Te Kopara 27
[3] Te Kopara, Number 27, Gisborne, 15 January, 1916.
‘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 DEATH OF A CHIEF.
On 9th December this leader and elder fell into the long sleep, honoured by the four corners of our country, Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu.
After his death he lay on this one of his marae, Manutuke (associated with the proverb,
‘Toia nga waewae o to tamahine kia pai ai te haere i nga parae o Manutuke.’
Massage your daughter’s legs so that she can come shapely to the fields of Manutuke. [cf Nga Pepeha 2534])
On 3rd January the body of Wi Pere was committed to his lasting home, the womb of the earth.
Huge crowds came from the two islands to lament over this elder. It is not possible to speak adequately of this elder – of his character, his works, his principles, but his character is well-known to all the peoples of our two islands. You know how he occupied the place of his ancestors who have passed on, achieving things for this district of the Tai Rawhiti; and you know what he did for the advancement of the Maori People in and outside of Parliament during his time.
On 3rd January at 11.30 a.m. his body was taken from the marae to the church by Ngati Porou, the last tribe to arrive for his burial. The first part of the Service for the Burial of the Dead was conducted and some words of comfort spoken to the children, grandchildren, and the large tribe of the deceased. At 2.45 p.m. the hearse and the funeral cars for his family arrived; there were more than 30 vehicles together with buggies, cars, and people on horses. Six soldiers carried him from the church, three Pakeha and three Maori, and some of the veteran soldiers were with them. When they came outside the Gisborne Town Band played Pakeha funeral music and went in front for half a mile before going ahead to wait for the procession.
On arriving at Waerenga-a-hika, when they got near the grave, the band led them. When they arrived at the grave voices were raised and there was the thudding of feet as his hapu, who had arrived before, welcomed him. Tears fell from the eyes of Maori and Pakeha. The grave was surrounded by some six
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thousand people. Amongst this huge gathering were Lady Carroll, the Hon W D S MacDonald, Mr [W G] Sherratt (Mayor of Gisborne), A T Ngata MP, and leading people from all parts. When the body arrived at the grave, Hymn 152 [Piko nei te matenga – With bowed head] was sung. After the hymn, A T Ngata MP stood as spokesman for the family of the deceased to speak to the Pakeha. In his speech he focussed on Wi Pere’s great commitment to guiding the Maori People using the wisdom he had gained in the old world but he also entered the new world. He used his great abilities during the time when the situation of the Maori People was one of fresh growth and openness. Having realised the possibilities for the people he travelled around the two islands, right up until the time he was elected member for the Tai Rawhiti. Wi Pere was also a man who rejoiced in his Maori side, whence the influence and wisdom that was given to him. Ngata said other important things about Wi Pere. Now we commit his body to its final resting place. He was a man known by the generations of his own time right up to the present. He was a great chief of Tai Rawhiti here, and was known from Te Rerenga Wairua to the farthest point of Te Waipounamu.
When A Ngata finished, the Hon [W D S] MacDonald stood. ‘Friends, I have come here to speak for the Government and to express the grief and sorrow we feel to the family of Wi Pere who has been parted from us. I am able to say that I am one who knew Wi Pere and his children very well. He was one of the elders from the past who have passed on. He it was who cleared the path for the coming generations to walk along. He was a man who used his powers to work on ways by which his people might progress when he was Member for Tai Rawhiti in the Lower House and then in the Upper House. He was also responsible for some of the good laws which brought Maori and Pakeha together, right up to this time when we are fighting for the Empire. I know that Maori and Pakeha of both islands are together lamenting and grieving at the death of this chief who has departed from us. My concern is that the Maori People make every effort to follow the fine example set by their chief who has departed from us.
When the speeches were ended the Burial Service was completed. The Rev Matene Keepa was the minister who officiated at the burial.
Farewell, sir, to your peoples in the life to come. Go and tell of the conflict in the world you have left behind.
‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡
This edition of Te Kopara is not the same as recent editions because the usual paper has not arrived.
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A LETTER FROM CHAPLAIN WEPIHA WAINOHU.
