(Maori Version at Papers Past.)
[1] Te Kopara, Number 14, Gisborne, November, 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]
THE WAR
England-France and Germany.
The main fighting between these nations is at Ypres in Belgium and at the Oise and the Aisne, two rivers in the north of France. It is difficult to describe the layout of these places but we will try. Ypres is a province nearly 60 miles from Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Were one to draw a straight line from Brussels to the west, to the coast, then Ypres would be 50-60 miles from Brussels on that line and 20-30 miles from the coast.
Were one to draw a line south from Ypres slanting a little towards the east the relationship between Ypres and the Oise and Aisne Rivers will be clear to you. The distance from Ypres to the Aisne River is 100 miles and you must understand that the fighting extends for 100 miles along both sides of that line. The English and French are attacking within and from the north to take the hinterland while the Germans are fighting to get to the coast. Perhaps you are aware of why the Germans want to get to the coast, however we shall point out the reason here. The reason why the Germans want to take the whole coastline is that, if they capture it, from there they can cross to England; and they have said that if they get there they will defeat England. The place the Germans really want to get to is the large French seaside town called Calais. This town is 25 miles from Dover, a town in the area of England closest to France. If Germany takes that town then England would not be able to send troops from there for that is where they send them from. So Germany is seeking to retreat at
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this time because their losses mean that they cannot fulfil their desire. Let us go back to what is happening in the conflicts in the places we have described above. In all these places the French and the English are making progress while the Germans are retreating. At the Oise and the Aisne the French and the English have been able to drive the Germans backwards; no matter what the Germans have tried they have not come near to breaking through the ranks of the English and French. Of these three places, the fiercest fighting has been at Ypres. For nearly three weeks there has been terrible fighting at this place. There has also been dreadful loss of life. It is thought that on 13th of this month when the Germans were beaten, 3000 of them fell in ten minutes. These accounts come from some of the German officers who were captured. They say that the total number of Germans fighting at Ypres is 500,000. Of this huge number, 90,000 fell in a short time. Of one battalion of 1,800 only 80 remain. Amongst those who fell were five Generals. But this does not mean that Germans has been defeated here because of the number of soldiers it has. When some of its battalions are destroyed, new battalions arrive.
New Soldiers are Required.
Another million soldiers are wanted to help the soldiers fighting abroad. It is right to send soldiers insofar as there is one Englishman engaged in fighting to four Germans, in some places the ration is one to ten. By the strong resolve of the English they have achieved what they have.
The number of English soldiers who have fallen from the beginning of the war up to 21st October is 57,000; Germany has lost 590,000 besides those taken prisoner or wounded.
Russia and Germany.
Russia is the nation that has been advancing most rapidly. It has arrived within the German borders now and is continuing on fighting. We are not able to tell
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you how many thousand Germans have been killed by Russia or have been captured or wounded. The Russians are less that 40 miles from Berlin. Presently the saying of the Tsar, the King of Russia, will be proved correct – he will attack and will arrive in Berlin. Remember that Russia is fighting on the eastern side of Germany; it is fighting against Germany and also against Austria. Russia is advancing like an incoming tide.
TURKEY.
You will have heard that Turkey has entered the conflict. Yes, Turkey has been misled by Germany into joining in the fighting. Germany had falsely said that Russia had fired upon some of its warships; Turkey believed this and this is why it entered the war. The Germans knowingly used this false story about Russia to get it involved in the war. Turkey is close to the Suez Canal and also to Egypt. The Suez Canal is a waterway under the jurisdiction of England. If someone goes from New Zealand to England that is the fastest way because it provides a short cut. Indeed the soldiers who have gone from New Zealand took this way so that they could arrive quickly at the scene of the fighting or in England. It is also the best way for the Indian soldiers to get there soon because it is close to India. You are aware of this place where one finds this waterway because it goes from the northern end of the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Germany knew that if Turkey entered the war, because it is close to that sea, it could block that waterway because the banks are of slipping material and can be bulldozed in. If that waterway was blocked the soldiers from India, Sydney and New Zealand could not get quickly to the scene of the fighting; the Indians would have to go around the southern tip of Africa and those from New Zealand around the southern tip of America. Secondly, in her wisdom, Germany envisaged that if Turkey entered the war then Turkey could block Egypt. However, although Germany had this idea Turkey is suffering badly for its actions, because the wings of Turkey’s forces are now being wounded by Russian and England as it seeks to fulfil German’s wishes. The latest news is that the Turks, the people at large, are fighting the Government for agreeing to involve Turkey in the war. England has said that she will efface the influence of Turkey in Europe. How awesome!
Japan and Germany.
