Te Toa Takitini 84

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TE TOA TAKITINI

Registered at the GPO as a Newspapeer.

August 1st, 1928

Number 84.

Hastings.

 

MAORI BISHOPRIC

 

The Bishop of Waiapu has received a letter from the Archbishop saying that he has looked into the means of providing financial support for the Maori Bishop and is satisfied with the funds arranged for that purpose by the Maori section.

The second piece of information was that he has called a meeting of the Bishops in Wellington on 11th August. It is possible that our Bishop for Aotearoa will be named at that meeting. May God guide our Bishops.

 

HUI AT RUATOKI

 

On 27th June the Bishop of Waiapu arrived in Ruatoki. On 28th the Hui was held at Tauarau. In his speech of welcome Hori Atarea said, ‘Although you are not of the Maori you are mindful of the Maori.’ Paora Rangiaho and Teihi Parata also made speeches of welcome. In response to the issues raised, the Bishop said: 1. I want your Bishop to be always at my side. 2. It is for the Bishops to decide where your Bishop will be consecrated. 3. I will still be with you as your Bishop’s friend. 4. As for the Schoolmaster, I am going to be seeing him.

 

Tuiringa Tawera has been appointed as Lay Reader for the Parish of Ruatoki. He will also stand in for Tiweka Anaru at the Waiapu Diocesan Synod.

 

 

Published by the Rev F A Bennett and printed at Cliff Press, Queen Street, Hastings, H.B.

 

Te Toa Takitini

Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper.

The price of the Paper is 10/- a year.

Address letters to ‘Te Toa Takitini,’ Box 300, Hastings.

Te Toa Takitini,

1st August, 1928.

 

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THE TENTH MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE HELD AT PARAWHENUA , 7TH – 9TH JULY, 1928.

 

Members Attending: Rev Canon W H Keretene (Chairman), Rev W N Panapa (Secretary), Rev H Taurau, Eru M Pou (Treasurer), Henare Kingi, Hemi TeP aa.

 

People co-opted to the Committee for this meeting: Rev R Te Hau stood in for Rev K Poata; the two positions allocated to the local people were taken by Teri Paraone of Mataitai and Heta Kiriwi of Peria.

 

The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

 

The Report of the former Committee as presented to the Combined Synod was presented.

 

The Accounts were presented and passed.

 

The Secretary  explained that the Fund sent to the Diocesan Office in Auckland was £247. Added to this was the expenses of £24 1s 6d paid to the Ministers who attended the Combined Synod at Kaikohe. The total amount was £271 1s 6d.

 

The payment of £2 2s for the printing of the reports of the Combined Synod was approved.

 

Letters were received.

 

The Chairman’s Address.

 

(1)  The Bishop of Aotearoa. This was the main subject at this hui. The Bill agreeing to a Maori Bishop said that the Maori People had to provide an unbreakable backbone for the support of the Maori Bishop, and only then could that person be named and consecrated. And so, this project is about to be completed, what was prophesied has proved wrong, but the burden has been laid upon us. The tribes to the south are committed to this treasure and they are now challenging us in this Diocese as to what we think of it.

(2)  We read during the previous meeting of this Committee a statement from Archdeacon Simkin. That statement explained the situation with the lands given to the Church and the money collected by the Elders. We all saw that statement.

(3)  The reports from the Ministers harkened back to the former days and said that it should go back to the Archdeacon.

(4)  As to how this should be dealt with in your areas, if you find anything wrong with it, speak to the Committee and the Committee will sort it out.

 

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Mptions Passed

 

1.      That the Standing Committee pass on to the Archbishop the plea of the people of the Te Waimate district that he ordain their minister to the priesthood so that all the work of the parish can be properly carried out.

2.     That the Committee instructs all the Ministers to send in the numbers of people who attend church in all parts of the Diocese.

3.     That a count be made of the Committee’s money in the Post Office and the Bank of New Zealand, and that the Rev WN Panapa undertake this in the place of Rev Canon Keretene.

4.     That the Committee advise on the matter which the Rev Mutu Kapa has asked them to discuss, namely, that the Parish be responsible for all the Minister’s expenses and other things the Parish deems appropriate.

