Te Toa Takitini 4
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Te Toa Takitini
(Which grew out of Te Kopara)
Te Kopara followed Te Pipiwharauroa.
Te Pipiwharauroa followed He Kupu Whakamarama
which began in 1898.
Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper.
(Maori Version at PapersPast.)
Number 4, Hastings, 1 November, 1921.
IF YOU DO NOT REPENT.
What is repentance? A turning from darkness to light. It is not a single act which is completed, but something that continues to happen. Whether you are a leader like Nicodemus or an adulteress like Mary Magdalene, there is but one way to salvation and that it by repentance. If one does not repent one dies. The Holy Spirit continually calls upon us to repent, to leave behind the old ways and to embrace the new, to build anew the temple.
There is death on the path taken by those who say to their souls, ‘Let us eat, drink and be merry.’ [Luke 12.19]
Our ignorance of this good news of repentance [i tere ai to tatou turi-koroheke]. If we have a clear notion of repentance we will see new light each day, we will hear the voice of the Holy Spirit teaching us not to let our thoughts go back and saying, Paddle your canoe, ‘go around a bend, go around a headland, let it be. Paddle!’ This time belongs to the children. They have strong hearts to fulfil the new teachings. Christ says, ‘If you do not repent you will not see the kingdom of God.’ [cf Matthew 18.3] Christ and his Apostles were young people when they laid the foundations of the faith. Most of the people who laid down the new paths for the world were young people.
All the world is troubled at this time by what is happening in England, America and Japan. Why was Jerusalem overthrown? Because people did not repent the walls of Jerusalem crumbled. They did not see what was true and right.
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So destruction awaits these great nations of the world if they forsake God. No nation in the world has prospered through violence or slaughter or despising God. The prospects for the nation or the person who does wrong is like those of the man the Prayer Book sings of: ‘I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.’ [Psalm 37.35-36 AV]
Our newspapers tell us that some new battleships are under construction now. The cost of each one is six million pounds! They are for killing people. The great powers of the world are once again in contention; England, America and Japan are building warships. It is said that there are no warships comparable for power. But although these things are being done it is not possible to efface what has been written: ‘If you do not repent – show love, work for justice, fear God - you will all likewise perish.’ {Luke 13.3] Maori People, what of us? Where are our strong young people of this generation? Most are on the roads of pleasure, on the broad road of the world. Let us give some thought to our roads, and take up the new gift Christ gave to the world, repentance, forsaking the darkness and turning to the light.
MEMORIAL STONE
On 5th January a stone will be unveiled at the home of Te Omana (Geo. Ormond Esq) at Te Mahia. That stone has arrived at Napier and the formalities have been carried out. The stone is a memorial to Alex Ormond who died during the war, and to his seven friends who died in the war. They all belonged to the same family. Their hapu is Rongomai-wahine.
MEMORIAL TO HENARE TE WAINOHU.
Hemi Huata has visited Napier to arrange for the memorial stone for Henare and the papers have been signed.. The cost of the stone is £1000. On the stone is the figure of Henare. The stone is marble and it was carved in Italy. The stone will be completed in April and erected at Te Wairoa. New Zealand marble is not large enough to be fashioned into a figure so the stone had to be brought from the other side of the world, from Italy.
Children suffering from flu should be given Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, 1/9, 2/9 a bottle.
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THE WAIAPU SYNOD
The Bishop’s Address
8. The Mission Houses. Miss Young has resigned from her work at Te Whakarewarewa. She worked for eight years at the Mission. She has recently married. Her replacement is Miss Seth Smith. All is going well with Miss Hare at the Mission at Ruatoki. There are twenty children living at her school. Their new house has been completed. An assistant is needed at this Mission and another at the Mission at Te Whakarewarewa. Miss Davis’ Mission at Tokomaru is doing well. Miss Newman is energetically undertaking the Mission at Manutuke, but it is difficult without a Mission House. A section for its erection has been arranged. But there is very little money available to erect the building.
The School at Te Hauke is making progress through the good work of Miss Aplin and Miss Thornton.