The Germany fortress of Hingitao has fallen. Perhaps you have heard the story of
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this fortress. It is in China and belongs to the Chinese. It was taken by Germany as part of her treaties. China leased it to them for 99 years. The arrangement to take over this place was an extraordinary action on the part of Germany. Once it had taken over this place it began to set up a fort there and to use that place as a training ground for its soldiers, like Aldershot in England. These soldiers are on land while its warships are at sea. Now, with the spread of the fighting, one can see the cunning of Germany. Germany thought to position itself strongly there so that eventually it could get to Australia or New Zealand here to fight against us. It did not know that Japan would enter the war. But it was truly defeated by the entry of Japan on the side of the English. But it is not only Germany who practises cunning; the English can also be cunning. When England saw what Germany was doing they made a treaty with Japan providing that, if they went to war with Germany, Japan would protect their interests in that part of the world. Hingitao is on the east coast of China, opposite Japan. We have heard that Japan has overthrown that fortress. Japan has done remarkably. They have taken the fortress and have also sunk some of Germany’s warships. The prisoners taken by Japan from that fortress numbered 5,000.
[Pages 2 and 4 contain identical etchings of General Kitchener.]
THE [SMS – His Majesty’s Ship] EMDEN.
All parts of the Empire rejoice at the capture of this ship by the English, and its sinking. Without doubt the place that went wildest for joy was Australia because it was one of their warships that struck this German ship. You have heard how this ship was engaged in attacking English merchant ships sailing from New Zealand and Australia to England. It was like a lion in the jungle going about seeking food in various parts of the sea. Its officers were very cunning. They did not stay in the one place. When it was discovered in one place it would move on to a different place. The job of the English warships was to pursue it, and at last they have captured it. The ship that captured it was the Sydney, a new Australian warship. All the people on board have been taken prisoner. Later we will tell the story of its capture and its burning.
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AN IMPERIAL DEATH.
[This page contains an etching of Lord Roberts.]
During the third week of November news arrived of the falling of one of the greatest men of the Empire of England, Lord Roberts, at the age of 84. Since his death his standing has become clear; he held a position which it would be difficult for anyone else to fill. Old women, old men and children know what he looked
like because of his recruitment poster, and we may say that he is the Englishman best known to us Maori. With him has fallen his code of life and the citadel which protected the myriads who live under English rule. He was in India for 41 years. During those 41 years his work was to build up the authority of England over that great land, to join together the many separate authorities there into unity with that of England. We see that unity in these days when the Indians are participating in the war. Out of his heartfelt desire to see his Indian family he
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crossed over to France, the land of the French. It was there that he fell ill and the doctors were unable to revive him. This was a death in war, the death of a warrior, a noble death, a death in a time of war, and a death in the country where the war was taking place. If one were to bring together the characteristics of this man, they are these : He was of the breed of leaders; he was a brave man; he was a man loyal to his King and his Empire; he was very learned and deep and wide in his thinking. But above all he was a man who feared God, a man of deep faith. One could say that he was different from all the other great English soldiers including the great soldier of these days, Lord Kitchener. One practice of Lord Roberts, whenever he went to war, was to arrange for his troops to partake of the Lord’s Supper. One sees in that his humility insofar as he did not separate the officers from the privates when they took communion but they all went together, himself included. At the time of the fighting with the Boers, all the privates held back, then Lord Roberts went to fetch them so that they went together and knelt together to take communion. Lord Roberts was a true man of faith, a man who was regular at worship. He belonged to the Church of England. A cloud of sorrow enveloped all parts of the Empire when news burst upon them that Lord Roberts had died. It is right to mourn his death for he was a great man, a wise man, a faithful man, a caring man, a gentle man.
OTHER ITEMS
These are the people who have been commissioned as officers for the Maori Contingent: J Poynter has been made Captain of A Section and Wiri Piti of B Section. Timi Wherehi has been made Lieutenant, the rank below that of Captain. Akutini Kaipara has been made Quartermaster-Sergeant. Akuhata Paku has been made Corporal. All these men are from Turanga here.
In the last days of November news came that Wiremu Tureia and Tamati Te Kanapu have passed their examination in the Pakeha section, the Grade III Examination.
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On 5th December, Te Raukahikatea College broke up; the students returned to their areas.
On 30th November, Apirana Ngata held his meeting in the town of Gisborne. Many Gisborne people gathered for that meeting. It was a very good meeting: Ngata laid out his programmed very clearly and the clauses of the Treaty of Waitangi were translated into Maori and their impact on the business being done by Parliament was also clearly explained. It was excellent and clear enough for the blind to see as well as those who disagreed. It would appear that Ngata has the support of most of the people of Gisborne. Ngata’s committee here in Gisborne is putting a lot of work into getting him elected. Lady Carroll still chairs the Committee, Hupa, the Gisborne Interpreter, is Secretary. Henare Ruru, Apirana’s friend accompanied him to Te Wairoa.