5.     THAT THIS STANDING COMMITTEE STRONGLY URGES ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND  TO COLLECT MONEY TOWARDS THE EXPENSES OF THE BISHOP OF AOTEAROA in the following ways:

(a)  That men be asked to contribute not less than £1 each; women to give what they think appropriate.

(b)  The Fund is to be called The Fund to Assist the Maori Church.

(c)  That Fund is to be the responsibility of the Standing Committee with a separate account held by Trustees appointed at this time.

(d) Only the interest on the Fund is to be used to help the work of the Maori Church.

(e)  The money contributed by a person is to be paid each year starting on 1st August, 1928.

(f)   Other help given by people, besides this money, will not be rejected.

(g)  All the money should be sent to the Rev Canon W H Keretene, Kamo, Whangarei.

(h) The Trustees of this Fund are the Chairman and Secretary of the Standing Committee.  

6.     This meeting is very grateful for the enthusiasm of the people in supporting this important project, ands respects their desire to have the consecration of the Bishop in their area. However, this meeting strongly believes that the first Bishop of Aotearoa should be consecrated at Paihia.

7.     If it is right that the Bishop is to be consecrated elsewhere, then we ask the Archbishop if the consecration can take place in December.

8.     This hui is aware that the people of this Diocese will have no objections, whoever

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            is chosen as Bishop of Aotearoa.

9.     That the Archbishop, the Bishops, and the members of the General Synod be thanked for their efforts in dealing with the matter of a Bishop for the Maori People.

10.  The Committee agreed to ask some of the dairy farmers to give the money earned from cream on one Sunday in December each year to help the work of the Faith.

11.   That this Committee thanks the local people for their hospitality to all the people who attended this hui.

 

HAWKES BAY HUI

July 22nd, 1928

 

This was to deal with some matters affecting the many hapu of Hawkes Bay. This hui of the people was held at Kohupatiki and those attending came from Tangoio, Petane, Te Waiohiki, Moteo, Omahu, Pakowhai, Te Waipatu, Whakatu, Te Pakipaki and Te Hauke. This was the first time so large a hui had been held here.

 

1 Bible in Schools.

F A Bennett moved and Maku Erihana seconded:

‘It is the hope of this hui that the Maori members will support the proposal of the Church, passed in General Synod and in the Diocesan Synod, that the Bible be taught in the country’s schools.’ Passed unanimously.

 

The Chairman read out the final section of the bill (Clause 7) which excludes the Maori schools. Since it does not adversely affect Maori, the hope of this hui is that, if the Maori members are not keen to support the bill, they will not help to overthrow it.

 

2 Tangoio Church

Temuera and Hakiwai explained that the remaining debt for the building of this church is £211. People want to see the tower built. The cost for that will be £150.

 

Temuera said that the few remaining members of the Church are not able to gather enough money to meet this debt on the building.

 

Kato Nepe, Maku Erihana, Te Hore Chadwick, Peni Hakiwai, Hakopa, and P H Tomoana spoke. The following motion was passed:

‘That the date for the opening of the Tangoio Church be postponed until a free day in March.’

Two Women’s Committees were set up, one for the Parish of Te Waipatu and one for the Parish of Moteo, to arrange sales in Hastings and Napier. The proceeds from thee sales is to help the Tangoio Church.

 

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3 The Maori Bishopric

 

The idea of this hui is to raise in the coming two weeks the £125 the Hawkes Bay Archdeaconry has agreed to raise for the stipend of the Maori Bishop for this year.

 

Because of illness Hori Tupaea was unable to attend the hui, but Maku shared his proposal, that to make the fund raising easier a large event be arranged to get money for the fund for the Bishop’s stipend.

 

It had been arranged that each parish of this Archdeaconry contribute £25 a year, a total of £125. This would provide the amount required for the expenses of the Bishop. But what comes in over that could form the basis of a Fund for the Bishop.