This letter is a Maori translation of the letter in English that appeared in the Poverty Bay Herald, and we are very sorry that we have not had access to Henare’s own words that he wrote to his wife. Very few of us Maori, that is, Maori of the Tai Rawhiti, know that we have a Maori newspaper. I do not know why Henare’s letters have not been sent to be printed in Te Kopara. Te Kopara is a Church paper for the ministers and their congregations. Henare is one of the people who started Te Kopara. The proverb that appears in his letter is the one that is the one you see at the head of this paper. I know what Henare was thinking when he proposed that we use that proverb, ‘Although the bellbird is small, he plucks at the kahikatea.’ It would be a waste were Henare’s reports to be hidden and made known only to his hapu or to the Pakeha. It is right that what he says should be known by the whole country because what he says in his letter to all the young people of the country should also be known by their parents if they are to find peace for their grieving hearts. Our point is that if Henare’s words are taken up only by Pakeha papers how will most Maori hear them? My request is that those who receive letters from the places where there is fighting send us those letters, or at least those parts that could be printed by Te Kopara. – Editor Kopara.
This is the letter Henare wrote:
To my dear wife, Erene. Greetings to you and to all those there in the village. Please pass on my sympathy to the grieving families of those who have been killed. I have at last received your letter and your photograph. My heart is torn when I look at your photo; it is as if you are gazing at me from between my arms. I kept looking at your photo when one end of our trench was under attack. I was not paying attention to the bullets and the shells flying about, rather my ears were deaf to the noise of the guns. By the time I finished reading your letter the Turks had finished trying to take our trench. At this time we have taken one of the Turkish trenches. Those of us here are fine and well. There is nothing new to write about – no stories that you have not already received. My love for you all is limitless. I have received the present you sent, the handkerchiefs and the tie. Rene, I shall never forget the amazing things I have seen during this fighting. Before our great offensive we received the order that we and our Pakeha friends
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were to get ready. At this time I asked my Colonel to give me a short time- fifteen minutes – to speak to my men. The Colonel granted my request. When they were lined up I stood on a hillock and began to speak to them. This is what I said to them: ‘You brave descendants of the one family, listen to me, your older brother, your guide in matters of the body and of the soul. These are my words to you, Be strong, be brave. Be firm lest you be moved; your one thought is to be to get glory. Remember that your ancestors before you were warriors and you are their descendants. In numbers you are only a handful amongst these thousands of fighting men. People are looking at you guardedly and asking themselves the question, “What are these people who have come from the ends of the earth like? What qualities do they possess?” Therefore, my brothers, reveal to them what our ancestors were like – let us be like them in their bravery. It is you who will uphold or besmirch the name of our ancestors. When we charge, do not turn back but head forwards, and keep on going until we have achieved the victory. I know that some of us standing here will not be standing as we are standing here now. But, so what, better that we fall in these gullies, on these hills, than that a bad report go back home to the people. So, my brothers, be brave. Do not be scared or fearful in the face of the enemy, maintain the name of our Maori People, do not let it float in the water. Soon your fame as warriors will resound over these mountains and throughout the world, like an inextinguishable fire. Remember this saying of our ancestors, “Although the bellbird is small, he plucks at the kahikatea.” Therefore I say to you to be strong and to climb over those mountains this morning.’ When I got to this point in my speech the tears began to flow from my eyes. I looked out at the crowd before me all sitting on the gun carriages – their stature, their maturity - my heart went out to them. There was no murmuring, no cheek, not a word from their mouths. They shared one thought, that they were going to face death. I also saw how deeply my words had affected them; my words were like a sharp sword piercing a man’s heart. My final words to them were the words of Saul to David in 1 Samuel 17.37 when he went to meet Goliath the Philistine, ‘Go, and may the Lord be with you.’ When I finished speaking we sang Hymn 94, ‘Au e Ihu tirohia’, ‘Look upon me, Jesus.’ After the
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hymn I stretched my hands to heaven and prayed to the Father to protect my children and bless them in this time of conflict.
