Te Kōpara: Te Kopara 6

Te Kopara 6

[1] Te Kopara, Number 6, Gisborne, March 1914.

‘Iti te Kopara, kai takirikiri ana i runga i te Kahikatea.’

Although the Bellbird is small, he plucks at the Kahikatea. [cf Nga Pepeha 908]

DIOCESE OF WAIAPU – LENT

On 26th February the Bishop wrote the following letter from his home in Napier:

To my Flock,

As a result of the hospitality of the Minister of the Diocesan Cathedral and his officials given to me and to those who came to witness my consecration I have already met some of you; but perhaps I shan’t meet most of you until I travel within the Diocese. So I decided to send a letter with my message to you at this time along with instructions to your ministers to see that it is read to you in your churches.

At the time I was elected to be your Bishop my thoughts settled on the time before Lent as a time to fulfil that calling to me. That would leave Lent as a starting post for moving around amongst you. I was able to achieve this plan of mine and am very happy that it has been fulfilled.

Lent is a time when we hear the voice of God, and it is his Church which speaks his words calling to the spirit of each person, ‘Dear one, seek my face.’ This is the time when a man devotes his strength to mastering his body to make it his servant, the time when he seeks to free his spirit from the oppressions of the world, the flesh and the devil – ‘See Lord, I seek your face.’ The thing we lack is the strength of will, the strength of spirit; and so let us seek to acquire that. Do not mistakenly think that it is attending services arranged by your ministers that is the important thing, saying in you’re your hearts that this is something deceitful because we have been to the service. No – seek the deep things, not just the superficial! Seek the face of God so that you may see him.

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‘Seek the Lord. Each person is devote their strength to drawing nearer to God so as to know his greatness, his awesomeness, his holiness, and to learn all his thoughts.’ This is the most important thing of all, that a person knows God.’

There is only one way and that is the way of the penitent heart. It is sin which prevents our faces from seeing God and which subverts our wills. So it is right that we get the help of God to strengthen us. We are bound by the bonds of sin and are not able escape. However, by the enlightenment of his Holy Spirit shining within us we will be able to perceive that, yes, it is true that we are enslaved by sin and that it is sin that blinds our hearts so that we cannot see God. That same Holy Spirit will also give us a submissive heart, and it is only a submissive heart that will lead us to sorrow for our sins. The spirit of the Psalmist indeed spoke for us when he said, ‘Examine me, that you may know my thoughts, and see if there be not wicked ways within me, and let me be guided into the way of faithfulness.’ [Psalm 26.2] Lent is also a time when a person devotes himself to prayer. So put everything into praying. Pray for the Diocese; pray for your clergy. Pray for the efforts to have the Scriptures taught in State Schools; pray much for this matter, that God will send his blessing on those efforts and hasten the time when this will be achieved. My hope is that you will have those blessing during this time of Lent. That’s what I wanted to share.

From your servant in Christ Jesus,

Wm Walmsey Waiapu.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

Archdeacon Herbert Williams and his family have moved to their new home at Patutahi. It has been decorated for him and is a beautiful house, still within Turanga, and it is in a beautiful setting on the hill. He has called his home ‘Naurea’. Te Rau is distressed at his leaving and this is perhaps the end of the residence of the Williams Family here. From long ago they have lived here right up to the present time. We have heard that Te Rau may be sold if Mr Chatterton, the Principal of Te Rau, does not live there.

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THE SCHOOL AT HUKARERE.

On 11th February the pupils of Hukarere School assembled to begin their tasks for this year. On 16th the Hon J Allen paid a visit. He is the chief Minister of the schools which are inspected each year by the Government Inspectors. He looked into all aspects of the school and the work being done. He also inspected the dormitories and all other parts of the building, even the kitchen to see the cooking being done. He spoke about the excellent building, about the work of the girls, and of the importance of this kind of treasure in the possession of the Maori People. This was the first school of its kind; it is 39 years old. The children came in the past from all parts of New Zealand. When the old building was burnt in 1910 the Pakeha were quick to contribute money for the new building. The Maori, whose treasure this was to be, were dilatory in contributing and money had to be borrowed so that the building could be completed. When there are eighty pupils all the places at the school will be taken.

It seems that we, the Maori People, make little of this treasure of ours. So, people, let us turn to collecting money to pay off the £1,500 debt on this building, lest our Pakeha friends accuse us of doing nothing because we have no concern for the fate of our treasure.

HIS FATHER’S SON

Makarini Ngata, the son of the Hon A T Ngata, has gone to one of the leading Australian colleges, Hawkesbury College. The subjects taught at this college include all aspects of farming. The subject that Makarini will specialize in, using his talents and his capabilities, is milking cows – that is after he has studied every aspect of farming. This young man has grown up as an intelligent person and has always followed in the footsteps of his father. He has left New Zealand and crossed to distant Australia to seek learning. Makarini was educated at the school attended by his father, Te Aute. Last year he came top of all the students of Te Aute, that is he was the best scholar. He gained a scholarship called Buller’s Scholarship. Last year he passed the ‘Junior Civil Service’ and this year he passed the ‘Senior Civil Service’.