 

4 Consecration of the Bishop.

 

Rev Hakiwai moved:

‘That this hui of the Hawkes Bay Archdeaconry requests the Bishop of Waiapu to convey to the Archbishop the sorrow of the members of the Maori Church that the process of setting up a Bishop for the Maori has been left suspended for so long. The Maori People were eager to fulfil their part. When they had guaranteed the Bishop’s stipend the Bishop was to be appointed. The Maori have done what was required ofa them but, as yet, the Bishop has not been named and there has been no reason given for the delay.’ Passed unanimously.

 

5 The Place where the Consecration will take place.

 

The Chairman said that the Bishop of Waiapu wants the consecration to take place in one of the large Maori churches. But Paihia is remote and it is difficult for some people to get there. He thinks that the churches that would be suitable are Rangiatea at Otaki, the Ngati Porou church at Tikitiki, or the Te Arawa church at Ohinemutu. If some of the Maori tribes agree with the Ngati Kahungunu proposal then the consecration could be held in the Napier Cathedral which would be the easiest place for most of the Bishops. But the person who has the final word in this matter is  our Archbishop.

 

These were the motions relating to matters of the spirit. We report on other matters, those dealing with secular things, separately below.

 

Secular Matters

 

Tohu moved and Maku Erihana seconded: ‘That it be left to the Rev F A Bennett to bring these matters to the attention of the appropriate bodies to discuss them.’

 

But Sir Apirana is still the eminent person to deal with all these matters, and he can determine which parts will be easy to deal with and which will be difficult.

 

1 A Maori Nurse for Hastings

 

This Nurse, Mrs Oliphant, has arrived. She is not

 

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the person we asked for. We wanted Nurse Jones, a district nurse who formerly worked in Hastings, who has gone to Ruatoki. Because of illness she was asked by the doctor to return to Hawke’s Bay. And if this could not be done we asked for one of the Maori Nurses. Dr Valentine did not accede to our request but sent the one he wanted. We are not saying anything critical of this person but we are startled by the actions of the Department of Health. We have been told that she is a very knowledgeable woman, but how will she relate to the Maori of this place.? We were ill-served by the last nurse they sent to us. We are very afraid lest this Health Department nurse will also be inadequate and we will find ourselves still complaining of the difficulties.

 

Therefore we ask why the voice of the Maori in the matter of the nurse is not being listened to?

 

2 Help for the Nurse.

 

This hui thinks that it would be right for the Maori Purposes Board to consider ways of helping this and other nurses working among the Maori People. Sometimes there is insufficient money to buy a car so that the nurse can get to the village of the sick person. Sometimes there is no money to purchase medicines. This hui asks if the Maori Purposes Board can give help to the Maori Nurses in their work.

 

3 Who are their Bosses?

 

We do not know who are our Nurses bosses. We have received a letter from the Secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board saying that that Nurse works for the Hospital Board. Here Dr Mercer gives the Nurse her instructions, and he does not Sy that the Nurse is under the Hospital Board.  What is the authority of the Health Officer, and what is the standing of the Tamatea Council in relation to the Nurse?

 

4 Position of Doctor Erihana.

 

As we see it the position of our Maori doctor is inhibited and that his hands are seriously tied. We are very anxious that the position of our doctor may be done away with and that all Pakeha should be put in charge of the work.#

 

5 The Maori Councils

 

As we see it, our Maori Councils are in a bad way throughout the whole country. If they still have any influence let us re-energise them and their work. One major difficulty is that they do not have sufficient money to support their work. Whatever the project it is only money that will enable the work to go ahead. Can we not re-vitalise the work of the Councils?

 

Is there not a fund somewhere to hel[ the work of our Councils? Can we not arrange for a Director or Organiser to set out the tasks for Councils?

 

6 The Maori Schools

 

There was a report in the Pakeha papers in Napier on 21st July of a motion brought to the Hawke’s Bay Schools Board by Mr W Oates.  The motion was:

‘This Board believes that the time has come for all Maori schools to be brought under the authority of the School Boards.’

The meeting discussed this and [assed the following motion.

‘Maori of this area will not agree to the Maori schools being handed over to the Boards because they are very satisfied with the care and teaching being given by the Government to Maori children.’