One wonderful thing was that the Maori hymn was heard far away. Our Pakeha friends looked at us and wondered what we were doing and what it meant. Nor did the Turks fail to hear it and they likewise wondered. Sometimes the Turks are 100 yards from us and sometimes they are no more than 50 yards and so they could not help but hear. I heard some of the Pakeha saying that this was the first time they had seen this kind of thing, praying before battle. I said to them that this was a custom of our ancestors from ancient times who prayed to their Maori gods even before the arrival of the Faith. When the Faith came, at the time of the fighting between the Maori and the Government, the Maori on the Government side did not forget to worship God and to pray to God to help them. It is like this, we know that God’s power is greater than human power. Some of those Pakeha said that as far as they were concerned not many Turks would presently be killed by worshipping and praying. I have not yet been struck down by disaster and I know that by the power of my prayers I will survive. Many ministers have fallen in this offensive. All my thoughts are always with my children here; wherever they are from and whatever Church they belong to, they are all the same to me. If there is no Catholic minister to bury the Catholics it falls to me to bury them. We help one another. Some from other Churches say to me that I am a father for them here; when they return home then they will take up with their own various denominations. You will see that I have children here who are important to me and not just those there at home. Do not be anxious about us. We are all fine. Tupara’s brother is well, as are Paora Rerepu te Urupa and Hemi te Wainohu. Some of your brothers, Charlie and Kipa, are in hospital. Kipa’s wound is in the thigh. The most painful time for him was when the doctor took the bullet out. Afterwards Rata Namanu and Tamihana Mainga were wounded. This morning Poa Rewiri came out of hospital. Hamana Kingi is very well. Some of the young fellows from Te Wairoa are in hospitals for those recovering but they are not close to here. Some are in Egypt and some are in England. Some of us are hoping to be wounded so that they can go to the famous land of England. Some from among us who have been wounded are there. Give my love to the people at home in “dear old Wairoa.” Give my plentiful love to our parents.
From your loving and faithful husband,
H Wainohu.
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NEWS OF THE WAR.
The headlines in the newspaper this week were:
‘There is intense fighting in an area of Macedonia.’
‘The Allies are retreating to the land of the Greeks.’
‘Greece has withdrawn all its soldiers from Salonika.’
This is bad news, a sign of the great strength of the Bulgarians. In a placed called Dorian the English army was surrounded by the Bulgarians. When the English discovered that they would soon be surrounded they unleashed all they had. They killed many Bulgarians and by their strength gained a breathing space and time to retreat. The battle tactics that the Allies are using are the same as those used by the Russians when they retreated as they fought the Germans. The major problem which led to the Allied retreat was a lack of troops. They have now retreated to the land of the Greeks and it is not known whether or not the Bulgarians will go there to fight them. The Greeks have not made a move or anything. They have no desire to be drawn into the war.
News Item.
London, 14th December.
A newspaper, the Daily Mail’s Rotterdam edition, says that soon the most intense battle in the war in the West will be fought in the lands of the French and the Belgians. The decisive battle will take place here. Each side is bringing up new companies. The number of large guns is increasing. The paper says that, without a doubt, soon the foul smell of Germany will have gone.
A Fight in the Air.
London, 15th December.
Two aircraft, German and English, encountered each other off the coast of Belgium. The German aircraft was very large but before long it came down. As it fell it exploded into flames and when it hit the sea it sank. The English aircraft was brought down by machine-gun fire into the sea but the man on board was not killed.
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News from Abroad of the Fighting.
On board the Tahiti which has arrived here was the wife of Captain Pitt of the First Maori Contingent and her child. This is the first Maori child to be born in the land of the Pharaoh.
A communication has been received by Mo Pohatu from the Minister of Defence. His son, Tuahae Pohatu of Gisborne, was killed in battle on 10th.
A letter has arrived from Turoa Pohatu of the Second Contingent telling of their arrival. There was much grief and affection when they met the remnant of the First Contingent. They were met by Dr Te Rangihiroa and Chaplain Wepiha Wainohu on their arrival. He tells us that there are 150 survivors of the First Contingent.
The hui held at Manutuke at the beginning of the New Year set up a Committee to manage the recruitment of Maori soldiers in this area. They will give men permission to go or not allow them to go, even if they are applying to the Pakeha section or some other part. The Minister of Defence has given it authority.