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THE DEDICATION OF A HOUSE.

On 7th of this month a hui was held in the Otaki district at Katihiku. The hapu is called Ngatihuia. The purpose of the hui was the dedication of a house called Tama-te-hura. This is a very beautiful building and the people who attended the gathering were full of praise. The name of the house is the name of one of the ancestors of Ngati Raukawa. He was famous, of noble stature and similarly noble in his works. Hence the eagerness of Ngatihuia in their love for the words of this elder to provide a memorial to Tama-te-hura. Therefore this ancestor now stands today in the midst of Ngatihuia and Ngati Raukawa. Chiefs came to support this hui. The people were full of praise for this thought on the part of Ngatihuia. Ngatihuia had not made it known that they were building this treasure, but when it was completed they invited all the descendants of Tama-te-hura to come and see it. So, all the tribes came. Blessings on you, Ngatihuia, for having this idea; because of it you are praised by the people. It is a noble thing you have done and a great thing that you have remembered the works of this ancestor, Tama-te-hura.

At one o’clock in the afternoon on the Saturday the service appropriate for the opening of this house was held. The Church ministers who attended were Rev Wiriwhiti Wiremu, Tame Katene, and the minister of the district, Temuera Tokoaitua. The service was in two parts. The first part took place outside and there were hymns, the baptism of this ancestor, Tama-te-hura, in the name of the Holy Trinity, and the sermon. Then after going inside, the second part took place inside this ancestor. The people were all united in their thoughts; they were as one in joining in the aspects of this service; and there was no end to their praise.

The Honourable Dr Pomare attended this hui and praised the people for having the idea of erecting this beautiful building.

One of the main things urged by Ngati Raukawa was that the grandchildren of Tama-te-hura should in their hearts and thinking follow the noble example he left behind for coming generations. And indeed there are two young men, descendants of Tama-te-hura, at Te Raukahikatea. They went, sent by their tribe, who remember the words of the deceased: ‘Afterwards, hold to the faith.’ Therefore, young men, be strong, remember our ancestor and his good deeds, and also the people who sent you to do this work. Our hearts’ desire is that the hearts of more of the descendants of Tama-te-hura will be stirred to respond to the above words:

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‘Afterwards, hold to the faith.’ May the Spirit of God guide, teach and enlighten, and the heart desire and hunger for the things of the Spirit.

Therefore Ngatihuia of Katihiku, Ngati Raukawa, these are not holding on to the word, because the word is rather with those of us who came and have now returned each to his own home. It is the case that this example has been laid before us. You descendants of Tama-te-hura, follow it, be strong, be united in your thinking, and this will lighten your labours. I finish. ‘Be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord.’ [1 Corinthians 15.58]

THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF TE KAO.

These children are to be greatly commended for their pluck in walking from Te Kao to Auckland, a distance of 325 miles. They travelled to the Exhibition. The adult with them was their teacher. On this long journey of theirs not a single person had any problems. There were no difficulties and physically they arrived in the same condition in which they set out on their journey. When they arrived at Takapuna between Silverdale and Devonport they were made a fuss of and they were met by the local fife band and that band conducted them as far as Devonport. There they were applauded and the people of that town greeted them. Although they were covered in dust and were very hot not one of them looked tired and they all seemed brave. From Devonport they crossed to Auckland by passenger ferry. Their ferry passed close by HMS Philomel which was anchored in Auckland. They shouted and cheered with happiness at seeing the battleship at last. On arriving in Auckland they were welcomed by Mr G G Garland, chairman of the School Board there. Afterwards they were greeted by a school band and escorted up Queen Street, with most of the people cheering them. When they came to the place where the Exhibition was being held they were met by the Manager of the Exhibition and welcomed. After the welcome they stood up and sang and performed haka. The performance was awesome. They had one great desire right from the start of their journey and that was to ride in a motor car. On the evening of the day they arrived their wish was granted and they were taken into the exhibition on one of the buses. These children showed great fortitude.

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This April a very special hui is being held in the Waikato. The hui is to commemorate the fighting at Orakau, a famous battle. The Secretary of the Organising Committee has received a letter from Sir Robert Stout which reads:

“I knew Rewi Maniapoto and some of the Maori who took part in that great battle. I also knew Captain Jackson, the man who led the Government soldiers in that battle. Maori are a noble and brave people, they are not low-born, and Rewi said,

‘Ka whawhai tonu matou ake, ake, ake.’

‘We will fight on for ever and ever.’

People still hear this saying because it is talked of by each generation. At that time we fought to defeat the Maori; at this time my heartfelt hope is to fight not to defeat the Maori but to establish and advance them. My great desire is that they will grasp the things that make for physical health, that they will seek the learning of the Pakeha, and that farming will increase amongst them. By this alone they will survive and grow as a people.”

A SERMON

By Father T Rees.