 

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THE REV. PIRI MUNRO

 

A notification that the Bishop of Waiapu has authorised the Rev Piri Munro to conduct services or preach in the churches of the Diocese of Waiapu. Piri has not yet returned to parish work because of his farm work, but the hope is that he soon return to parish work as his main occupation. Welcome, friend.

 

TRIBUTES TO MOHI TE ATAIHIKOIA

 

Pukepoto,

7th July, 1928.

 

Please load onto our paper my words of tribute to my friend, Mohi Te Ataihikoia. Farewell friend to Great Tawhiti, to Long Tawhiti, to Distant Tawhiti, to your friends who have already gone to that place. Now you have gone to join them. Farewell, the last elder in Heretaunga, for you alone have been the remaining elder, the link [pou herenga – mooring post] to the words of the old world. I am the remaining one of our group which we ran as the ‘Kotahitanga’ [Maori Parliament]. Among Ngapuhi I am the sole survivor; all the others have gone there. We met for atthe first time at the large hui at Pakirikiri in Turanga and at all the gatherings of the Kotahitanga. The last was the Treaty of Waitangi Hui in 1899. After that we met each other at Rotorua in 1920. That was the last of our meetings in this world. Therefore, friend, go to the resting-place of the spirits. Farewell, elder who was kind to people, elder who held firmly to the right teaching, who spoke words that were a blessing to people, and who held to the faith in that time. Therefore I was sad to hear that you had gone over to the teaching of Ratana, knowing that you had a deep knowledge of the Scriptures. It is as Christ said in Matthew 24.23. Therefore, my friend, I leave you in this faith of ours.

 

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And yet, it is good. The world continues with its many situations – good things and bad. My friend, go to Henare Tomoana, Pene Te Uamairangi, Te Teira Tiakitai, and other friends whom the heart does not forget.

 

My lady, Tangiora and Nereta and your families, we greet you who are left sorrowful at the death of your father. Sir, Te Akonga, greetings to you and our sympathy to you who grieve for your wonderful father, now among the elders of their generation. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen,  all is well. The Scriptures say: ‘The Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ [Job 1.21] So we know that he has passed from death to life.

Greetings to you all.

From your humble elder.

Herepete Rapihana.

 

Kakariki,

7th July, 1928.

 

I read in Te Toa Takitini 83 that Mohi Te Ataihikoia rests on his pillow, has fallen into the sleep from which there is no awakening.  Farewell, Koro. Farewell! Go to your parents, to y0ur older brothers and sisters, to your younger siblings, to your old women and your old men. Leave the many marae of the country where some of the works you did for the country have failed as far as the four corners of Maui’s ribs which lie there, but some still stand. Go to the rulers of the night whose children and grandchildren remain in the vale [?au] of Waikato. It was in 1924 that you last spoke to your grandson, King Te Rata, who held to the teachings of the Christian Faith. You also said to him on 28th March, 1924, ‘In the future, my son, hold to the covenant made by your ancestors, your parents and even yourself. You were sealed with the holy words of the Bible, the ark of the living Lord God of Hosts, of his Son Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.’

 

Therefore take the downward slope to your parents in the afterlife over whom I grieve in my heart. Farewell, Koro. It is good that you have seen the fulfilment of the word spoken to you and all the Tai Rawhiti by Te Whiti-o-rongomai: ‘No-one will heal the affliction of Waitara, but a child will rise up in Waitara who will gather up the fragments of Waitara. Soon things will be set right.’ Therefore go and speak to those in the afterlife. He also said, ‘The people I leave behind in this world will have much trouble. Some are tohunga, some are prophets, but most of them have wandered off.’ Therefore, now all the treasures are there for you

 

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on the many marae and in the carved houses of the afterlife. When you have finished talking to them come back to talk to us about the truths of the Pakeha Church for us to believe. Besides these, there are many there to bring you joy  - Te Ua and others,  Hori and those from Waipawa, Henare Te Atua and others from Porangahau, Paewai and those from Tahoraiti, Hiiaro and others of Nga Aupurua, Tamatea from Tutaekaraa,  Nireaha and others from Hamua, Ngatuere from Te Kopaki, Te Potangaroa of Ngai-tau-e-waru, Te Huku at Taueru, Te Purakau from Hurunuiorangi, Tamahau from Hikurangi, and Ngarangi-whakaupoko from Te-pu-o-te-tonga. Leave behind your friend Tunuiarangi and your sister and relative and Niniwa-i-te-Rangi. Now my heart goes out to these you have left.