9. Ratana. Since we are talking about aspects of the Maori section of our Diocese we cannot dismiss the activities of Ratana. The newspapers say that Ratana is a miracle worker when it comes to bodily healing only.
That assessment is wrong. Ratana has turned from Maori ideas, the practices of tohunga, and turned to the Holy Trinity, that is, from many gods to the One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He says that he has no power to save, salvation comes from God. He teaches people to repent and turn to God. I think it is right to help Ratana in his itinerant ministry, and I have seonded the Rev Piri Manaro to assist him in his travels around Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu.
10. Te Aute College. There are 97 students at Te Aute at present. For the first time we have reached this number. Forty young lads are waiting for the time when a room will become free for them.
The Trustees have taken 600 acres for the pupils to farm as they acquire the knowledge of farming. We continue to give able children an in-depth education, that is, there is still the matriculation class for pupils whose inclinations are to that area. The lack of money is occupying the thoughts of the Trustees at this time. The expense of erecting the buildings appropriate for this schooling means that nothing can be done at this time. The completion of this project has been put back until it is feasible to pay for the things thought necessary for this branch of learning.
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The Rev G R Finch BD is Chaplain to the College. He is responsible for matters relating to the Faith.
The Jubilee, the 50th Anniversary of the founding of this school, Te Aute, occurs next year, 1922. It is thought right that we celebrate this Jubilee. The foundation stone of the new Te Aute College will be laid at that time.
11. Hukarere. Miss Emily Bulstrode has returned from England and has taken up the role of Principal again. While she was away Miss Mary Hall was in charge of Hukarere. Miss Hall was praised for here management while Miss Bulstrode was away.
12. Waerenga-a-hika. The rapidly increasing prices of everything has meant that it is difficult to meet the debts of this school. Despite two increases in the fees of children studying there the debt has not decreased but has grown to £1000. At the meeting of the Trustees it was decided to close the school. The Trustees were very sad at having to make this decision but no other decision was possible given the increasing indebtedness. They were loth to do so because of the Head Teacher, Mr McGruther, and his assistants. When the matter was laid before the Government, it was sympathetic, and gave Waerenga-a-hika a grant to keep it open. That Government is a temporary grant and when the revenue from the school’s leased lands increases the Government money will have to be repaid.
AN AEROPLANE.
When the weather was good Captain Fowler was to fly from Invercargill to Auckland. He believed he could achieve this flight in a single day. The journey waa in four sections. The first was from Invercargill to Timaru, the second to Kaikoura, the third to Hawera, and the fourth from Hawera to Auckland. There was the pilot and a passenger, his friend, on this flight. If there were no problems, he said that he would make the flight within twelve hours. The plane took off on 25th October and arrived safely in Auckland. It flew at 114 miles an hour and was in the air for nine hours.
FAMINE.
Russia is suffering badly from famine. Some of the world’s great powers are running projects to help Russia. One group in Australia is feeding the children of a small Russian town called Samara. Thirty thousand children are being fed by that group every day of the famine. Many millions of children and some millions of adults from all parts of Russia have died of starvation.
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THE MAORI AND HIS COMPASSION.
By Hori Tupaea.
My friends, greetings to all of you.
