Te Kopara 54
[3] Te Kopara, Number 54, Gisborne, 12 April, 1918.
‘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]
WAR NEWS
The Western Front
In the last edition of Te Kopara (Number 53) it was said, The assumption is that now we will hear of a terrible battle on this front because Germany has been deploying its large forces to attack the Allies.’
What was spoken of has now happened and for nearly a week there has been fighting in all sections in this great war.
Huge numbers of German divisions have fallen into the palms of the hands of the Allies as was planned. By using this great army the Germans thought to drive part of the Allied forces into the sea. It is the case that the Germans are very strong and the Allies have had to draw back but their line has not been broken which is what the Germans had wanted to do. However, although the German divisions fighting the Allies are large, and although the Germans are returning backwards, thousands of their men are falling. On the very first day of this assault 80,000 Germans fell. The German approach to fighting is based on their large numbers of men; the Allies approach to fighting is based on their knowledge. As this edition of Te Kopara goes to press the latest news of the fighting is that the field of battle has moved back and it is now taking place in the Somme area, the place where the great battle of 1916 took place. But, readers of our bird, do not grieve over the retreat of the Allies. The Allies plan to fight as they retreat until they arrive at the place where they know that strength of Germany has diminished and there they will resume their attack. General Haig is reserving most of his soldiers against this time. We are now awaiting the time when the Allies will resume their attack. The remarkable thing is how few men of the Allies are keeping up the fighting and are holding the
[4]
Allied line. It is said that there are 27 Allied divisions and 97 enemy divisions. These 27 divisions have been very strong and it will be the case that when the Allies take the offensive all their divisions will be employed an there will be a chance for men to show their bravery. We are waiting for the end of this great war. It Germany is not able to win this battle then it is finished.
The Fighting in the East.
The Allies are at the defences on the west bank of Jordan. Five enemy aircraft were damaged and three destroyed.
Russia’s Problems.
One of Russia’s main cities, Petrograd, is about to be overthrown and to fall into the hands of Germany.
Latest News of the Western Front.
Saturday, 30th March, 1918.
The German advance is diminishing in strength. They have retreated in some places. The French are giving strong support to the Allies. The American armies are helping to push the enemy back and are giving the Allies a breathing-space. It is thought that 10,000 of the Allied soldiers have been taken prisoner by the enemy and that 300,000 of them have been wounded or taken prisoner by the Allies. The English are continuing to hold their line.
Other Items about the War.
The French soldier, General Foch, has been appointed head of the Allied forces in the West. General Haig is very happy with this arrangement. General Foch belongs to that country and he is the one who is being attacked and so by his appointment to head the fighting the heartfelt distress of the nations fighting within the Alliance will be enhanced.
In the first week of this month the Germans launched a new offensive. While they drove the French back, they were the ones who suffered because they lost many of their men. Similarly, when the English attacked, many Germans fell.
[5]
A LAMENT FOR THE PARENTS OF FRIENDS ENGAGED IN THE FIGHTING.
Hello, Te Kopara. With good luck I will shortly see you in person. In the vicinity of the fighting your voice, your loving and solitary voice, sings amidst the Battalion and amidst the booming of the guns. Our father, Chaplain Captain Wainohu, carries you amongst us to sing of times of peace. It is a sweet voice, a voice that brings peace to the hearts of each of the lads.
So, bird, I want you to carry our love to every marae of the Maori People. Greetings to you mothers, sons, daughters, who are loved by your children and grandchildren who have fallen or who are suffering, or who are bearing the blade of the weapon on the field of battle. Rejoice and be long-suffering because your son committed his body to die for the world and for all of us. ‘What greater love is there than this?’ This will remain as a cause for pride for your family and your house. My hope is that you will have serenity. Goodbye. Au revoir.
Te Morehu. (Returned Serviceman)
Cambridge Sanatorium.
THE NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE FIGHTING.
The number of New Zealand soldiers who have fallen in the fighting up until 11th February is:
Officers Soldiers
Killed in action 326 6896
Died of wounds 137 2611
Manner of death unknown 4 753
Died of sickness 19 704
Drowned 10 39
Missing 9 158
Taken prisoner 5 111
Wounded 1140 27,891
Totals 1650 39,233
A LETTER RECEIVED
To the Editor of Te Kopara.