 

Farewell, Mohi. Go to the Hahatanga-o-Pipiri [? Desolation of Winter]. All is well, all is calm, you are close to us, as we think of you who are lost to this world. No, Pita and his younger brothers are still in this world to [ranga - ? stand up for you] on the many marae you visited while you were alive. Farewell, Pa. Farewell! Your voice will never be forgotten from your discussions between Waikato and Maniapoto, and Tuwharetoa, and Wainui-a-rua, and Ngarauru, and Ngati Ruanui, Taranaki, Te Atiawa, Ngati Mutunga, Ngaitama, and, in the South, Ngati Awa, Ngati Toa, and Ngati Raukawa; you entered Rangiatea, Te Aputa, Wairau, Turongo, Te Rangimarie, your churches when people were at peace. You turned to the people beyond Ahuriri – Mohaka, Kahungunu at Te Wairoa, Tamaterangi, Ngati Kohatu, Te Kapua-matorutoru, Hinepua, Ngai Te-ipu, Ngati Hine, Rakaipaka, Rongomai-wahine, Ngati Manuhiri,  Rongo-whakaata, Te Kura-a-mahaki, Ngati Konohi, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Te Whanau-a-Ruataupare, Ngati Porou, encompassing Te Whanau-a-Tuwhakairiora, Ngaitai, Te Whakatohea, and all Tuhoe. You crossed over from this canoe of yours to your canoe at Te Arawa and paddled to Ngai Terangi and on to Moehau, facing the waves of Tikapa, to be welcomed by Ngati Paoa, Ngati Maru, and Ngati Tama-te-ra. You headed for Ngati Whatua. You sailed along the shore past Kakeao and arrived at Haumu. The kelp entangled you and you were flung from left to right and were heading for the place of your destruction, Koro. Farewell! Farewell!

 

Farewell, Mohi, while the sun is shining. Farewell, the shelter of Uenuku. In the world the sun is shining. Scatter it, stop it lest it smite the long resting place. Let it rain on the pit, lest your living bones return to that world!

 

Go to Te Piwa and Te Heuheu.

 

The bereaved, the children, greetings to you all. Great is our sympathy for you, great, great.

 

Taite Te Tomo.

 

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WHO DOES ONE VOTE FOR TO BE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT?

 

P H Tomoana

 

This is not a question that we should leave for the voters of Te Tairawhiti to consider after the present parliament, because from the first parliament a Maori has been chosen as member up to the present day, that is, from the time of Tareha Te Moananui, the first Maori member, who was followed by Karaitiana Takamoana, the second member, who was followed by Henare Tomoana, the third member, who was followed by Wi Pere, the fourth member, who was followed by Timi Kara, the fifth member, up to Sir Apirana Ngata, the sixth and current member. Now we see the wishes of the people who have gone before us.

 

Whatever the breadth, the narrowness, the depth or the shallowness of their thinking and the things done in their day, however, the Pakeha have increased, whatever the momentum for such an increase, even though some of them are divided in their minds, some on one side and some on the other, we are about to see them bringing their authority over land, over things spiritual, under the Supreme Law of the Empire, the Union of England, Scotland, Ireland and the other Dominions.

 

However, they and their advisors did not forget to set aside a place for refreshment for themselves and their descendants who would come after them, since they remembered the strength and the ease with which they used to do things and their ancient  authority, despite the cannibalism, so they set apart a place to give authority to all these aspects.

 

The fruits discovered from those places and the learning were as follows. First:

The word of the first member of Parliament, Tareha Te Moananui, in response to the strong desire of the people to know what would be the fruit of his entering upon this lofty position. He was asked at the Te Waiohiki hui:

‘What is that place and what do you do there?’

He replied:

            ‘Nothing worthwhile. The night is for sleeping until sunrise.’