The time has come for us Maori to take an in-depth look at this practice of ours of grieving for the dead, and at the way to lighten the burden of those customs for those left behind. As I see it time provides a way of easing the burden; the body should be buried within twenty-four hours after the death. The compassionate Maori way is to send letters or wires to the bereaved one, the family, the children, or the descendants of the deceased. The expression of grief to all the mourners should be left to the day of burial as is the Pakeha custom. This does not impose a burden on the descendants, the children, or the spouse. Why should we not change these customs when, as I see it, we have arrived at a time when we must ask ourselves whether many of our Maori practices need to be changed? If you look at our guest houses you will see that we have placed windows in the back walls. To Maori thinking this kind of action was a disaster. Now all our Maori houses are like that. Our Maori objections to such things have vanished. There are some other Maori things that we have abandoned but we have suffered no punishment for discarding them. There was a wise Maori who made that [tāngāngā]: ‘I have been placed by you in this office and I intend always to look forward and not to look backwards.’ There was another person who said, ‘My friends, our century has ended, the coming century is for our children and grandchildren.’ My friends, when are we going to query our Maori customs to make things easier for ourselves, and so that when our children’s time comes they will find that we have made a way for them when we have departed. Most people are not paying attention but the descendants of those who have died do express regrets. Compassion to me is going to see the sick person and providing them with food appropriate for those who are unwell. It is always a good thing for the sick person to see other people when lying in bed- the heart is made happy, and perhaps something life-giving will be imparted to their body and they will be healed of the illness. Or when the illness is at its most severe they may say to those gathered around them, ‘Afterwards, hold to the faith,
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live in hope, and love one another.’ In this way the sick one will pass on gently and the living will remain at ease. And then those left behind gather for the tangihanga! The dead one is dead! The living are afflicted! And the basket of hope also suffers! But the most important thing is the compassion that has been forgotten and is a cause for regret on the part of the family when the time comes for the hand to avoid the depths of *Marakaia’s purse. People, this is not to despise the customs of your ancestors. Those customs were good in their day. This is a new century! The sun is shining on us! It has set upon our forebears! The sun is glowing on those who are growing up! So what are we to do? Our ancestors had a proverb:
Ka pu te ruha; ka hao te rangataki.
‘When the net lies in a heap, a net goes fishing.’ [cf Nga Pepeha 1100]
Therefore, get a wriggle on. Seize the time while you have your voice. Bring about a convergence of the way things are in this present time through the grace of the Creator. Amen.
[*Marakaia was well-known for arriving at the pub and saying, ‘Oh! I’ve left my purse at home!’ (E! … te paahi i te wha …re!.) so that his mates had to shout for him. See Te Pipiwharauroa 77 p.3]
AUSTRIA.
Austria is one of the nations that allied with Germany during the war. We see now how much it has suffered. Formerly its territory covered 116,000 square miles; now it is 32,000. It had 28 million inhabitants before the war; now it has 6½ million. The country is also suffering increasing food shortages. Many families do not have a blanket in the house. Adults are still going without shoes. Some of the young people at the universities studying medicine or preparing for other professions are still wearing long soldiers’ greatcoats so as not to reveal their lack of shirts or trousers.
CHINA
There has been a revival in Chinese religion. They have begun to [pauna haere] carry out the worship peculiar to China, to copy the worship of their ancestors. They have seen that the Christian faith is the ultimate revelation given by God to the world. In their large universities 15,500 educated students have turned to our Lord, to Christ, as their Saviour. They come from 170 colleges. The name of their association, an association of tertiary education institutions throughout the world, is the ‘Student Christian Movement.’ A general conference of that movement has been called in China where young graduates [? whai-taitara] will gather from more than 50 countries of the world. It is thought that more than three thousand educated people will assemble in China in the coming year. They will deal with one subject, the Christian Faith.
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HON HEUHEU TUKINO MLC DIED IN AUCKLAND.
By W P Hawaikirangi.