‘You have come to Mount Sion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to the hosts of angels, to the great assembly.’ Hebrews 12.22

At last we come to the conclusion of Father T Rees’s exposition of the above verse, the third part to appear in Te Kopara. If you recall the headings in Number 4 of Te Kopara you will appreciate that we have come to Heading 4, the final words of the text: ‘To the heavenly Jerusalem, to the hosts of angels, to the great assembly.’

This saying is wonderful. The verse says, ‘But you have come to the heavenly Jerusalem, to the hosts of angels, to the great assembly.’ We are already here, the verse says ‘we have arrived at Jerusalem.’ Yes, it is so. We have arrived at Jerusalem even though we are still in this life. We turn to this thing, our belief that we are living as citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, that is, everlasting life began when a person began to experience what everlasting life is like –

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the life revealed in the Scripture for those who believe in Christ and his heavenly Father. So the text is right when it says, ‘we have come to the heavenly Jerusalem, to the hosts of angels, to the great assembly.’ Secondly, these words serve to show the unity of all faithful people – of those who have fallen asleep and of those who are living now.

The most beautiful thought is this: there is no reason for us to be sad for our friends who have been parted from us, those who have died in the faith. Reflect that we are all in the heavenly Jerusalem; reflect that we have come to the host of angels; reflect also that we have come to the great assembly. This is the gathering of the Church of Christ called in our Prayer Book, the Holy Catholic Church. Those with a small faith cannot grasp the significance of these words, only those with a deep faith. It is only through our closeness to God that we become aware, that we perceive that we stand together with those who have departed, that we are gathered up with them and the angels of heaven in a wonderful gathering.

The End.

W.C.T.U. [Women’s Christian Temperance Union.]

The WCTU is a women’s organisation known also as The Christian Women’s Association for the Prohibition of Alcohol. First, we note that all the women of this Association are Christians, and second, that their work is to close down the sale of liquor and to remove this ‘food’ from the face of the earth. But this is not their only work; no. Along with this they wish to see husband and wife living well together, to ensure that the home and all things in the home are good and pleasant to see, and to see that children are well brought up in the fear of God and honouring their parents. This is a marvellous organisation with branches in all parts of the world. On 4th of this month the meeting of the New Zealand Branch was held here in Gisborne. It was attended by nearly 70 representatives of the smaller branches from all parts of the country. The Association puts great energy into forwarding their objectives and we think that presently they will overthrow the power of liquor. There are almost 60 branches of this association amongst Maori. The women who ran the meeting were highly-educated, and they

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were able and convincing speakers, not overawed by verbal attacks and not afraid. They were not uncertain in their thinking but firm and single-minded. They were in no way dispirited. This is a very powerful organisation. One sees in their report that that campaigning body is progressing strongly and their motto is: ‘Keep going forwards; don’t go backwards.’ The work of that women’s group is like the flowing tide which cannot be turned back. This work will be blessed because of its right objective. May God strengthen and help them.

A MEMORIAL.

A memorial stone has been erected to Mr Thornton, first Head Teacher of Te Aute and a similar memorial stone has been placed in the Chapel at Te Aute College. It is thought that the cost of those stones may be about £30. Pupils of Te Aute as well as Mr Thornton’s friend, Pakeha and Maori, will want to consider making a contribution to this cost. A person to be thought of is his daughter, Miss Katie, who is known to all the pupils of Te Aute. The news is that she is not very well. Therefore, although the cost of the stones is around £30, let us contribute a good amount to meet the expenses of his daughter. Send your contributions to the Hon. A T Ngata. We will inform you later when the stones will be unveiled.

NEWS ITEMS.

Three people died on Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand, at the beginning of this month. They were swallowed up in an avalanche of snow and carried away. One of them has been found; the others may not be found.

The number of Pakeha in the British Empire are: New Zealand, 1,000,000; Australia, 4,500,000; Canada, 7,000,000; Africa, 1,275,000; England, 46,500,000; a total of 60,275,000. The number of non-Pakeha [Iwi Mangu] under English rule, including Maori, is 360,903,965.

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This story is about one of the great people of England, a Member of Parliament. It was his custom to go every morning into the hall where the portraits of his parents and his ancestors hung and he would bow before them as if they were God. He was often heard to repeat these words, ‘I shall not forget; I will be faithful.’ Many times his eldest son observed what he was doing and eventually he became anxious. When that child was 12 years old he went with his father into that room and the father began to explain his practice to his son. He told him, ‘These portraits have voices, and if you listen you will hear them.’ The son said to him, ‘Do the portraits really speak, Father?’ The father answered, ‘Yes,’ Then he pointed to the first portrait and said to the child that the first portrait was saying to him that he should be firm and faithful to him. The second was saying to him that he should also be true to him. The third was saying that he should be faithful to his home and family. The last was the portrait of his mother who said to him to be faithful to God. ‘When I enter this room this room, my son, every morning, these are my words, “I will be faithful.”’

Te Kopara 6

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