After him, Karaitiana Takamoana became the member. The word he brought home was in answer to the people at Pakowhai:

            ‘What did your journey achieve?’

Karaitiana replied: ‘There was no benefit to me from this set-up. I was deaf and dumb. Whatever they achieved was done in the English language.’

After him, Karaitiana’s son, Henare Tomoana, took the position. He subsequently went into the Upper House until his death. This is the waiata composed by Henare Tomoana while he was in Parliament.

 

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            ‘Here I am sitting in Parliament,

            Thrust into the Queen’s houses.

            These are the places where are made

            The evil laws for the Maori People e—i.

 

            Taiaroa is the head of the members.

            He puts forward the motion for the whole country.

            The people of the country are barely sympathetic

            When Te Mohi Tawhai stands,

            The member for Ngapuhi,

 

            The motion is brought forward

            To avenge the wrongs done by the Maori People.

            I and my  colleagues get up.

            We are all determinedly of the same mind.

            We are ignored and defeated  -  i!

 

            There you are, sending a gazette

            To the Chairman of the Land Court!

            The opponents of the land deal sit there.

            That was the thing which was laid waste by him –

            The great power of the Maori People!

 

            Grey was not a faithful friend

            To the Maori People seeking survival.

            He it was who troubled Te Atiawa.

            Te Whiti was seized over Taranaki.

            He also brought forward the rates bill,

            This duties bill, and the [? heti  shed, ? head] of the Queen  e – i.

 

            This, people, is the problem of your members.

            I am deaf, I am hoarse, and my eyes are blind,

            And I go about the house with cramped body.

            I stand naked on the field of battle

            With the chattering tongues therein.

 

I wonder at these recollections of the elders. From the days of Wi Pere we have these two sayings:

First:              ‘Such is my restlessness.

                        If what I say is wrong

                        Here I am strangled.’

Second:          ‘Sow corn to break up the dry land.’

From the remaining one of these elders (our elders did not see this calling as a great honour) we have these words of Timi:

First:              From the hui at Te Waipatu, 1889. He was asked what he had to say about the rating of Maori lands.

Timi replied:

                        ‘Do not pay the rate demands if you still hold to the ways of your

 

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ancestors and you still cross to Pakowhai by canoe. But if you travel by the road and the Ngaruroro Bridge it is perhaps right for you to pay the rates.

His second saying was this.

                        Taihoa’  By and by. Wait a bit.

 

All this has come down to us who live in today’s world, people. But be careful, my friends who live beyond Ngati Kahungunu of Heretaunga, for these are the words spoken by Ngata in your presence, in your presence and on the marae of you parents  and your ancestors who have recently passed on.

(1)  Renovate your marae.

(2)   Send your children to school.

(3)   Work your lands.

(4)   Leases are coming to an end. Ensure that when they end the lands are in a condition to take over and to work.

(5)  Set up Corporations for the large areas of land  within Waimarama, Manawaangiangi, Tangoio, Tutira, Puketitiri, Aorangi, Owhaoko and Te Awarua.

 

The reason why I have written this article is to say that we should be careful about fighting against the casting away of the ideas of the remnant which draw us in a different direction, which are superior to the prophesies of others. The great thoughts delivered as death-bed speeches on their marae are being disregarded. They went about the country laying out the instructions on those many marae of the country in the days when the authority and the words were undisputed. It was not until these days that these words of guidance and instruction are not being regarded. Sweat is breaking out, eyes are firmly shut against carrying the message so that it is heard and welcomed by the people, by the gatherings of people. How we have been led astray! If the words and works of our leaders as regards work and politics are laid out well we will understand how to make progress with the work and follow their instructions.  If not it is we who will be wasting hours and minutes.

 

Tareha, Karaitiana, Henare, Wi Pere, Timi Kara – it was these, your forebears and all your ancestors, who established this and who were full of praise for each other.

 

In our days we have this deviation to the ideas of the New World. We have grasped these things. The fruits of this adaptation are the signs we have spoken of above. These ideas have not only been spread over the countryside but have also reached the many marae of Heretaunga. But in these days, we who are weary, who want a cease-fire, wonder as we see the abundant offerings of ‘The Labour Party.’