Greetings. Please publish these few words in response to the letter from the Secretary of the Council of Trustees for the Fund for the Maori Soldiers, which was a rebuttal of the accusations levelled against him which led to the motion passed by the Te Araroa Hui asking that he be dismissed from his position as Secretary. Let me summarize the purport of the words of that letter and the responses:
[6]
About the First Charge. The reasons why the Secretary did not attend some of the hui were: first, he received no information about the Wellington gathering and no instruction to attend, secondly, he was told that there was no reason why he should go to the gathering in Auckland; thirdly, he was not told that the meeting of the Council and the Annual Meeting would take place at Te Araroa.
Before the Wellington hui the Secretary was occupied with the work of the Pakeha Returned Soldiers Association of which he was Chairman at the time. He was engaged with those matters for a long time and during that time a different person was doing his work. This was the reason perhaps why he did not know of the Wellington meeting. Had he been aware of that hui he would not have waited for an invitation before helping with the work for he is paid for his time. Everyone knows that the work of the Secretary of such gatherings is immense, helping and giving instructions about what has to be done, and one doesn’t wait for an invitation before helping with the work. We congratulate the Secretary and all the people who raised money for that entertainment in Wellington.
I am not clear as to why the Secretary did not attend the hui in Auckland since the invitation went out to the small and the great. While all the tribes attended, the person who was being paid travelling and living expenses was absent. And it is not clear as to why he was told to stay at home since he really wanted to go – perhaps he knows.
Perhaps the Secretary is not adamant that he had not heard of the annual meeting at Te Araroa because it was widely publicized ever since the hui at Te Wairoa and up until the time of the hui during the time of the Poi presentation in Gisborne. However, if he had not heard, why was he not alerted by the arrival of the request that he prepare a statement of accounts to be presented at that hui? And why should he say that it was the hearing about his land at Mangatu that prevented him attending?
About the Second Charge. His explanation of the matter of the Accounts is alright, but it would surely have been right to lay before the hui an account of the money that has been gathered together and what proportion of that money had been used for expenses. The hui should not have to stay on at Te Araroa until the Accounts were passed by the Government Auditor.
So much for our thoughts on this matter.
Kahungunu.
◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
At the Hui at Te Kapu, £10.10.0 was contributed by the Chinese of Te Wairoa for the Ngatikahungunu Project. Thank you, Ngati Chinese.
[7]
A GREETING.
To the Editor of Te Kopara.
Kopara, greetings to you who carry the spoken words to each place. There was a time when marae were established as places of oratory, when the land was undisturbed, when people [?stood together – kapititu], and when the orators were still living to use swiftly the many means of communication, to be seen with the eyes and heard with the ears. Then it came about that the marae stood empty, the land was divided, people were [?divided – kapitihono], there were no orators to bring things together, to tie together the spoken words, to settle matters and to satisfy the eyes and the ears on each marae. No matter! The marae stood empty, the land was divided, people were divided, and there were no orators; then you stretched out your wings over each marae and became the spokesman bringing a reliable message to the tribes of the country, to its farthest ends. We salute you lying here, because you are the only authentic voice of the original people of the country that is being heard and that explains the messages that satisfy the eyes and the ears. If someone eats the food of another people that food is not pleasing and he will not boast of it. So we have this saying:
He kai na te tangata ke, he titongi korokoro. Tena ko te tangata e kai ana i tana ake kai, reka ana, pakara ana, pai ana, makona ana.
Food provided by another person merely tickles the palate. But a person eating his own food, that is tasty, making one smack one's lips, it is nice and it satisfies.
[Te Aka – pakara, cf Nga Pepeha 454]
This saying is for the people who do not know the English language well and who seek the tidbits that are plentiful in the Pakeha newspapers. Te Kopara is your own newspaper in your own language, something you can chew on and swallow! Food eaten intermittently tickles the palate. If there are some speakers of the original language of this country besides you, that is very good, because you have friends, friends who will set you on the right track so that you will see what is clear and what is not clear, what is true and what is not true. Like the matters we look at below. The country has chosen four speakers of the language of the people to speak in Parliament. One is from the south, one from the west, one from the north and one from the east, and they are the permanent spokesmen for the original people throughout the country.
