Te Kopara 20
[3] Te Kopara, Number 20, Gisborne, June, 1915.
‘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 HOLY BIBLE (V)
There is an occupation which is providing much treasure for those in Hauraki who are working at it; it is hard work involving going down into the depths of the earth. If the ore is found it is brought up and pounded into small pieces, into dust, then the man finds his treasure. Such is the man’s craving that he gives no thought to the hard work that is involved in getting it.
Another human occupation is growing food for himself in the soil. He does not just sit there doing nothing, waiting to see if the food he needs will not just grow; nor will he just scatter his seed amongst the bracken or the weeds hoping it will grow. But he will set about working, building fences, clearing weeds, making the soil friable – pulverising it, and then he plants his seeds. These are the means by which a person gets treasure or food. ‘He tangata momoe, he tangata mangere e kore e whiwhi ki te taonga.’ ‘A lackadaisical and lazy person is not likely to obtain wealth.’ [Nga Pepeha 726]
There is a great treasure given by God to people and it is lying there in the Holy Bible. The means by which a person can find it are the same as in the case of the treasures mentioned above. If one carefully seeks for it, if one persists in searching for it, one will find it. It is said that it is from the Scriptures that we will get the knowledge by which we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3.15). God has uncovered there the plan of his work for mankind from the beginning; how he has made mankind different from the beasts and all other living things, that the human spirit should be like his (like that of God); that he loves humanity even though brought down by the enemy, fallen rather than growing, and on the point of death. But it did not please God that humans should die; rather, what he wanted was for humans to be free of the sin which was oppressing them and to find life.
God did not completely give up his loving intentions at the beginning but they were gently taught to each succeeding generations. Paul speaks of the previous generations as ‘times of ignorance’ (Acts 17.30). People did not yet know what
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was good and right, and many things were done in those times which were not in line with what God directed. When the Holy Son of God came as Saviour then people understood the significance of the things spoken of before, and he was the one who truly unveiled God’s love for humankind.
All these things are in the Holy Bible. If a person seeks them, searches them out, he will find them. This work cannot be done by any who do not have their Bibles.
You, whose eyes are reading this article, do you have your own Bible? If not, then get one, buy one, so that you can readily seek out the treasures it contains. The first thing is this:
First get yourself a Bible.
THE WAR.
Bulgaria and Turkey.
It would appear that it will not be long before Bulgaria and Turkey fight one another. This was one of the things Turkey feared – that they should fight. Were the two of them to fight then it would be defeated. Its problem is that it is encircled and can see no way of getting out because it has enemies on every side; and there is no way its helpers can get to help it.
Turkey has two things it could do: it could fight against Bulgaria or it could make peace with the Allies. One opinion has been expressed that it would be better for Turkey to negotiate a peace settlement with the Allies it is fighting.
The West.
Germany’s strength is decreasing in the West while that of the Allies is increasing. On 27th of this month news came of the taking by the French of the fort known as Metzeral. The situation with the English is the same and they are driving the Germans back.
The East.
This is the place where the Germans are strongest. Indeed, a while ago they retook their fort which Russia had taken and now they have taken another, [?Remepeeke]. It appears that they have used up all their strength here. It is not known why Russia is losing ground as if its strength is decreasing. Perhaps we will see it make a comeback.
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Indeed, although Germany has recovered these two forts many Germans were killed and comparatively few from Russia died. It is thought that the reason why Russia did not endeavour to hold on to these forts was a shortage of ammunition and explosives. These things are unavailable because of trouble between Japan and China. Before that trouble Japan provided Russia with these things but because of the imminent war with China Japan is holding on to all its munitions in the event that it finds itself at war with China. The news now is that Russia is increasing its strength. Perhaps this development is because the dispute between Japan and China has come to nothing and Japan has once again started supplying Russia with munitions.
The Italians.
This is the strongest nation at the moment. And they should be strong because they have only just entered the conflict. The Italians have not retreated from the time they began fighting until now.
LIEUTENANT NASMITH VC.
Lieutenant Nasmith has very recently gained the VC medal, the award for valour. He was the Commander of one of the English submarines. Just recently his submarine went as far as Constantinople. There he torpedoed one of the Turkish gunboats, two troopships, one munitions ship, and three ships transporting food – one of these he drove ashore. We must remember that all that sea is mined, but that meant nothing to Nasmith. As he returned to where the English fleet was moored he passed through the worst place, a place where there were many mines, and when he returned he torpedoed a Turkish troopship. He had three officers under him. They were all honoured with medals but the supreme medal was given to their commander, Lieutenant Commander Nasmith.
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A wire has arrived in England from Compton McKenzie, sent from the Dardanelles. In that wire he says that there are two important places to be fought for by the soldiers of New Zealand and Australia. If they can be taken then it will not be long before Constantinople will be under siege.
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GENERAL SIR IAN HAMILTON.
His words about the first battle in the Dardanelles.