The indigenous people of one Province of Fiji have told their Government that they will contribute £500 to the war effort and £1000 for those of their own people who go to the war. Another Province of Fiji has said that their gift will be £160, and £500 for those who go.
One thing done by the Gurkhas, an Indian tribe fighting in the war, is this: they cut off the ears of the Germans they have killed and stuff them into their ears as if they were shark-tooth ornaments. They think that by doing this they adorn their ears.
If Germany does not get to the sea by 29th December then they will begin their retreat back to the eastern side of Belgium where they will make their last stand. If they are defeated there then the war will have arrived at the front door of their houses. So said a German Colonel who was captured by the English and French.
A nephew of Mr Mahoney, printer of Te Kopara, is one of the officers on board the Sydney, the Australian light cruiser that pounded the jaws of the Emden, the German raider. He is the director of the guns that lashed the Emden. He is the son of the sister of the printer; his name is J Clement MacFarlane.
AN INVITATION
To the Canoes of our Ancestors: To Aotea, Tokomaru, Takitimu, Horouta, Tainui, Te Arawa, and Matatua, to the tribes, the hapu, the authorities, the spokesmen, the leaders, greetings to you all.
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It is a resounding voice, a welcoming voice, which flies to your marae, those of the marae of the canoes of the tribes of Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu. Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
These are the objects.
First, welcome to the ceremony of the dedication of Te Ohaki Church on 3rd January, 1915, at Taraketi [?Tarakite], Rata, as a Temple for God.
Second, this is the centenary of the arrival of the Rev Samuel Marsden, minister of the Church, who carried to us the Gospel of Jesus Christ which we call the Faith. Let us all come here to listen to the words of the Bishop on this important subject. Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
A final word: if you have something for discussion bring it with you.
Come, all of you. Honour the invitation from this one of your canoes, Kurahaupo. Arrive at Taraketi, Rata, on 30th and 31st December, and 1st January.
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Eruera Te Kahu
Utiku Potaka
Te Wirihana Hunia Te Hakeke
Pene Pirere
Taiuru Te Rango
Rakera Hunia Te Hakeke
Rawea Kahukiwi Te Kahu.
The Time-table for your Information.
2nd January 3.30 p.m. Welcoming of Bishop Sprott (Dr Sprott)
3rd January 10.15 a.m. Main Service; 10.45 a.m. Service for the Opening of the Church; 11.30 a.m. The Lord’s Supper; 3.30 p.m. Evening Prayer
4th January 10 a.m. The Lord’s Supper; 11 a.m. The Bishop speaks about the Centenary of the Faith amongst us Maori People.
So come. From this one of your canoes, Kurahaupo.
Write on the outside of your letter: Rev T H Katene, Marton.
Word of Explanation: The station for you to come to is Rata. All the trains stop here except for the mail train which stops at Marton.
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RULES OF THE PAPER.
1. Te Kopara is published monthly.
2. The subscription for the paper is five shillings (5/-) a year paid by postal note or stamps.
3. Anyone wishing to take Te Kopara should send the money with the covering letter.
4. Articles are welcome from all parts of the country, but the Editor reserves the right to decide on what to print. Write clearly.
5. Address all letters to:
Te Kopara,
Te Rau,
Gisborne.
A NOTICE
To those wanting a Prayer Book or Hymn Book. I now have plenty of books. The prices are:
Large, soft cover 2/6
Large, red cover 3/-
Large, hard cover 4/-
Large, superior cover 5/6
Small, soft cover 1/-
Small, red cover 1/6
Small, hard cover 2/6
Small, superior cover 3/6
Prayer Book with Hymns, soft cover 1/6
Prayer Book with Hymns, red cover 1/-
Prayer Book with Hymns, hard cover 3/-
Prayer Book with Hymns, superior cover 4/-
Prayer Book, New Testament and Hymns, red cover, 3/6
Prayer Book, New Testament and Hymns, superior cover, 5/6
Hymns 6d
Words for the Prayerful Heart 3d
I will pay the postage to send the books to you
H W Williams,
Naurea, Gisborne
People wanting a Bible or a New Testament should apply to the Bible Depository Sunday School Union, Auckland.
Bible, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6. Enclose a postage stamp for 1/-.
New Testament with explanatory headings. 2/6, 3/-, 4/6. Enclose a postage stamp for 3d.
Small New Testament with the Psalms. 2/-, 2/6, 3/-, 3/6, 4/-. Enclose a postage stamp for 3d.
Printed and published by H W Williams at Te Rau Printing Works, Berry Street, Gisborne, New Zealand.
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