However, they are not committed to their original language. If one looks at what was said at the opening of Parliament on 20th September one sees that the Bill to close hotels at six o’clock in the evening throughout the country was put forward. The passage of that Bill was put to the vote. One group voted for closure; one group voted that hotels remain open.
It was seen that the spokesmen of the South, of the West, and of the North voted on the side of those wanting to keep the hotels open,
[8]
even though all parts and all people know that the settled opinion in the country was that the hotels should be closed.
As it was, the wish of the country was fulfilled and the hotels were closed. Tribes, mull this over, look at it carefully, and you’ll see that what was done was right. It respected the voice of the country, which was united. ‘Whoever does not gather with me scatters [Matthew 12.30] – It would be better for him if a great millstone was hung around his neck and he was sunk in the depths of the sea [Matthew 18.6].’
The spokesman of the Tairawhiti did not attend Parliament at that time and so did not vote, but it is widely known that he supports the settled opinion of the country that the hotels should be closed. If you look at the Horouta Electorate you will see that he has achieved the closure of the hotels among his own tribe. Enough of that! If you look at the speeches at the time the anti-shouting bill was put forward and the passing of that bill was put to the vote you will see that only the spokesman of the Tairawhiti voted on the side wanting to end shouting. The spokesmen for the South and West and North voted in support of shouting one another beer. What is the country to make of that! Who amongst these is to be honoured? Surely it is the one who ‘gathers with me’, who is faithful to the decided voice of the people of the country. Where do you stand in relation to this saying,
Ruia taitea! Ruia taitea! Ka tu ko taikaka anake.’
Cast aside the sapwood and let the heartwood alone stand. [cf Nga Pepeha 2178 ‘Choose friends who are dependable and steadfast.’]
It would appear that this one of our servants stands alone.
He iti kopara kai takirikiri ana i runga i te kahikatea, auatu tona iti.
Although the bellbird is small, he plucks at the kahikatea, in spite of being small. [cf Nga Pepeha 908]
One who is fed with the fruit of the large-leaved coprosma, who is raised with the fruit of the rock lily, his place is with the wise, the instructors, the skilled, the spiritual. He makes the blind to see, the dumb to speak and the deaf to hear. They hear of things from a great distance, from a long distance, from a remote distance, things that are being one on the marae of Tu-winiwini, of Tu-wanawana, of Tu who does away with thousands of thousands, who gather in deep darkness, in intense darkness, in darkness from which there is no return.
People of this nation, let us remember the situation of our young men placed in the midst of battle. We are to follow them, but how? We are to grieve for them, but how? He indeed has ears, so let him hear: ‘Redeem the time for the days are evil.’ [Ephesians 5.16] No-one is able to say that they are enjoying this time. In the days of King Herod ‘a voice was heard only in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled because they are no more.’ [Matthew 2.18] In these days a voice is heard in all places throughout the world, wailing and lamentation and weeping and grieving, for one’s father, one’s brother, one’s younger brother, one’s cousin, one’s friend, one’s husband, one’s boyfriend, there on the marae of Tumatauenga, and many of them are no more. Now may peace rest upon the orphans and widows,
[9]
and upon all who are oppressed by the terrible events of this war, including your Pakeha people. Take courage. ‘Redeem the time for the days are evil.’ Learn this hymn:
1. Here we have no abiding city but we seek that which is at present hidden from us.
2. There morning dawns, hiding the night, and there those who believe rejoice.
[Maori Prayer Book, Hymn 131, ‘Brief life is here our portion.’]
My final words are of thanks to the Hastings Committee and the Te Rau Committee who contrive to produce our pet and we can see how well the work is going under the new arrangements. Every blessing upon you all!
‘Whiria te kaha tuamakatia, e motu honoa!’
Plait the five or six strands into a rope; cut it and join it!
From the remaining elders living on these marae.
Ereatara M Eruini.
Tokomaru Bay.
PARISH OF MOTEO.