Although this great man of the Maori People of the country has been ill for a long time he has not been out of people’s thoughts. He was a man who devoted his strength and his wisdom to extensive projects for the betterment of the people and the country. He began his involvement in projects at a time when the elders were still alive and they recognized this mature young man in their gatherings. And so when an important idea came into his head he stowed it away in his basket of ideas. He took in the words of this great orator and that great orator before they died. But it must be said, he was of chiefly descent from the central posts of the line of chiefs characterised by [Mana, Wehi, Manawanui, Tumanako, Aroha – Authority, Awesomeness, Stoutheartedness, Hopefulness and Love], all of which important characteristics were part of his make-up. The whole county knew he was destined to be called to the Legislative Council, right up to the time when he was rendered silent. He was a grandson of Te Heuheu Tukino who was nominated to be king but who declined that office. He gave that position to Potatau and called Potatau to Pukawa where he anointed him as king. His heir was Te Heuheu Horonuku who gave Tongariro to the Queen as a National Park. Te Heuheu Horonuku’s son was Te Heuheu Tukino MLC. He died in Auckland Hospital and the elders of Te Arawa, Waikato, and Ngati Maniapoto arrived to collect his body. Te Arawa wanted to take him to Rotorua to lie on his ancestral marae, Tamatekapua. Waikato and Maniapoto asked if they could take him and that was agreed. He was taken to Onehunga by the family of Henare Kaihau. After a night on that marae he was taken to Huntly, to Waahi, for one night. There he was welcomed by Te Rata and Waikato before being taken to Te kuiti. After one night on that marae he was carried to Taumarunui. Dr Pomare, W H Uru MHR, Hira Parata and Dr Te Rangihiroa Buck came to this marae as did most of the people from Waikato, Maniapoto, and part of Tuwharetoa. One night was spent here and in the morning part of the people from Waikato and Maniapoto returned to make it easy for the canoes which arrived at Waimarino at 5 p.m. When they arrived at Tokaanu the local people had sent a messenger to ask that the cortege go to Waihi in the morning so that they could lament over their chief in the daylight. When they arrived at 10 a.m. Ngati Tuwharetoa were there stripped for their haka, the words of which were, ‘It has crumbled down! It has crumbled down! The peak of Tongariro has crumbled down.’ It went on. The laments of Tuwharetoa were heart-wrenching and they returned to the laments of former times. After the tangi the local people stood to salute Hoko Patene and
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the others, Te Rangihiroa (Dr Buck), Hon Dr Pomare, and Matengaro Taonui. The responses of the visitors urged the deceased’s male descendant to follow the ways of his father. The tribes who came to the tangi for Te Heuheu were Waikato Maniapoto, Ngati Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngati Manawa, Ngti Apa, Whanganui, Taranaki, and Ngati Kahungunu from Hawkes Bay and the Wairarapa. The day after the tangi Te Arawa presented £200 to the marae and Tuwharetoa placed there 300 Maori garments and £400. Tuwharetoa’s closing announcement was that unveiling or Te Heuheu’s stone would take place in June 1922 but the date will be in the invitations. Although the road to Taupo is a long one people will not notice that because of the desire of the tribes of the country to be present to honour their relation.
MAKETU
The Te Arawa Lakes.
The Te Arawa Hui was held here at Maketu on 18th October, 1921.
The Object: ‘To combine the two schemes under which Te Arawa gave its lakes to the Government at the Hui held at Tamatekapua two years ago.’
All the remaining elders and the young chiefs attended. The ministers who attended were: Rev T Pereiha of the Parish, Rev W A Te Waaka of Te Whakarewarewa, Rev R Wikiriwhi of Maketu.
The President of the Hui, the Rev W A Te Waaka, opened the discussions of the Hui with prayer. The proposals were prepared by ‘Mr Levien’ of Fielding. The Secretary and Interpreter was Kepa Ehau of Okataina.
After the Secretary had read out Mr Levien’s proposals, Te Arawa shouted with one voice their approval of the excellence and the straight-forwardness of the proposals as set out below:
1. That Te Arawa retains the its [mana] rights over fishing grounds and sources of food, viz: crayfish, [inanga – whitebait, smelt, minnow], [toitoi – gobiomorphes gobioides, cookia sulcata], [kakahi – Hyridella menziesi], etc., including the [haehae - ?] on the lake.
2. The total value of the Te Arawa lakes, one hundred and twenty thousand pounds (£120,000), is to form a Trust Fund to be administered by the Public Trustee, the use of which is to be explained in an agreement to be made between Te Arawa and the Government.
3. The interest on the Fund is to be placed in the hands of the Minister at that time and a Board is to be set up to consider the wishes of Te Arawa.
4. The ways in which that money (interest) is to be used is in works that encompass all Te Arawa, but those are to be in-depth and of broad application within all Te Arawa.
5. If you have trouble with the interest money or with the Board, the broad groupings within Te Arawa may appeal to the Minister to split it up between each hapu and each hapu can determine how their money is to be used.
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‘Mr Levien’s’ explanations were also presented. The final proposal on this matter was given to ‘Mr F Earl’ to draw up. He is a lawyer and someone knowledgeable about drawing up this kind of proposal.
