and sent Captain Maddocks to investigate. On arriving he was fired on by the Boers. All the English officers had been wounded and the soldiers were gathered there, distressed and uncertain what to do. When the Boers saw this they began an assault. The advance was concealed by the noise of rifles and guns. By the time Captain Maddocks arrived the advancing Boers had reached the fortifications. Then Captain Maddocks shouted the order to the English company, ‘Fix bayonets …charge!’ The English rapidly began the charge and Captain Maddocks ran to call his people. While he ran he called out, ‘New Zealand …. Help!’ Immediately Lieutenant Hughes of Napier joined him along with Connell and Gourlay. Captain Maddocks snatched up the rifle of a wounded soldier and the New Zealanders charged, led by the four. It was not long before Gourlay fell, and then some five yards further on Connell fell, mortally wounded. But Captain Maddocks and his Lieutenant kept going at the front with the New Zealanders following. It was the Boers only who were falling before these lions of warriors. When these savages drew very close to the Boers, the Boer officer saw Captain Maddocks and aimed his rifle at him. Captain Maddocks had no time to think or to raise his rifle but lashed out with the butt of the rifle. The bullet struck Captain Maddocks’ cap an inch above his head, but the Boer officer landed with a crash on the ground where he lay stretched out. The Boers were defeated and fled down the hill with Captain Maddocks following close behind. When he had exhausted his cartridges he took up stones with which to pelt the Boers as they went. Lieutenant Hughes returned to look after Gourlay who had fallen. This then was the saving of New Zealand Hill and the glory of Captain Maddocks the Warrior.

The man who sent this account from General French’s headquarters says that he does not know how Captain Maddocks and his Lieutenant survived. As he fought Captain Maddocks looked like a madman. While the Boers were retreating there was still firing from their fortifications. The cannons were still firing.

After the burial of Connell and Gourlay, General French called together all the New Zealand troops and spoke appreciatively of the New Zealand contingent and praised Captain Mattocks. He said, ‘Although I have already sent my gratitude for you to General Roberts I have spoke to him a second time about your bravery.’ In honour of Captain Maddocks, part of New Zealand hill was named Maddocks Hill. This man is being greatly honoured. It is thought possible that the New Zealand contingent will be taken to England at the end of the war.

Our hearts go out to those grieving the deaths of Connell and Gourlay. Major Roberts buried them. While Gourlay was bleeding and disoriented he was urging on his soldiers. He was a true stallion. He also spoke of his parents at home. Perhaps he mistakenly imagined he was home. He called out to his father and mother; their names were on his lips when he died. When Gourlay’s coat was inspected, there were two blood-splattered letters inside. One of those letters was to his mother and one to his girlfriend. The letter to his girlfriend had been struck by a bullet. How this man’s girl will be weeping and lamenting.

(Translated into Maori from the Auckland Weekly News.)

[12]

 THE MEETING AT TE KAWAKAWA

Tipi-Whenua was pleased to attend the gathering at Te Kaha in January and was also happy to go to the meeting at Te Kawakawa in February although illness made him a bit reluctant. Both gatherings were excellent and pleasurable.

On 14th February all the delegates put themselves under the shelter of Te Pohutu. It was the day of the dedication of their church of St Stephen. This is one of the oldest churches in the district, dating from 1857 and this was the third renovation and rededication of this weapon of faith in this village. The original timbers are still in place. The tower is lofty and can been seen from afar, but the outstanding feature of this building is the large window which was crafted by the Pakeha and depicts the Twelve Apostles. It is said that it cost £50. On the morning of 15th St Stephen’s was rededicated for the third time. Rev. Hakaraiah Pahewa was the preacher. Also present were the Revs Mohi Turei, Hone Waitoa, Aperahama Tamihere and Timutimu Tawhai. The collection was £134.15s. The amount to go to the Williams Challenge has not yet been fixed.

Many delegates and others came. The most significant thing was the presence of many Tuhoe, Te Urewera. It was the first time this tribe had joined us at such a gathering. Tuhakairiora and the whole of Ngati Porou gave their visitors a warm welcome. The Tuhoe contingent was large. One of their leading elders came, and their band. Along with Tuhoe came Ngatiawa, Te Whanau-a-Apanui and other people from the north. The band led them into the middle of the village with their flags flying as they went. When they arrived on the marae the local people did their haka. There were three groups, two of women and one of men. The first welcome was by the women of Te Pohutu. It was good, but even better perhaps was the dance by the women of Kahukura. When it was the turn of the men, they came on with a roar and performed a vigorous, ceremonial haka. When a contingent arrived the band would go to lead them on. This was a wonderful thing – having the Urewera bring the first band to resound within Te Whetumatarau.

Each night there were welcomes, singing and speechmaking. From the day the collection plate was put out there was entertainment – songs, haka and poi, and slotted in with these was the playing of the Tuhoe band. ‘And poi.’ Yes, that is what I really like, friends, the poi, the beautiful art. There was only one poi troupe, the Te Kaha girls. They performed perhaps five times on the marae and thousands crowded around to watch – children, old women, old men, Pakeha. The first poi dance was that which welcomes you to the Ngati Porou area, and it was this that was praised by all the people who came to this gathering. Indeed, the haka for girls is the poi. I heard one of the chiefs of Te Pohutu saying, ‘Since I was born, I have seen the best thing in the world. If my eyes fail so that I cannot see the poi twirling then things are bad.’ The extent of the appreciation of the people was shown by them throwing coins at the feet of the poi dancers. The poi dance was accompanied by an accordion and a violin. The most admired woman was Tauoha, the director of the poi dance. She was very graceful and clever at making faces. Those young men will have gone each to his own village smitten by Tauoha’s artistry.

Of all the Ngati Porou gatherings I have seen, this was the best for entertainment. There were many Pakeha present including a photographer and there was a phonograph, the Pakeha talking machine.

I have other important things to say but as I have written at such length I shall save something for a later time perhaps. As those who saw it know, there are many reasons to bless Te Pohutu for its gathering. This gathering brought Tuhoe, persuaded by Apirana Ngata, out of its own territory. Ngati Porou, you are now married to Tuhoe: bind together your two hearts with the cords of love.

FINAL NEWS OF THE WAR

The English have taken Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free State. It was aligned with the Boers and fought also against the English. General Roberts’ army has truly taken that territory and most of the people of the territory have been captured and are subject to the English. The people have handed over their rifles and weapons to the English. General Roberts has brought peace to that land. The English flag is flying over the Government Buildings in Bloemfontein.

Next month we will publish ‘Our Birdseed’.

H W Williams, Te Rau Press, Gisborne.