These are the names of those members of the First Contingent who were wounded or taken ill who arrived on board the hospital ship, the Tahiti, at Christmas: R Davis, Otaki; H Daymond, Wharekauri; D Grey, Motueka; A Himiona, Fielding; J T Morgan, Hokianga; Wi Paneti, Kaikoura; Haki Rata, Ongarue; J Ropata, Otaki; M Tauranga, Hicks’ Bay; H Te Toa, Rotorua; T Wharemata, Opunake, Taranaki.
When Bishop Neligan from Auckland, formerly Bishop of Auckland, went to see the wounded New Zealand soldiers in Walton-on-Thames Hospital, he came upon several Maori soldiers and spoke with them; one was from Waiapu Diocese and he spoke of Nikora Tautau and others. He asked the soldier if he knew Hawkins, Archdeacon Hawkins, his close friend. The soldier said, ‘Just a minute,’ and went and got a photograph of Archdeacon Hawkins and his first child. The Bishop said that it was an old photograph. ‘This is indeed Archdeacon Hawkins at a time when he trimmed his beard. I remember the time when this was taken.’ What a precious sign this was of that Maori’s affection for his Pakeha friend that he carried the photograph with him from New Zealand to Egypt, to Gallipoli, and on to England. It is certainly the case that a meeting of spirits and Christian love comes from God and does not fade.
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The Maori soldiers from the First Contingent on board the Ruahine who were wounded or struck down by sickness are: Kapu Haira, Rotorua; Henare Paipeta. Rapoki.
London, 22nd December.
France is doing well. During the fighting at Vosges, 1200 Germans were taken prisoner.
New York, 22nd December.
When a man from the Glen Curtis Aeroplane Company (The Air Flying Company) arrived in England, he said that the English were much better at building aircraft that the Germans. Five hundred very large machines that fly at 60 miles an hour are set apart in groups against the time they go to fight.
Rome, 22nd December.
The army Germany has designated to attack Egypt consists of 300,000 Turks and 100,000 Arabs.
Athens, 22nd December.
A German ship, the Leros, has been sunk by an English submarine in the Sea of Marmora.
Rome, 25th December.
An Italian ship has sunk an Austrian ship carrying gunpowder to the Adriatic. When the Austrian submarine was spotted it surfaced. When the captain of the Italian ship saw this he drew very close and rammed the submarine in the middle.
Geneva, 25th December.
Mauci Bey, younger brother of the Turkish Minister of War, says that in the last days of January Egypt (Suez Canal) will be attacked. Large guns are arriving in Constantinople with which to batter Egypt.
London, 26th December.
The small nation of Serbia is to be pitied for its capital has been taken. The people are going to Albania with their weapons; the Italians are there to help them.
London, 2nd January.
The Germans have sunk a ship, the Persia; five minutes after the damage it sank. Three hundred and ninety people are lost; four boats were found by an English warship, they had been floating for 30 hours.
New York, 3rd January.
There was a disaster at the Brooklyn shipyards when an oil-powered ship was engulfed in flames. One man died, many were injured, and eighteen are missing. Pro-Germans are thought to have done this.
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A DEATH
On 7th November, Miki Maihi entered upon the long sleep at the age of nineteen. This young man came to Te Raukahikatea, the ministers’ school, at the beginning of the years. He fell ill in August and was taken to the main hospital in Gisborne. After a time his minor illness increased in severity. When his father arrived he was seriously ill and unable to eat. Then he discharged him from the hospital and brought him to lie in bed at the college. With good fortune he might get better there. By the time his mother arrived he appeared to be improving. Towards the end of September he and his mother returned home. It was not long after his departure that news arrived of his death. Maihi was a fine young man, highly regarded by his parents and by the people of the school. nothing bad or anything came out of his mouth; there was no foolishness or anything within him. The thing that makes his death really painful is that he was an only child. The farewell messages from the people of the College were conveyed in a letter to his parents which was taken to them by some from that area, Panapa and Hohaia.
Our friend is lost to us,
Gone to the world to come.
Leaving us behind to weep for him.
Show us your love.
THE ROLL OF HONOUR OF THE MAORI CONTINGENT.
Private Manuera Marsh and
Private Rewiri Kirimana. Have arrived in London.
Private Rangi Paki. General Hospital, Plymouth
Private Wiremu Tuorui Peri and
Lieutenant James Paumea Ferris. Both recovered but in England.
Private William Mira. Completely recovered from his illness.
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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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