Hemana Pokiha.
NOTICE OF A HUI.
Please advertise this to the hapu of the four winds of Aotearoa. The Treaty of Waitangi will be welcomed on his marae during March, 1922. Although the day has not been fixed, this is to inform the hapu of the Maori People that this treasure of our ancestors, our forebears, will be displayed. Presently the date will be announced when the tribes are to gather at Waitangi. Tribes, be on the lookout for this welcome to our foundational document, the Treaty of Waitangi. Ngapuhi are meeting at Otiria on 1st December, 1921. This is when the date will be fixed.
Matekino Hauraki
Chairman of the Women’s Committee, Treaty of Waitangi.
Towai, 24/10/21
HUI AT RATANA
This is a reminder of the Hui that Ratana has called at his home, Ratana, at Christmas. Number 5 of Te Toa will set our clearly the purposes.
BE CAREFUL OF SICKNESSES.
Pohe Hemi.
Please send out this article in your paper so that it goes to the many marae of this country to warn people that they must be aware of the many kinds of sickness that are travelling about on the many winds of the world. The hope is that it will reveal ways of averting them. Because I have been appointed by the Tamatea Council as its Inspector throughout its whole district and because I have had the idea of telling the people of the country what I have seen of the illnesses that I am familiar with, I am writing this article. I am not a doctor but this is something my heart compels me to do, therefore I want to set out clearly some things for those who do not know the nature of the sickness that is afflicting them. Of course it is best to go to the doctor, to the person who knows, but for those who live in other places where there is no doctor it is good to know what to look for to set the troubled heart at ease. This country has been afflicted with this illness – ‘flu (Influenza) over these past years, but because of the great efforts to manage it there have been few deaths from that illness. Although many of us contracted it there were knowledgeable people
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to be found in that area, and when news of that illness arrived here, I was sent for. It is right that you should be able to identify the symptoms of that illness in its early days and then I will be able to point out ways of dealing with that illness. (To be continued.)
THE TAMATEA COUNCIL
The Council sat on the first Monday of last month in Hastings Te Katene Pukerua was Chairman. The word decided upon by that meeting was an instruction to all the villages in its area to improve their houses – to wash them and to throw all the rubbish into a separate place – during the last week of the month. This will be something good the people can do. It is also good practice to send the children to school every day and to give them food that is good for the stomach and which helps the body to grow. The Tamatea Council meeting was held in Hastings on 5th September. The main business done was the appointment of Pohe Hemi as Health Inspector in the villages. The Officer of the Department of Health, Dr Mercer, also attended. He supported that proposal. The difficulty with that speech is that the Government is apparently not keen to provide a salary for a person in that position now. That doctor also said that Maori should be strongly urged to ensure the cleanliness of their marae given the news that many illnesses are flying around the world. So it is good for you to be wary at all times, to continually clean your houses, and to be careful when eating different foods. Always eat things which will bring rapid benefit to the body. And use Jeyes Fluid or similar products to wash the houses each week. If you occupy your bodies in this way every week you will not have to be always alert.
TE ROPU MATAARA OF HASTINGS – THE HASTINGS VIGILANCE GROUP.
The meeting of the Hastings Vigilance Group was held at Te Pakipaki in the last week of September with P H Tomoana as Chairman. The minutes of the committee were read and agreed. The officers were appointed for the new year. They are: Chairman, Hoani Ratima; Treasurers, Keepa Winiata and the Chairman; Secretary, W H Nikera; Standing Committee, Taranaki Te Ua, Tuahine Renata, Wi Nuku, Taare Hamlin, Takerei Ihaia, Pohe Hemi, Akonga Mohi, P H Tomoana, and members sent by other areas. There were many speeches expressing appreciation of the efforts of the first committee and urging the new committee to go about speaking to the cause of bringing together young Maori men and women so that they speak with one voice on all matters affecting the Maori People so that they hold on to and advance and strengthen the language and status of Maori in all ways under the law that was passed dealing with each way. This group has to deal with sheep shearing and all other kinds of work, even personal dignity, so be on the watch!