On 17th March the Parish of Moteo summoned people to a hui at Moteo. In the morning Peneti, the minister, conducted a service in which the Rev Matene Keepa was inducted as minister for this parish. Afterwards there was Morning Prayer and the service of Holy Communion. The Parish laid on a feast to celebrate their minister. After the food the chiefs stood to greet everyone. Those who spoke were Aporo Te Huiki, Paora Kurupo, Mohi Te Atahikoia, Taranaki Te Ua, Paraire Tomoana, Te Roera Tareha and some others. Peneti, the minister, pointed out that there was still £40 owed on the minister’s house. The money needed was collected there and then. When the money was received the house was opened with prayers by Peneti and Matene Keepa. It is a small house but all of brick. This is the only Maori clergy house built of brick. The total cost was £210. When the amount was raised it was paid to the Pakeha who built the house. The Parish of Moteo also gave money to provide furnishings. The amount they collected was £30. Well done, Parish of Moteo. We congratulate you on this sign of your strength.
†††††††††
The Rev Matene Keepa has arrived in his new Parish of Moteo; the Rev Waata Kopae in his Parish of Nukutaurua; and the Rev Mate Wharehuia also has returned to the Parish of Turanga.
[10]
AN ITEM ABOUT THE MAORI SOLDIERS’ TRUST FUND.
In the account published in the March Te Kopara the amount in the Te Araroa Trust Fund was said to be £1600. That figure is correct, but after the Hui the Pakeha and the Maori who manage that money talked together. It was arranged that £400 should be given to the Pakeha Trust Fund and that the remaining £1200 be given to our project, that of the Maori. These monies have been received and this is a correct statement of the accounts.
The total amount of money from the Hui at Te Kapa £1549
The total amount of money from the Hui at Nuhaka 925
The total amount of money from the Hui at Wairarapa 617
All these amounts for the Maori Soldiers together £3091
Add the Hui at Te Araroa 6631 17 10
Total £9722 17 10
Not a single Hui this year had the good luck to have fine weather throughout the gathering. There was heavy rain at Te Araroa, at Nuhaka, in the Wairarapa, and at Te Kapu. The people of the various marae made great efforts and great was the praise from the visitors for those who manned the hangi and did other jobs that ensured the success of the Hui.
Ngati Kahungunu at Te Wairoa made great efforts in supporting the project to raise money for the Maori soldiers.
The Hui at Awatere, Wairoa, raised a total of £1600
The Sports Meeting at Mohaka raised 126
The Hui at Nuhaka raised a total of 925
The Hui at Te Kapu raised a total of 1549
Total raised by Ngati Kahungunu £4200
At the Hui at Waiomatatini where the Trust Fund for the Maori Soldiers was launched it was said that the total we were seeking to raise was £25,000. At the Hui at Te Kapu A T Ngata announced that the amount received now stands at £24,021 (sic) , that is, another £78 (sic) and we will have achieved the twenty-five thousand pounds. Ngati Porou deserves much praise as the tribe that began this project and has carried it through so that the desired peak has been reached in just one year.
Lady Kara (Heni Materoa) announced at the Te Kapu Hui that she will be holding a Hui in the coming March in Gisborne. The Hui will deal with two matters, the unveiling of the memorial to Wi Pere, and consideration of the Trust Fund for the Well-being of Maori Soldiers.
[11]
THE DEATH OF TE HATA HOETA.
To the Editor of Te Kopara.
Greetings. Please put into Te Kopara the following few words for the relations, the family and cousins and loving friends of this man, Te Hata Hoeta, to read. He was an elder, a chief, from Tuwharetoa who died on 18th December, 1917.
He was a thoughtful elder. He grasped the good customs of the Maori and he entered the school of learning known as Te Raukahikatea College. He was the first Maori minister to Taupo to proclaim the name of our Lord and he worked assiduously in his Parish. When he was very old he had insufficient strength to mount a horse and so he ended his work and took the Church pension to support himself and his wife. When he retired he appointed the eldest of his younger brothers, Te Pakinga Hoeta, to lead services. He wanted that young man to go to the school at Te Rau but in 1916 that young man died and nothing could be done. One of his children is in Europe supporting our realm.