 

Enough of the cease-fire! It is better to have peace. 

 

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WORDS OF SCRIPTURE FOR THE THOUGHTFUL HEART.

If your heart is sad, see John 14.

If someone wrongs you. Psalm 27.

If you sin. Psalm 51.

If you work. Matthew 6.19-34.

Before a service. Psalm 84.

If you are unwell in body. Psalm 91.

If your mind is disturbed. Psalm 139.

If you want your work to be fruitful. John 15.

If you are undecided. John 7.17.

If you are lonely. Psalm 23.

If you forget your blessings. Psalm 103.

The example Christ set out. Matthew 5.

James’ example of a Christian. James 1.19-27.

Words to revive your faith. Hebrews 11.

Words to strengthen you. John 1.

When you want to know peace. Matthew 11.28-30.

Paul’s prescription for right living. Colossians 3.12-17.

When you go to work. Psalm 121.

When you are angry and disagree. 1 Corinthians 13.

When you pray only for yourself. Psalm 67.

Paul’s prescription for our work. Romans 12.

When all you think about is making money. Mark 10.17-31.

Christ’s example of praying. Luke 11.1-13, Matthew 6.5-15.

            See Psalm 119.105 and Isaiah 55.10-13.

 

TYPHOID FEVER

 

T Wi-Repa, MB, Ch.B.

 

(The first part of this article is in the April edition of this paper, p. 768.)

 

Caring for the Patient.

 

Place the patient on the bed. He should not get up for six weeks. There should be two carers, one during the day and one at night. Do not leave the patient alone lest he does something wrong. He must not leave the bed to defecate or urinate. Give him a ‘bedpan’ to use for defecating and urinating while he is lying there. There are also bottles especially designed for urinating,

 

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with a bend in the neck. If you have access to one then get it. Sometimes the patient is weary and cannot urinate lying down; in that case sit him up slowly. If it is impossible for him to urinate lying down then carefully stand him by the side of his bed. But the rule is: he is not to get up.

 

About Excreting,

 

One has to be very careful over this part of caring for a person with typhoid fever. The seeds of this disease are in the excrement. Therefore, do not empty it out on the marae, or the garden, or the paddocks, or in the water. Some make a heap of the excrement. This is bad. The germs live for a long time in such heaps – as long as nine months. If a plough turns over the soil the germs survive. For another thing, it can happen that they can be swept by water into the drinking water of the pa or the family. If this water is drunk the disease will affect some people. So don’t put excrement in a heap. The right procedure is to boil it in a kerosene tin for half an hour after which you may tip it out wherever you like. The germs will have been killed by the boiling water.

 

Have a separate toilet for the excrement. And use a disinfectant such as Jeye’s Fluid, Lysol, or Kerol in that toilet. Cover the toilet to prevent flies getting in. Carers should wash their hands in disinfected water in a separate basin every time they touch the patient. The clothes and the sheets of the sick person should all be boiled.

 

Washing the Patient.

 

Wash the patient in the morning and the evening. Arrange the times. This job requires some expertise. If there is a government nurse nearby she should wash the patient or teach the carer how to do it. The patient should not be got up out of bed. He should be left lying stretched out. The patient must have a separate washbasin. Set aside a flannel cloth to wash the body. Spread a towel underneath the patient; a dry towel is needed to dry the body. Put warm water in the basin. Soap the flannel and wash the body, turning him over. Afterwards, dry him with the dry towel. Take care lest water gets onto his pyjamas or the bed. When the body is dry, smear the skin with methylated spirit. Then rub boracic powder over the skin. This is to harden the skin to prevent bed-sores. If a rash does develop it can be serious. These things can be bought at stores throughout the country. Wash the mouth and tongue and clean the teeth morning and evening. Buy a brush for the teeth. It is good to use cotton wool to wash the tongue and the gums as it is soft.

 

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Feeding the Patient.