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A MAORI CHILD DIED IN NAPIER HOSPITAL.
During August a child from Te Haroto became ill, and because he was getting worse he was taken to Napier Hospital. Because he was fretting for his mother, the mother went and asked permission to stay by the side of her child but the rules of the place did not permit it. So that woman continually went in to see her son until the child died. The mother returned to her home and spoke about how the Hospital had ill-treated her child. Hearing this the Marae Committee of Te Haroto took up the matter. The woman spoke in this fashion: Many times she arrived to see her son and heard him crying out for her. When she got in she would find the child lying in his faeces with no-one caring for him. She asked for the child to be given to her to care for but this was not permitted. She thought that it was because of that that her child died. Because of this the Mare Committee took up the matter and it was reported to the Hospital Committee. Te Wano Taungakore and his wife went to the discussion of the matter. Well, it was said that the nurse who had looked after the child was ill and could not attend the meeting. The outcome was that the Marae Committee asked the Hospital to arrange for a Maori Nurse to care for sick Maori.
Editor. Congratulations to the Te Haroto Marae Committee. You did the right thing. When one hears of things being done wrong, one must ask questions and ensure that what is right is done. Te Toa Takitini is here to back you up and to help you and the people as a whole with all concerns.
He kaha ui te kaha.
‘An ancestral line queries the lineage.’ [cf Nga Pepeha 438]
My hope is that the people will be eager to seek all practices and ways of bringing about practices which will advance individuals, hapu, or the people as a whole. But since we cannot know those things that each of you are hiding it is right that we ask you to send questions of all sorts, not that we will ourselves necessarily offer guidance, because we are all involved – you as well as us. Tatau! Tatau! – We are together in this as our proverbial name assures us – Te Toa Takitini. Whether we, who are seeking good ways to defeat bad things and who are promoting beautiful ways of taming mischievous hearts, are of great standing or of little importance, I will place myself under your direction in order to help you grow noble hearts – ‘The gift of your ancestors who have assembled in the afterlife.’
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REV CANON PAHEWA.
It is a good thing from time to time to publish articles about some of the Maori people who have been seen to make progress to high office. This is not only about ministers but about anyone who is doing well and is setting an example for the children and earning the gratitude of the people.
The article in this edition of our paper is about Hakaraia Pahewa. He is the minister of the Parish of Te Kaha and Opotiki. He is a son of one of the well-known elderly clergymen of Ngati Porou, Matiaha Pahewa. Hakaraia was born in Tokomaru in 1870. He was educated at Te Aute College. He spent five years under Mr Thornton and is one of the older living former pupils of Te Aute. In 1889 he was sent by his father and Archdeacon Leonard Williams to Te Raukahikatea to study for the ministry and to follow in their footsteps. During that time Archdeacon Herbert Williams arrived from England to teach at Te Rau. He spent six years at Te Rau studying under Herbert. In 1895 he was ordained to serve as minister of the Parish of Te Kaha. He was ordained along with Ahipene Rangi. In 1896 they were ordained priests together. From that time to the present he has been working as minister at Te Kaha.
In 1918 the Bishop of Waiapu made him a Canon of the Cathedral of the Diocese in Napier. He is the only Maori clergyman in New Zealand who has been given this position of honour in the Church. It is a sign of the great love the Bishop of Waiapu has for his Maori people.
Hakaraia is diligent in visiting all parts of his parish. His is the largest parish in this diocese. He always travels on horseback and has to cross many rivers that are without bridges. Hakaraia is friendly with all the Pakeha ministers including the Bishop. He has many stimulating conversations with them. Besides his ministry he has four things that occupy him. There is his knowledge of farming small-holdings. There is beekeeping. There is poultry farming. There is photography. It is a sign of his still active mind that he seeks out other learning although he is getting older. Best wishes, friend, and may the heavenly Father bless you.
THE NEW ZEALAND CHURCHMAN.
There is a paper printed in Dunedin which is distributed with Church magazines throughout New Zealand. The Editor of Te Toa Takitini has asked to be sent a copy so that we can reproduce in our paper some of the articles that appear each month.