He had a good death on 18th December, 1917. He called together all the children he knew in his own family and proceeded to use the passage in which Jacob gave instructions to his family as the basis of his instructions to his own children (Genesis 49.1-22): ‘Joseph is a fruitful bough, etc.’ The next morning was Sunday and Holy Communion was celebrated for him in his own house, and for the many others in the Meeting-house at Waitahanui.
On the 18th he asked the living people to let him depart, but because they were reluctant the people would not consent, whereupon he said that he would commit himself and when he had committed himself he fell asleep. This is a wonderful thing for us to reflect on; how did it happen? It was because of the strength of his faith in God. Who can grasp the actions of our elder? To the rising generation, the grandchildren, the thoughtful people in his own hapu, his own tribe, greetings. People, show manly qualities, reflect on the achievements of your ‘glory’ and the things he accomplished in his life. Best wishes.
M M Tumatahi.
Taupo.
{Because the letters from M Tumatahi and E Eruini were mislaid they were not printed earlier. They were found at the end of February.}
†††††††††
The School at Te Raukahikatea has recommenced. There are three new men, all from the Diocese of Auckland.
[12]
FOOD FOR TE KOPARA
February
Name / Address / Payment / Subscription Ends
Reihana Moari / Kahukura / 10/- / January 1920
Miss F Heron / Havelock, Marlborough / 5/- / March 1919
Rahui Ngamotu / Waipahihi, Taupo / 5/- / February 1919
Rev M Keepa / Moteo H.B. / 5/- / March 1919
Peti Matere / Waipiro Bay / 5/- / March 1919
March
Hunia Te Tau / Tangoio, H.B. / 5/- / March 1919
Hori Pukehika / Parikino, Whanganui River / 5/- / March 1919
Hurae Puketapu / Waimamo, Whanganui River / 5/- / March 1919
Peta Pakuku / Wairoa, Hawkes Bay / 5/- / March 1919
Pene Heihi / Kahukura / 5/- / March 1919
Tamati Purangi / Kahukura / 5/- / March 1919
Hori Mahue / Te Araroa / £1 / June 1920
Dr Wi Repa / Te Araroa / 5/- / March 1919
Whaaka Parakau / Lottin’s Point, Te Araroa / 10/- / March 1920
Putahi Hapimana / Frasertown / 5/- / March 1919
Tawa Maru / Opoutama, H.B. / 5/- / March 1919
Huri Korimete / Rangitukia / 5/- / April 1918
Charley Hodges / Mohaka / 10/- / March 1920
James Jones / Wairoa, H>B> / 5/- / March 1919
Paku Neera / Frasertown / 5/- / March 1919
Wi Pewhairangi / Tokomaru Bay / 5/- / March 1919
Lemuel Te Urupa / Mohaka / 5/- / March 1919
Raukanga Matiaha / Raorika Pa, Whanganui River / 5/- / March 1919
Para / Parikino Pa, Whanganui River / 5/- / March 1919
Nepia Torarau / Parikino Pa, Whanganui River / 5/- / March 1919
Tanginoa Tapa / Parikino Pa, Whanganui River / 5/- / March 1919
Ahipene Kooti / Rangitukia / 5/- / March 1919
Charles Durie / Aorangi, Fielding / 5/- / March 1919
Hira Paea / PO Box 25, Tolaga Bay / 5/- / March 1919
J Ashton / Manukau, Chatham Islands / 5/- / March 1919
Rakete Tipene / Waitangi, Chatham Islands / 5/- / September 1918
Hohipuha Kareanui / Otaki Station PO / 5/- / April 1918
Tira Haare / Matauri Bay, Kaeo / 5/- / January 1919
SITTINGS OF THE MAORI LAND COURT
The Tai-rawhiti.
Place / Date / Last Date for Submitting Applications
Te Wairoa / 1st May / 1st April
Nuhaka / 12th June / 11th May
Gisborne / 26th June / 25th May
Uawa / 10th July / 10th June
Subsequent sittings will be advertised later.
Sittings of the Board.
Te Wairoa / 8th May / 8th April
Gisborne / 3rd July / 3rd June
Subsequent sittings will be advertised later.
Printed and published by H W Williams at Te Rau Printing Works, Berry Street, Gisborne, New Zealand - 12th April, 1918.
No comments:
Post a Comment