RATANA AT MORRINSVILLE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 10

RATANA AT MORRINSVILLE.

A large meeting, of Natives was held during the Easter holidays at Morrinsville, the junction for the and Thames railway lines. The town is about,the size of Waipawa, and the Maori camp where the meeting waa held.is distant about one and a half miles'from'the township. The meeting Was held for .the purpose of meeting Ratanaj the, faith healer. It appears (writes the "Hawke's Bay Herald's'.?, correspondent) that Tupu, a 1 cripple, and '''.brother 'of the late King I Tawhia, recently / visited Ratana aihl got back/the use of Eis legs; So overwas he that his thoughts went back' to his /people and' their afflictions, and he-exacted a promise from Eatana to vhit him, and his people at a place to be fixed Waikato. The above meeting 'realty of. such promise. It is estMafe'd*rMat.r.vsomething like 1000 to 2000 "people" attended the meeting, people coming, and going every day. ■ ..■'.':' it appears that a' certain Tohunga, whose niana was doomed to get a rude shock, spread the report amongst the "Waikatos that Ratana>was only comjng for the, purpose of 'displacing Rata, the Maori King, and having himself appointed king in vKata ? s place, and ic this purpose Rataha kept a book with all his • followers written'. in. jt. This had the effect.of keeping a large number of the. Waikatos away. As it was, however, people attended from all over the North. Island. All matters pertaining, to politics. Native lands, and other business were banished from the meeting. Besides being a. faith healer,. Eatana, could rightly be called an evangelist, and with such- simplicity, power, and force did he speak to the people that he created a great impression, and "won their hearts. He made it plain to them that he was not setting up any kingdom or form' of religion of his own, but wished to direct them'to ho case would he deal with, or attempt to deal with, any person unless that person was "born again" and repented of all his sins.

Eatana's big .'day was on From enquiries made and after speaking to some of the patients that were cured, it appears* that a large number of patients were dealt with by the healer, amongst the number being four, cripples who. were made to walk, and ■six blind people whose, eyesight. was restored, 'some of. them being blind for a number of years. '• In one case a man with a glass eye and a wooden leg went to have these parts restored, but was promptly told by. the .healer that as he was only supplied by God with one set of eyes and limbs none to give away.