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That proposal has been agreed to and we have here some of the articles for the Maori People to look at. The two peoples, Maori and Pakeha, are now able to read the Churchman’s articles at the beginning of each month. All the articles in the Churchman are important but there are some articles that are not suited to the Maori language. The matters relevant to Maori will be translated into Maori each month.
Scarcity of Clergy. The Bishop of Southwell (England) says that there is a problem in that there are no men studying for the ministry at the universities. The second problem is the parents: parents want their children to get positions in which they can earn a lot of money. The idea of sending their children to do the work of God is not liked by most parents because the stipend is so low. They are ignorant of the concept of making a sacrifice for God. This is something that should be taught in the schools.
The Prime Minister of Australia. On 5th August the Prime Minister unveiled a stained glass window in one of the parishes of New South Wales. The Prime Minister, Mr Hughes, erected the window as a memorial to his mother.
The German Missions. During the war German clergy working in missions throughout the world ceased working. A Christian group from our Empire met in Geneva and passed a motion ‘that German clergy be permitted to preach within our Empire.’ The request came before the English Government. Their response was: ‘We cannot permit the return of the German clergy because they strongly supported their German people during the war. The Government has passed a motion permitting the clergy to return to their missions after three years. But if a Christian group within our Empire asks that the Germans be permitted to return and are convinced that no problems will arise if they return to the Empire, then it is agreed that they may return now.’
A Letter from India. There is a woman from the New Zealand Church working in India. She was sent there to preach the Gospel. Her name is Miss Florence Smith. She says: ‘The worst year for famine in India was 1900. I was here at that time. The suffering in this year is far worse than 1900. In that year one could get a yard of cloth for 5 pence. Now it has gone up to 1/6 a yard.
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Many Christian people have not been able to purchase cloth for 3 or 4 years. Some are wearing bags for clothing. Some go about like the animals without clothes to hide their nakedness. Some have followed the example of Adam and Eve and have sewn together leaves of trees as clothes.
There is a village called Mulay. There some of the preachers are preparing people for baptism. On the day they are baptised there is only one robe between all of them. The robe is given to the first candidate and he is baptised. When he has been baptized he goes behind and gives the robe to the second, and so it goes until all the day’s baptisms are concluded.
It is five years since this calamity came upon all parts of India. Those who formerly were wealthy are now poor. The cows and other animals have all died through lack of fodder and water. The lands of some have been confiscated to pay the debts for the seeds which were sown but have not grown. The houses have crumbled or have fallen because there is no money to repair them. At last the rains have come but the food will not grow quickly. People have gone to the towns to beg there, but they will not survive because there is no food.’
St John’s College, Auckland. This College is being rebuilt. It will be finished in March. The house for the Principal,Canon P T Williams, has been completed. This College is a training school for ministers, for young New Zealand Pakeha and for young Maori. Te Rau has been closed and there is now this one school for both peoples of this country. One part of that school has been erected as a memorial to Bishop Patteson who was killed on Nukapu, a Melanesian island, in 1871.
Hauraki. On 16th September Rev H Paraone was installed as Minister to the people of the Hauraki district.
Melanesia. The Committee that runs the Melanesian Mission has appealed for help as they are without funds to carry on the work of the Faith. They asked for £5000. The appeal has now closed and the amount raised in contribution from throughout New Zealand was £7.338. Of this amount the Diocese of Auckland contributed £2,713, Waiapu £1,890, Wellington £1,182, Christchurch £907, Dunedin £438, and Nelson £206. Number 3 of our paper listed the Maori districts which help with the appeal. Such was New Zealand’s kind help to the work of Mission.
For ‘Flu take Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, 1/9, 2/9 a bottle.
[15]
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir, greetings to you.
