TAIHAPE MAORI’S LETTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 200, 22 September 1916, Page 5

TAIHAPE MAORI’S LETTER.

MEMBER OF MAORI CONTINGENT. ’AN INTERESTING COMMUNICATION. Th followng is from a letter from Mr Iv. H. Kakopa, who left with the Maori Contingent, to his father at Tai- • hape:— “I regret very much not hearing from home these many months; the last letter I received was while I was at Gallipoli, in August of last year. I hope you are all well, especialy grandfather, who is stricken with old age infirmities. “I see by the newspapers that your Government has resolved to adopt con- . script-ion. Very rightly, too, for those who are fighting to render asistance to their fellow comrades now enduring hardships for the existence of ‘God’s Own Country. ’ The bulk of the Australasians are now operating in the Western theatre, for where wo who are here convalescing are destined; there are only a flw of us—-thergst have gone to where they are having a very rough time. The Nieue Island detachment have arrived^,in EnglamL being unable to stand the- trench work in- France. “I am now iii-dhevbest of health and enjoying life until, the call of fcheyAJ- , mighty has to be obeyed, which I hope” will be prolonged. I have been fortunate so far, and have survived the dangers and the trickeries of modern warfare as practised in Gallipoli. No doubt you have heard all about it but I must write that some tales you hear and are

apt to give credence to are mere exaggerations, more to hero the speaker in the eyes of his countrymen; not that I would scandalise any man or underestimate his prowess and stability, but such is the case with many' who allow their self-importance to outweigh their judgment. 'See that my' mother and cousin do not want while I am away —-whether for a period or for ever.”