One of the New Zealand soldiers wrote a letter to his mother in that country. This is what he said in his letter. ‘At daylight on the Sunday the boats carrying the troops to land set sail; all the boats were full. Before the boats came to rest at the places where they landed many of the men were scythed down by the Turkish machineguns. The remnant made it to land and began the attack. With fixed bayonets they charged the Turks, thrusting as they went. Soon after some of them had landed the worst of the fighting was over. When my party arrived on land men were engaged in piling up the dead and carrying those who were wounded. We set about putting the wounded in the boats. I cannot tell you how dreadful that fighting was – speaking of that will have to be left until later. But this I know, that although there will be many houses of mourning there in New Zealand, let this thought suppress the grief – when the time comes and all the accounts of this campaign are written, the bravery of the sons of New Zealand and Australia will be a memorial stone for all generations showing the whole world that although the descendants of the British Bulldog are scattered over all parts his blood has not been lost in any of them. Two days after this engagement General Hamilton spoke saying that since he first became engaged in warfare he has not seen such bravery as that shown by the men of New Zealand and Australia.’ As I write this letter I am aware of the many grieving homes there in New Zealand. It is my prayer that God will give them his strength to uphold them in this time of great testing.’
FIGHTING AT SEA.
The warships of Russia and Germany have engaged in the sea known as the Baltic. One torpedo carrier and a warship were sunk by the Russians. One German mine-layer was pursued by four Russian warships and fired upon as it travelled. There were 25 static guns upon that ship. It was not able to excape but because of the bombardment it was run aground. Twenty-seven men on that ship were killed and thirty-three were wounded.
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A LARGE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE SOLDIERS OF NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA.
A Memorial Service was held in St Paul’s Cathedral, London, for the New Zealand and Australian soldiers who fell in the fighting at the Dardanelles. The service was attended by all the leading people of England, the Lords, the Members of the Mother Parliament, and other important Officials. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Head of the Church of England, led the service and preached. The Archbishop took as his text from The Gospel According to St John 15.13: ‘Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ The Archbishop spoke powerfully and movingly.
He said, ‘These words of Christ truly apply to the soldiers of Australia and New Zealand who crossed from the ends of the earth to shed their blood for their friends. Who dreamt of a time when the shoots of the rule of England would spread out to all parts of the earth but that is how things are in the coming days. We are perhaps seeing a very remarkable thing in these days. All these are new growing nations; they are still children; they are scattered, living at the ends of the earth; they do not live close to the Motherland; and yet when the call came to them they quickly responded, giving their blood to be shed in these days. This is something not to be forgotten by all the generations to come; but I know that the character shown by the Australian and New Zealand soldiers will be inherited by all the coming generations.’
A WICKED ACT WHICH DID NOT HAVE DISASTROUS EFFECTS.
In the first week of this month we heard the news that a man named Holt had shot at Morgan, one of the wealthiest men in America. Holt is a German who taught the German language in one of the large colleges in New York. Holt travelled by car and when he arrived at Morgan’s home he took his pistol and told the guard at the door to fetch Morgan quickly. Before long Morgan arrived. The guard at the door was frightened of the mouth of the pistol pointing at him. When Morgan arrived, Holt fired at him hitting him in the thigh and the side.
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At this point the guard on the door turned and grasped hold of something and dashed at Holt so that Holt fell down and was captured. Holt’s grudge against Morgan was that he thought that Morgan had provided Germany’s enemies with munitions with which to fight the Germans. This conviction grew upon Holt and he decided to kill Morgan, but he did not achieve his wish.
WAERENGA-A-HIKA COLLEGE.
Mr Coombes has been appointed Headteacher of Waerenga-a-hika College. The first Headteacher was the Rev M W Butterfield who has been appointed to the Paish of Puketapu, Hawkes Bay, by the Bishop. Mr Coombes was Deputy Head of Te Aute for three or four years under Mr Thornton. We believe that Waerenga-a-hika will at last flourish. Mr Coombes is a good and gentle man and sympathetic to Maori. His good character was seen while he was at Te Aute. When it comes to teaching he is very good; he is not just adequate or anything, but is very learned. People, do not be afraid to send your children now. Send them; do not be apprehensive because Mr Coombes is a very good man.
MORE ITEMS.
An English submarine has sunk a Turkish troopship at the Dardanelles.
One important matter that arose during the discussions at the opening of the New Zealand Parliament was the Prime Minister’s proposal that the Government and the Opposition form a Unity Government just for the time of the war and not
beyond that, like the unifying of the English Government.
Three students from Te Rau will be ordained at the end of this years; Wiremu Tureia of Ngati Porou, Henare Paraone of Ngapuhi, and Poihipi Tokoroa of Waikato. Wiremu Tureia is going to be minister for the Parish of Whangara; Poihipi Tokoroa is going to work under the Rev Wiki Te Paa; and it is not finally decided where Henare Paraone will work.
Printed and published by H W Williams at Te Rau Printing Works, Berry Lane, Gisborne, New Zealand.
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