King's War Canoes

Levin Daily Chronicle, 12 February 1918, Page 1

King's War Canoes

CHARACTERISTIC MAORI LETTER.

A somewhat unique production has been received by Captain Thomas, president of the Auckland Navy League, in response to Christmas greetings to men at Homo. It is from Rohia Patara, 11.M.5. Southampton, and is dated November £S, 1917. The translation reads as follows:—

Friend,. Greetings to you.—AVc have 'received your enthusiastic letter, also Christmas greetings and good wishes from the Auckland Navy League to the King's War Canoes. It was a cold, wintry and frosty time, in fact all the dreads of human beings, when we received your inspiring letter, but through the kind wordings of your letter all our hearts were stimulated into one cause, and that is this great war which is ever before us. Wc have just got into a dreadful disaster, it is the rising of the great sea of Kiwa (the broad ocean), the biddings of Tawhirimatca (God of the winds), the work of Tangaroa (God of the wars), but it's the war of the German and his taniwlm (a monster of the occan) which it operates undersea. A sneaking way and also a murderous way, is it not? Enough lias been dwelt on this.

"With regard to the good feelings and friendship among the sailors of all the ships of King George towards the Maoris (this is ail class womenfolks also, both pakehas and Maoris) of New Zealand. His two peoples are very brave soldiers.

"King George is the largest totara in the bush. He is the loftiest totara, he is the heart and wo are the branches of that tree. New Zealand is the most beautiful flower of that tree to be a principal flower of King George.

"Friends, may you and your people live long. The commander of this war canoe, Captain Brooks, asked mo to write you to convey to you our best wishes and kind regards to you all of the Auckland Navy League. That is all. From Rohia Patara (Te Apumoan), (Doctor of the Ship).