If you are happy to do so please give a space in your paper to print my thoughts [Ina te he kei mate roto]. While I was at Moe-angiangi the first edition of your paper, ‘Toa Takitini,’ arrived. The articles in it were excellent. They chimed in with the thinking in this area and I really want such articles to reach the people. I sympathize deeply with your plea in which you ask people to support the paper and say that only if many people take it can it survive. You are right to say this and it is for this reason that I am writing. I have a question for you. Will you agree to my request to publish instructive articles for women about matters of concern to them? If you are willing to do that then it will provide instruction for the women’s groups who long to learn about matters concerning the home. If you do this it will be sign to us women that you men do think about us. I think it is also good to discover together, to learn together, to understand together, to hear together, to lay hold of together things which increase knowledge and benefit people. I know well that if you put such articles in your paper women will want to read pieces about washing clothes, or pieces dealing with cooking food, or your impressions when you return from your many journeys. I would like you to print articles about baking cakes or making jam or many of the myriad things that we need to know. From my point of view what is wrong is that we go to the Pakeha for everything. Where now is the pile of money we need to acquire Pakeha learning? But, sir, I know that if we strongly support this treasure you will do your best to provide the articles requested. Send my love to my women friends afar. I am seeking to divine your thoughts to seek if they are what I hope for. I want to make clear to my many women friends that it is up to us whether we increase our knowledge of the kinds of work appropriate to us and right for us to do in home and village. I am a grandchild of Tama-te-Rangi. This is springtime and the seeds and tubers have been planted and will fly to support you as you set up this memorial post to my ancestor. May your life be enriched, your blessings be enlarged, and great honour be bestowed on you. This saying is very true. May we, his descendants, fulfill the parting wish of our ancestor with a tithe of our memories.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.
‘My strength is not that of a single warrior but that of many.’ [cf Nga Pepeha 93]
Best wishes to you.
From your sister in the work.
H T Rapua-i-te-rangi.
[16]
September 21 – October 21
Thanks to all of you who are feeding our paper.
Name / Address / Payment / Subscription Ends
Mrs A Brett / Matata / 15/6 / 3/22
Tangatake Hapuku / Opapa / 20/- / 8/24
Rev P Hakiwai / Fernhill /6/6 / 8/22
Kipi Rewa / Ripia N. Wairoa / 6/6 /9.22
Tamati Muhu / Tolaga Bay / 6/6 / 9/22
Rev H T Rawnsley / Patutahi / 10/- / 6/21
Wharewhiti Matenga / Waiotapu / 20/- / 8/24
Maaka Paweherua / Te Araroa / 19/6 / 8/24
Eru Reid / Gisborne / 13/- / 8/23
Whaaka Arakau / Te Araroa / 6/6 / 5/22
Tiaki Rewiri / Whakatane / 6/6 / 1/21
Hori Tupaea / Te Hauke, Opapa / 21/6 / 8/22
Hori Tuapea / Donation to the Paper / 21/-
Mrs Reihana Ngatote / Mangonui / 6/6 / 12/22
Hori Pukehika / Wanganui / 6/6 / 8/22
Miss Airini Hea / Ruatoki N. /10/- /2/23
Sister Edith / Nuhaka / 6/6 /8/22
Hakahaka Ahipene / Torere / 13/2 / 8/22
Waaka Te Arakai / Taupo /5/6 / 1/21
Nepata Paraone / Puketapu / 10/6 / 8/22
Whati Mihaere / MAC Hastings / 6/6 / 8/22
Hoera Rapara / Kairakau, Otane / 6/6 / 8/22
Hoera Rapara / Donation to the paper / 13/6
Rev M Tumatahi / Taupo / 10/- / 2/23
THE RULES OF THE PAPER
One edition each month.
It is published on 1st of the month.
The subscription for the paper is 6/6 a year.
Send your letters and subscriptions to:
The Editor,
Te Toa Takitini,
Box 300, Hastings.
THE FRIENDS GROUP
A letter has arrived from the Bishop and the Secretary of Waiapu Diocese thanking the Friend’s Group for their work for the Church this winter. They sent a total of £180 to the Diocesan Office. One hundred pounds was to help the work of the Church in Melanesia and eighty pounds is to assist parishes in difficulty in the Maori section of the Diocese of Waiapu. This Group is made up of people from Omahu, Te Waipatu, and Te Kohupatiki.
