CHRISTIANISING THE MAORI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8167, 28 July 1906, Page 2

CHRISTIANISING THE MAORI.

DIARY OF REV. HONE PAPAHIA. (Translated by S. Percy Smith, Esq., F.R.G.S.) May 18, igoG.—Arrived at New Plymouth from Auckland, and met the Rev. Ropere. Then we went to Archdeacon Cole's to lunch, after which vte went on to Urenui, arriving there at 4 p.m. We did nothing further that day. May 19. —Much wind and rain. At 4.30 p.m. we went to the Maori pa at Urenui, where we found some visitors of the Ngati-Kahu-ngunu tribe. We held prayers with a gathering of 58 persons. Afterwards the people welcomed us, and referred to the deaths which had occurred since we last met. The aspect of the people is much changed for the better since last year. Returned to Ropere's home at 1 a.m.

May 20 (Sunday).—At Onaero, by j a.m. Held prayer with iS people, who are all very receptive of the Gospel. They use a bell to assemble the people when the ministers visit them. Went on to Waha-pakapaka at ii a.m., and held prayers with a congregation of 14, who are all believers; they themselves sang the hymns. At Waipapa at 1 p.m. Held prayers with eight people, and did the same at Owae at 3.30 p.m., with 51 people. The people made us many speeches, approving of the Gospel. Some talk ensued in reference to To Whiti's proceedings. At 7 p.m. we again held prayers at at Owae, with a congregation of 30 people, who afterwards addressed us, expressing their pleasure at the prayer and sermon. Wahawaha explained the abandonment of the Gospel by Te Ati-Awa tribe formerly which was through the fighting- at Waitara; they felt their ministers and tied. Another reason was that the law did not appear to be strong enough to deal with the Waitara dispute. "These were the reasons, 0 Friend! that be abandoned the belief; thirdly, because the white people attacked Waitara on the Sabbath, in consequence of these matters we ceased to believe; for the Sabbath was desecrated by the white people who themselves said it should be held sacred, and then they were the lust to break it. Hence we did likewise.'-' I replied to them, thanking them for their welcome, and added tnat the Gospel was introduced in ISI4, and preaching then commenced. In those days man was eating his fellow; but the Gospel put an end to it, and peace has since prevailed, in reference to the war, the white man commenced war with my tribe (Nga-Puhi), in 1845 but we did -not, in consequence, cist away our belief, because we understood that war was one thing, belief another; and because we knew of the power and authority of the Gospel and its ability to restrain all evil in our pepole. There were many ministers (Maoris) killed in those days. And as to the desecration of the Sabij.uli; it was just the same in our case, when the troops attacked Te Kua-pekapeka, the pah of Maihi Kawhiti. Whilst they were at prayers behind this pah, the soldiers attacked; the Maori thn quietly completed the prayers, and commenced to fight, driving back the troops. Nga-Puhi considered this attack made on Sunday, but they did not think much of this desecration, only, but the Gospel .is of God because war had its rules towards man only, but the Gospel is of God. Hence Nga-Puhi did not seek revenge for their losses there by desecrating the Sabbath. Let man be ' the payment for his own works. ' Here ended our talk. CTo be continued.) '