 

We have spoken above about the condition of the intestines. Because of this it is not right to feed the patient solid foods. Therefore, it has been laid down by gatherings of experts over many centuries that water is the right food. The patient will have been lying down for a long time. Maintain his strength with the right kinds of food, not solid food. The right kinds of foods are those that do not build up in the bowels. Those foods are tea, coffee, cocoa, soup, chicken stock, water in which puha or rice has been boiled, or milk.  If the patient does not want milk, that’s not a problem. It is not the very best food. Give him some milk in tea or coffee or cocoa. If yo0u give him milk, mix it with barley water or lime water. If milk fat emerges in the excrement stop giving him that food. If the patient has diarrhoea, stop giving him milk. There is a process of treating milk which the nurses know about; it is called pasturisation. A good drink is lemon juice. The patient should have his drink at least every two hours. Give him the drink in a ‘feeding cup.’ Stores have these. Although the patient may be losing weight he will not be adversely affected by not having much food. These drinks will bear him up right up to the time his temperature goes down. Should he eat solid food secretly that could be disastrous. If his temperature has gone down for three days you may then feed him arrowroot boiled in milk. After three days have gone by you may then feed him bread soaked in warm milk. The bread should be very soft. After that you may give him a boiled egg. It must not be hard-boiled. After this he may have some jelly. He may have plenty of these foods during the fourteen days after his temperature has gone down, that is, eggs, boiled rice, bread and milk, and jelly. After the fourteen days and when the temperature has gone he may be tried with minced meat and potatoes. Do not be in a hurry to feed him with heavy foods. Go slowly with feeding.

 

Medicine.

 

In the hospitals patients are not given medicine. Osler had 1,500 patients with typhoid fever. Most were not given medicine. Many people with typhoid fever will not see a doctor. The family will care for them and they survive without medicine. There have been many serious cases of the disease here on the Tai-Rawhiti. A village was set aside for the sick, under the care of the Government nurses. They were not given medicine and they got better. The main treatment is following the instructions I have written above.  If the doctor or nurse is nearby then go to them.

 

For the Bowels.

 

Do not give the patient a laxative.

 

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If you do give a laxative such as castor oil, salts, or flax water, you show that you have no understanding and don’t know the law. The right thing to do every two days is to pump out the anus so that the excrement comes out. This is my practice and that of some experienced doctors caring for typhoid fever patients. Nurses know how to do this. They will teach those who are ignorant.

 

A Bloated Stomach.

 

Be extremely careful. Wrap a sheet firmly around the stomach. Then bunch up a flannel that has been in boiling water and wring it out. Pour onto that hot flannel drops of turpentine. It is good if the nurse can pump the anus to release the wind.

 

High Temperature.

 

Shave the head. If there is a Freezing Works nearby, fetch a blok of ice to cool the head. Get an ice-cap from the chemist, fill it with ice and place it on the head. If there is no ice, take an ordinary cloth, put it in water and wring it out, then place it on the head. Take care that the water doesn’t get on to the pillow. Few patients get very high temperatures.

 

For Persistent Temperatures.

 

Wash the body with a cloth that has been dipped in warm water and wrung out. If ice is available this is the best thing. Put it on the head as described above. Few patients suffer this.

 

Blood from the Anus.

 

Tell the nurse of this. Let the patient lie down carefully; do not shake him. The water he is given must be cold. If an ice-block is available then fill it with ice and place it on the stomach. Stop pumping via the anus for one week. The doctor and the nurse have medicines to stop the bleeding. If there is just one bleed, that bodes well. If there are two or more this is very bad. This indicates something serious. Flax water may make that blood to flow.

 

For Diarrhoea.

 

If one has to excrete more than six times a day one should be anxious. The nurse and the doctor know the right medicine. If the diarrhoea persists, do not drink milk. Wrap a cloth around the stomach, and wear warm clothes.

 

A Word of Caution.

 

When a patient gets up from typhoid fever he will be very hungry, enough for him to want to steal food! In those two weeks after the temperature has gone down, the carers should be very watchful. Since one is unable to suppress the hunger of the patient when he is getting better, it is good to give him a small amount of food every two hours. When the time comes for the main meals he will not be so ravenous. We Maori are not strangers to this failing.  

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